Will gas prices this summer alter your boating use/plans?

[Mxmark4]

It will affect our plans, but not as bad as my new work schedule will. Working every other weekend is gonna be worse on my summer plans than the fuel budget. I have hope its going to drop down some,but we shall see.

[larry_arizona]

Will have zero effect on my lake time.

I run 90 octane, mixing 87 and 93 50-50. Same price as 89.

So far weather is having a bigger effect, we typically hit the water first week of May and this spring has been cold, still getting sub freezing temps at night.



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[SONIC]

I'm looking at it similar to MJB above.
Assuming I put ~75 hours on this summer and also assuming I'm running about 5gph that's 375 gallons this summer at my current price of ~$4 for 89 octane puts me at 1500 in fuel. Compare to 2.50 gas at 938 it will cost me $562 in additional fuel. Most of us wouldn't blink to spend 562 on a new board or more lead or ballast bags or beer.
Even if we end up going to the lake twice as much as I estimate it will only be an additional 1000 bucks this year.

Gas prices suck, but in the grand scheme they aren't a big deal if you aren't already hurting for money.

I just have to remind myself of the math while I'm at the pump because no matter what I'm still a cheap-ass at heart and I hate watching the pump tick off dollars like a reverse slot machine haha.

[mgswake]

Sonic - good point about not hurting for money. I think a majority of people that buy these expensive boats are not hurting for money. I bet there are some that buy based on monthly payment (essentially leasing the boat) as opposed to those who will pay off the boat in time. Neither is wrong, but I could see someone scraping to make payments more affected by gas prices.

[996scott]

short answer is no, it won't effect our summer. Having enough water in our lakes is the biggest concern for us. We are dry!!!!!

[sandm]

Having enough water in our lakes is the biggest concern for us. We are dry!!!!!

this is the MUCH bigger concern out west. another article today about snwa having to fire up a new water intake for las vegas water as one of the old ones went dry on monday. mead is a trainwreck and I see a TON of busted lower units this year due to new outcroppings being close to the surface. I sure hope that some of the surrounding states start cracking down on watering. get caught watering outside your designated day here and it's a fine. there's a cell shortcut to anonymously report your neighbors.....


on gas, if you are running 93 in a boat designed for 89, your pissing money away. run the octane they suggest and if you want to "treat" the boat, find non-ethanol. that's a better spend than putting premium in.

[Guppydriver]

Sonic - good point about not hurting for money. I think a majority of people that buy these expensive boats are not hurting for money. I bet there are some that buy based on monthly payment (essentially leasing the boat) as opposed to those who will pay off the boat in time. Neither is wrong, but I could see someone scraping to make payments more affected by gas prices.

Actually an interesting post @mgswake. I'm really not sure if the majority of modern wake boat owners are insulated from the rising price of gas. I had a friend who sold Porsches (before the SUV craze) and Aston's and I remember asking him how much a typical buyer "made". He responded, "These guys don't have income. They have wealth".

Although the families buying Paragons, M240's, Ri265, and the like are probably ones who have "wealth", I bet the vast majority of current gen boaters are like me. After decades of hard work and dues paying, I'm blessed with a good income and am investing to retire, but by no means do I have "wealth". I have to be physically present at my job to have earning power. Admittedly, my $600 dollar boat payment + yearly registration + insurance +maintenance is pretty easy to carry.

However, if going up to the lake even for a few hours becomes a $300 proposition instead of $150, I will start to feel it for sure if I continue to go twice a week like I did last year. I can see myself not going for those quick "evening runs" like I did last season. In the last 2 years everything has gone up save for my paycheck. Hell, the truck I would have dropped 50k for two years ago, will probably cost me 70K!!

Unless there is some sort of correction, inflation has also changed my longer term boat plans. I honestly thought I would have my current boat for about 2- 3 seasons, get used to V-Drive boating, then upgrade to my dream boat, which is a Supra SL. That was a feasible plan not too long ago. After going to the boat show though in February and talking to dealers, I'm flat ass priced out of the market. And this is coming from someone who is very easily in the top 5% income threshold . I seriously don't know how so many people do it.

That being said... Paradoxically...There is nothing that can make me forget our country's sad state of economic affairs faster than being out on the lake at sunset. It's pure heaven.

[Zog]

this is the MUCH bigger concern out west. another article today about snwa having to fire up a new water intake for las vegas water as one of the old ones went dry on monday. mead is a trainwreck and I see a TON of busted lower units this year due to new outcroppings being close to the surface. I sure hope that some of the surrounding states start cracking down on watering. get caught watering outside your designated day here and it's a fine. there's a cell shortcut to anonymously report your neighbors.....


on gas, if you are running 93 in a boat designed for 89, your pissing money away. run the octane they suggest and if you want to "treat" the boat, find non-ethanol. that's a better spend than putting premium in.

One other note about octane levels. At high altitude, octane ratings can be 2 points lower as a result of the fuel/oxygen ratio (lower air density=lower oxygen). The manufacturers tend to state that you should not attempt to run at octane below the listed values in electronic fuel injected engines, but does anyone know better? I am still going to put in 91 octane ethanol free, since that is the only ethanol free blend available here, but just curious.

[2in2out]

That being said... Paradoxically...There is nothing that can make me forget our country's sad state of economic affairs faster than being out on the lake at sunset. It's pure heaven.

Agreed!!!


Making my new SA build come true!!!

[KnoxMojo]

0, won't affect me...well, I may think twice about cruising 30 minutes to go eat at a marina, nah, we will go anyway because my daughter loves it, lol... but as far as our riding frequency, nope.