Tim wrote:
On Aug 31, 7:46 pm, HK wrote:
Wayne.B wrote:
On Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:12:24 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:
One question that continues to bug me after returning from our 16 days
on the boat this month...."Where was everybody?"
We've noticed the same thing in the north east this summer and it has
been confirmed by a number of locals that traffic and business are
both down by a considerable amount. We've been living aboard and
cruising from port to port all summer and have seen a lot more
anchoring room and available moorings in some of our favorite spots.
You have border crossing issues in your area which is probably
compounding what ever other factors are at work. Not everyone wants
to hassle with govt red tape if there are other alternatives. That
doesn't explain the north east however. I think many people are
feeling financially squeezed one way or another. Except for CEOs and
very senior management, almost no one is keeping up with inflation.
The chickens are coming home to roost with variable rate mortgages,
property values are flat to down, the home equity loan game is
largely over, insurance for almost everything is up, energy costs are
up, many taxes are up, everything associated with residential
construction is off, and on and on and on. When people are feeling
squeezed they start to cut back on the non essentials, and boating
falls into that category for most. If things get worse, vacation
travel of all kinds will probably be next, along with the things like
the restaurant business.
Gee. The Bush Mis-Administration keeps telling us the economy is terrific.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

harry, must you take a thread like this and make a snide political
statement?

\



Sorry, but I see a direct connection between the policies of the Bush
mis-administration and the collapsing economy.

On Fri, 31 Aug 2007 23:37:25 -0000, Tim wrote:

On Aug 31, 6:32 pm, "JimH" ask wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

ups.com...





One question that continues to bug me after returning from our 16 days
on the boat this month...."Where was everybody?"

We saw almost no US boats in Howe Sound, which we attributed to the
fact that Howe Sound isn't one of the "pop" destinations for US
boaters. When we were discussing our boating plans with friends and
acquaintances, several admitted being less than absolutely certain
where Howe Sound was...... and some of them trek considerably farther
to Desoloation Sound on a regular basis.

After we left Howe Sound, places that are typically crowded were not.

Thetis Island Marina, almost empty on a weeknight.
Geoa Bay, guest moorage about 1/3 full
Empty slips, lots of them, at Friday Harbor.....where it's not unusual
to be turned away late on a summer afternoon.
Several other examples, some not quite as dramatic.

My theory, and it's pretty well untestable, is that even though fuel
prices are down about $1 a gallon from what they shot up to last
spring those high fuel prices may have occured at a time when people
were making summer vacation plans. Could be that a lot of folks just
assumed that running their boat would be "out of the question" at $4-5
per gallon for fuel, and made vacation plans that involved flying to
Hawaii or something else instead.

If my theory proves correct, there will be some excellent deals
available on boat pretty soon. Folks who are only so-so committed to
the pastime will
look at continuing payments, moorage, maintenance, and insurance for a
boat that "we're not using anymore" and elect to sell. Could easily
make the perpetual buyer's market in used boats even more affordable.

Gasoline prices at the docks in our area were at $3.09 when we filled up
last Sunday. That being the case I agree with you............rising prices
have kept the larger boats and gas guzzling go fast boats tied to the docks.

I also agree that these boats will depreciate in value faster than normally
expected.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Not a lot of action at the lakes this year, except for locals going
out in the evenings. lately it's been too blasted hot!

Last friday the temps were a strangling 108-112 degrees F.

Tim, to which lakes are you referring?
--
***** Hope your day is better than decent! *****

John H

"HK" wrote in message
. ..
Tim wrote:
On Aug 31, 7:46 pm, HK wrote:
Wayne.B wrote:
On Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:12:24 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:
One question that continues to bug me after returning from our 16 days
on the boat this month...."Where was everybody?"
We've noticed the same thing in the north east this summer and it has
been confirmed by a number of locals that traffic and business are
both down by a considerable amount. We've been living aboard and
cruising from port to port all summer and have seen a lot more
anchoring room and available moorings in some of our favorite spots.
You have border crossing issues in your area which is probably
compounding what ever other factors are at work. Not everyone wants
to hassle with govt red tape if there are other alternatives. That
doesn't explain the north east however. I think many people are
feeling financially squeezed one way or another. Except for CEOs and
very senior management, almost no one is keeping up with inflation.
The chickens are coming home to roost with variable rate mortgages,
property values are flat to down, the home equity loan game is
largely over, insurance for almost everything is up, energy costs are
up, many taxes are up, everything associated with residential
construction is off, and on and on and on. When people are feeling
squeezed they start to cut back on the non essentials, and boating
falls into that category for most. If things get worse, vacation
travel of all kinds will probably be next, along with the things like
the restaurant business.
Gee. The Bush Mis-Administration keeps telling us the economy is
terrific.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

harry, must you take a thread like this and make a snide political
statement?

\



Sorry, but I see a direct connection between the policies of the Bush
mis-administration and the collapsing economy.

It has collapsed under a Democrat POTUS also. A Dem POTUS and a Dem
Congress. 17% inflation. And the latest incarnation of Congress does seem
to be saving challenged.

On Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:38:45 -0700, Tim wrote:

Those are the lakes in my local area, Jim. And Even though I don't
frequent a couple of them, I do know of others that have said that
attendance was down due to weather.

Weather has been an issue in the north east also. It has been
unusually cool and cloudy much of the summer.

On Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:38:45 -0700, Tim wrote:

On Aug 31, 8:00 pm, John H. wrote:
On Fri, 31 Aug 2007 23:37:25 -0000, Tim wrote:
On Aug 31, 6:32 pm, "JimH" ask wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

roups.com...


Tim, to which lakes are you referring?
--
***** Hope your day is better than decent! *****

John H- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Carlyle Lake (S. IL) Omega Lake (Forbes state park) Twin forks.
(Olney IL) Lake Shelbyville (Shelbyville IL)

Those are the lakes in my local area, Jim. And Even though I don't
frequent a couple of them, I do know of others that have said that
attendance was down due to weather.


What did I do that you're calling me 'Jim' for? :)

I'm kinda worried that when we move to NC, and have only lakes to boat in,
I'll feel 'hemmed in'. We'll be living close to Falls Lake, north of
Raleigh.
--
***** Hope your day is better than decent! *****

John H

On Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:52:39 -0700, Tim wrote:

On Aug 31, 7:46 pm, HK wrote:
Wayne.B wrote:
On Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:12:24 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

One question that continues to bug me after returning from our 16 days
on the boat this month...."Where was everybody?"

We've noticed the same thing in the north east this summer and it has
been confirmed by a number of locals that traffic and business are
both down by a considerable amount. We've been living aboard and
cruising from port to port all summer and have seen a lot more
anchoring room and available moorings in some of our favorite spots.

You have border crossing issues in your area which is probably
compounding what ever other factors are at work. Not everyone wants
to hassle with govt red tape if there are other alternatives. That
doesn't explain the north east however. I think many people are
feeling financially squeezed one way or another. Except for CEOs and
very senior management, almost no one is keeping up with inflation.
The chickens are coming home to roost with variable rate mortgages,
property values are flat to down, the home equity loan game is
largely over, insurance for almost everything is up, energy costs are
up, many taxes are up, everything associated with residential
construction is off, and on and on and on. When people are feeling
squeezed they start to cut back on the non essentials, and boating
falls into that category for most. If things get worse, vacation
travel of all kinds will probably be next, along with the things like
the restaurant business.

Gee. The Bush Mis-Administration keeps telling us the economy is terrific.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

harry, must you take a thread like this and make a snide political
statement?

You should recognize that as one of 'Harry's Foibles' and make no comment
thereupon.
--
***** Hope your day is better than decent! *****

John H

On Sep 1, 7:01 am, John H. wrote:
On Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:38:45 -0700, Tim wrote:
On Aug 31, 8:00 pm, John H. wrote:
On Fri, 31 Aug 2007 23:37:25 -0000, Tim wrote:
On Aug 31, 6:32 pm, "JimH" ask wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

roups.com...

Tim, to which lakes are you referring?
--
***** Hope your day is better than decent! *****

John H- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Carlyle Lake (S. IL) Omega Lake (Forbes state park) Twin forks.
(Olney IL) Lake Shelbyville (Shelbyville IL)

Those are the lakes in my local area, Jim. And Even though I don't
frequent a couple of them, I do know of others that have said that
attendance was down due to weather.

What did I do that you're calling me 'Jim' for? :)

Beats me, John. for some reason I replied to a "Jim" knowing that the
posting came from "JohnH"

That truely is an oddity.

On Sep 1, 7:02 am, John H. wrote:


You should recognize that as one of 'Harry's Foibles' and make no comment
thereupon.
--
***** Hope your day is better than decent! *****

John H-

Possibly so, I was merely wanting to knwo if it was necessary, though.

Tim wrote:
On Sep 1, 7:02 am, John H. wrote:

You should recognize that as one of 'Harry's Foibles' and make no comment
thereupon.
--
***** Hope your day is better than decent! *****

John H-

Possibly so, I was merely wanting to knwo if it was necessary, though.



You are wondering about one of my comments and you're playing footsie
with Herring? Shame on you.

On Sat, 01 Sep 07, Tim wrote:
Beats me, John. for some reason I replied to a "Jim" knowing that the
posting came from "JohnH"
That truely is an oddity.

I wouldn't worry about it Tom.
It happens to all of us sooner or later ;-)

Rick