average riding time for primary drivers?

[Timmy!]

I like riding in the spring/fall because I actually get more riding time in because there are usually just 3 or 4 of us on the boat that ride. I got in almost a full hour straight of surfing on Sunday for the first time this year. The last 2 times we have gone out we are using the "pretend like it's the last time you will get out this year" mentality because here in Colorado, you never know when your season will come to an end. During the regular season, we get 10-15 minute sets and rarely get more than 1 or 2, 3 would be a dream.

[Bruizza]

Man this is a tough one. I am the primary driver on our boat and my bro's boat. We put just over 100 hours on each boat this summer. I sure as heck hope I got at least 40 combined hours of riding time in.

[Timmy!]

If I could get 40 hours of riding in in one season, I would be so good! LOL! I can see/feel progress in my riding each and every time I go out.

[mdk681]

Trust me, I do. And some of our folks are really good about fuel costs ("I'm coming with you to the gas station. Bring ALL of your gas cans. I'm buying."). I've had visitors drop $250+ in one visit just to restock my fuel supplies.

On the other hand, daily visitors aren't as quick to pay. And as we've discussed before here, I generally don't ask. I accept if it's offered, but the fun and friendship is worth it to me even when they don't. I figure what goes around, comes around. I'm sure I get an equivalent value from them during the year in terms of labor around the house, meals at their place, etc. I don't count pennies amongst friends.

I'm still tempted to get one of those t-shirts that reads "The boat doesn't run on thanks", though.

I completely agree. We are out riding quite often having the boat on a lift at the house ready to go. Most all of my friends are very good about offering cash. The core group of people I ride with won't stop asking me to fill the tanks and/or bring their own gas cans to fill up. These are the people who I truly apprecaite and enjoy sharing my boat with.

Even if people don't offer gas payment, I rarely buy beer/food at the bars on the lake with everyone offering to cover the bill. Most people say, "Whats better than owning a boat? Having a friend with a boat!" ... I would have to disagree with that saying

[IDBoating]

bring their own gas cans to fill up

I actually prefer cash to gas in a can. I'm picky about the gasoline I use, paying extra to get non-ethanol fuel. After I took possession of the boat it has only had non-ethanol in it. You never know where people buy their gas, and they're unlikely to make an effort to find (and pay extra for) non-ethanol. When folks show up with fuel I thank them for it, but quietly rearrange things so it ends up in my ATV's or generator or chainsaw or something, not the boat or jetskis.

[houstonshark]

We have about 135hrs on our boat since picking it up new in March. I would be surprised if I have more than 16-18hrs of ride time. I pulled a stomach muscle around Memorial Day and didn't ride much for at least a month, except for an occasional quick surf set.

I do enjoy driving and just being on the boat, especially if we have friends out so I'm cool if I don't get much ride time. I sure would like to progress a little faster, but you just can't do it at my age without ride time!