Ya think?
Skippers of these "land yachts" feel your pain. An RV like this gets around 6-7 mpg, and holds 55 gallons of gasoline minimum. Tack on running the generator, and you can go through some gas in a hurry.
Posted on 04/09/2006 5:58:02 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
Another working man's boating disaster is on the way.
The economy is good; but the high prices of marina fuel, marina slips, boat insurance, maintenance, is going to kill boating for a lot of working people starting this coming season.
I see a repeat of the early 1990s, when I moved from the Boston area to Boston's south shore. I went to a local marina and asked to get on a waiting list for a boat slip, I knew it would take years to get in. I was laughed at, the marina operator told me he had a waiting list for slips equal to all the boats in the marina and I was wasting my time-two years later in a bad economy, they had several empty slips for the entire season.
I see this happening again. When the people in the marinas bail out for economic reasons, as I expect will start this season, many people on the waiting lists will find out they can't afford the slips,and the fuel prices either.
Non-boat owners can't relate to filling up a boat fuel tank and spending between $100 and in the case of big twin diesels in a sportfisherman a thousand dollars a fillup.
I brought a 45 Cabo, twin 800 hp diesels up from the Bahamas last spring with the owner onboard. He put $8,700 of diesel into the tanks. Now most working men don't have boats that big, and with that much horsepower,or that kind of money for fuel. I am talking about working class boaters who don't have a lot of money left over each week to pay those really high fuel bills that started last season.
Boats use a lot of fuel (1-3 mpg). If you have $3.00/gallon to deal with ashore, the boat owner has $3.30 - $3.80 to deal with in the marina.
It's not just the fuel, the rising slip fees are another factor. In my area now, they are from $100/foot to $175/foot for a boat in a slip for the season. Usually May thru Mid October.
Last season was the economic handwriting on the wall, but most boaters toughed it out. The reality of economics will take its toll this season.
I see ancedotes indicating the boating problem right now. The boat I use on charter has been in the water since the end of March; at a year round, ice free marina, that usually has 30 or so boats there this time of year. I counted 13 today. We will move out of this marina to our regular marina in mid May when it opens for the season.
I just don't see fuel prices going down. China and India need more fuel. The mideast is shaky. Hugo Chavez (Venezuela) is a lose cannon. - tom
That model has a 1,000 gallon fuel capacity so I suggest you fuel up at 1/3 full. That way it will only cost you around $2,000 at $3.00 a gallon for diesel. - tom
You're a true sportsman, Lurker. A true sportsman. :-)
I guess I'll comment. Boo f'in Hoo. There's nothing sillier than a boat unless it's a nose ring. I wouldn't accept one as a gift unless I could put an ad in the paper to sell it the next day.
'Course that's just my opinion.
I used to live 10 minutes away from a beautiful lake north of Columbus. I would get up early and just take a short drive ... get out and take a walk ... pray ... spend time with mother nature ... enjoy the sunrise. I loved the solitude. But when summer came around ... I resented being part of mankind. The noise started before the sun came up sometimes.
Any boat longer than 20 foot is like standing naked in a cold shower tearing up 100 dollar bills.
My next boat is going to be a canoe. That'll make three.
One is an 8 foot inflatable. It's perfect for lily pad covered bass habitat. The other is an 8 foot long Coleman plastic fisher. Both of them have mounts for electric motors.
I can toss 'em in the back of the Durango and carry 'em to the waters edge. They're quiet, non-polluting, and carry two people and fishing gear almost perfectly.
I'm so glad I sold the 20 foot Maxum 5 years ago. Other than marrying Mrs. L it's just about the best decision I ever made.
L
A few years back that was done by many people. The high slip costs make it less attractive.
Take a 35 foot boat, at $150/foot = $5,250, Then add to that hauling, launching and winter storage which will add on another fifteen hundred or more dollars. Not using a boat still costs you money. - tom
It would cost me about $170 to fill up my Grady at gas station prices. Closer to $200 at marina prices.
I didn't go out at all after Katrina last year...but with prices close to those levels now, I guess I'm going to have to plan shorter trips this year.
I'm a working class guy and own a 21 foot duracraft deck boat. I love it, family loves it. Yes, it's expensive, but so is any hobby. It's not an investment, it's recreation. You guys do still pay to go out to eat, movies, etc. right?
Ya think?
Skippers of these "land yachts" feel your pain. An RV like this gets around 6-7 mpg, and holds 55 gallons of gasoline minimum. Tack on running the generator, and you can go through some gas in a hurry.
I'm interested in your essay, but not sure how to comment.
If I'm understanding correctly though, fuel prices are not that high historically, once inflation is taken into account. 'Course, with Venezuela and Iran in the picture, they may be shortly.
So, I have the feeling that during the last 20 years or so, the problem is more that boats have been built heavier, wider, larger, and with lots more horsepower, rather than that fuel has gotten overy pricey. These days, for instance, Bimini is filled with weekend warriors, all of them owning 25-35 footers, deep vees, easily suitable for short ocean passages, even in fairly rough conditions, with from 400 to 600 horsepower outboard packages, and having minimum fuel cap'y of 200 gallons. And those are just the "small" boats, as you know. And a lot of 'em are "blue collar" boats. My plumber owns a 28' deep vee with 400 hp, aluminum tower, fancy outriggers, the whole deal.
Anyway, go back 25 years, and everyone (going offshore of the reef) had 20 footers, pretty much, and with a max of 200 hp, usually considerably less, and 60-80 gallon fuel cap'y. Lots less expensive to run, still good enough to cross the Stream.
Go back another 40 years, there weren't large outboards, only 4 stroke gas engines, boats were much narrower, cut through the water nicely, burned less gas. IMO, excessive beam isn't so seaworthy anyhow, better to make it longer than wider if you want more room.
I have noticed that waterfront land is getting too expensive to be used for marinas or boat yards. Those things are dwindling, the ones that remain will get very high prices for their services.
My opinion is though, that most municipalities will keep dock space available for charter boats and visiting yachtsmen, there's still money in it, plus they can rent space for stores, restaurants, etc. Same goes for hotels, they'll want those services for their guests, plus they get a share of the take.
So I'm not sure how the boating future is for the ordinary guy, but I think it'll be OK, most of 'em keep their boats on trailers anyway, while I think space will probably be provided for the commercial guys if only for the reason that it's in the interest of other businesses to have 'em around.
Interesting question anyhow - I'm a believer in the free market, but confess that I have mixed feelings about it all, just as I do when I see farms being developed for housing, or wilderness disappearing.
That's what is happening in my town. They built two condos directly behind the boat fifty feet away. The condo owners now have first crack at any slips that become available in the Marina since the marina owner also owns the condos. People who can afford a million dollars for a condo with a great waterfront view, can certainly afford a marina slip. Some have already gotten some slips. More condos are planned for the future.
On some trips I have to leave in the dark at 4 AM and go south to another harbor to pick up a charter and be off the dock there at 5 AM. When I start the diesel engine at 4 AM I am sure it can be heard in the condos. There always will be those conflicts of interest.
Bumps in boating costs create temporary ebbs in sales, but 5 months later...
If you can afford a Cabo 45, you can afford to fill the tanks - just a small drop in the bucket compared to all the other costs of ownership. But you may take a few less offshore trips each season.
Insurance and dockage costs have gone way up - that's what worries me more. And all boat yards suck, but that's nothing new...
Do you know what BOAT stands for? Bust Out Another Thousand - woohoo!
Why would anyone own a stinkpot? Sail is the only way to go! Maybe a hundred gallons or so of diesel for the whole season for the auxillary.
Oh, and the two best days in a boat owner's life: the day you buy the boat, and the day you sell it.
*Liberals* own sailboats, fish with flyrods for small freshwater trout, cycle for sport in funny looking clothes, and hunt with expensive side by sides that cost $10,000.
*Conservatives* drive big noisy powerboats that go like hell, fish with trolling rods for billfish and sharks, ride things like swampbuggies for sport, and hunt with a bolt action.
The only cure for 'twofootitis' is quitting cold turkey. Yea, it's painful for a while but that passes.
Owning anything longer than 8 feet is like having the words 'disposable income' tattooed on your forehead.
L
A person with a brain divides the number of nights he thinks he will use one of those things by the cost of the best motel room. per night. Guess which is always the cheapest. Oh, I do have a 20 foot pontoon, hasn't moved out of it trailer beside the barn in about ten years.
i.e. Southport Marina and the Long Beach Pier. Oceanfront lots where the pier was seem to be starting at 1.2M, the LOT mind you.
So, we have a boating bubble?
Are you guys near Southport and Bald Head Island NC?
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