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.