Boat is going out for the first time this year in about half hour

[Carter13]

That's too bad your parents can't afford it. What is the cause? Fuel prices or other?

[ddmracing05]

Fuel and Financial. We would probably try harder if it wasnt ran only 4-5 months a year. $70.00 at the pump today barely gave me half tank. It was Dead empty...

[Carter13]

I totally understand the 4 to 5 months running a year. Here in the Pacific Northwest you're lucky if you get 4 months of good weather. We used to head to Eastern Oregon or Idaho to get warm solid weather. Fuel prices are definately spoiling everyones summer fun no matter what the activity is as long as it requires fuel.

[Guest]

Even though fuel is going to put a dent into what many refer to as disposable income and my wallet we will try to make the best out of a bad thing and do without a lot of the frivolities we had when gas was under $2.25. Life and the love of boating has to go on. Make a few ski runs and then go floating with the wetsounds blaring

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do It is a short 3-4 month season here and I plan on making the most of it. It will be expensive but I don't have 20 years of skiing left.

[scoot18]

I don't see any floating turds around there. I do see a nice looking Tige.

Now thats funny, real funny. I didn't see any either

its a nice boat ill give it that. Sadly It may be gone in about a month because we just cant afford it these days.

Dude, that suuuuuuuuuuuuuccccckkssssssssssssssssss! Is that a definate or just thinking about it? Did the engine repair cost push you over the edge in frustration?

[sparky216]

I would still argue that boating is a reasonable form of entertainment for the family and friends. Take a typical scenario with our family and our neighbors.
[I]4 Adults and 4 Kids

Distance to Lake= 45miles
45x2= 90 miles of towing
MPG=10 while towing
Approx 9 Gallons of fuel
9x$4.00= $36.00[/I]

All day at the lake, with 1 hr of wakeboarding and 1 hr of surfing and towing the kids on the tube. Cruising the lake for a bit but stopping in a lot of the coves to listen to tunes, let the kids jump off the back of the boat....etc

Fuel Burnt 14 Gal
16X $4.00= $64.00

$64+$36= $100.00

Even if I were to have used 20 gal of boat fuel I still provided entertainment for 8 people for under $150.00, and had quality time with my kids. I don't think you can take 8 people out to a movie and popcorn for under $150.00.
Movie Ticket $8.50= $68.00
Popcorn $5.00= $40.00
Soda $5.00 = $40.00
$80+$68 =$148.00 for two hours of entertainment for 8

So my per hour entertainment costs are relatively cheap boating even with $4 or $5 fuel.

Anyway I just urge people to not become reactionary to rising fuel costs. While I know it sucks and hurts the ol' pocketbook, everything else will also get more expensive and as inflation rises so will wages and compensation. I will still tow to Eastern Oregon and Northern Cal because my per hour entertainment costs are still reasonable boating. And more important is that my family loves it, my kids talk about it all winter long, and those smiles are priceless.

sorry for my rant

[Carter13]

Sparky,

Your numbers per hour are correct for the fuel cost. What you are leaving out however is the boat payment which is $300 and up per month. If you figure the eight months a year that you can't use the boat here in the Northwest the per hour cost goes through the roof.
My payment was $412 per month plus $38 for insurance, grand total $450.
The cost per year was $5400 and then you add the fuel.
I put 50 hours on the boat last year and with fuel I figured it at $125 per hour. Not exactly a cheap hobby and we all know that.
If you wanna play you gotta pay, it just comes down to how much a person is willing to pay. I'll be floating in my pool this summer with some booze.

[sparky216]

Sparky,

Your numbers per hour are correct for the fuel cost. What you are leaving out however is the boat payment which is $300 and up per month. If you figure the eight months a year that you can't use the boat here in the Northwest the per hour cost goes through the roof.
My payment was $412 per month plus $38 for insurance, grand total $450.
The cost per year was $5400 and then you add the fuel.
I put 50 hours on the boat last year and with fuel I figured it at $125 per hour. Not exactly a cheap hobby and we all know that.
If you wanna play you gotta pay, it just comes down to how much a person is willing to pay. I'll be floating in my pool this summer with some booze.

Carter,
I agree with you, my payment is $289.00 a month and $400 a year for insurance and I did forget to include that in my equation. Fact is, it still is a good price for me in regards to entertainment expense. Anyway I'll trade some pull time for pool time

Later,

Sparky

[dogbert]

Sparky, I figured out that I used between $3500 and $4000 in boat gas last summer.

[sparky216]

Sparky, I figured out that I used between $3500 and $4000 in boat gas last summer.

wow, that is a lot of fuel! Prices last year were what, $3 a gallon ( $4000 /3=1333 gal of gas) Was it worth it? I think it most likely was a sound investment in your family life.

[davidf]

Nice boat!

[ddmracing05]

Now thats funny, real funny. I didn't see any either




Dude, that suuuuuuuuuuuuuccccckkssssssssssssssssss! Is that a definate or just thinking about it? Did the engine repair cost push you over the edge in frustration?

well Engine work and winterizing was $800.00, Hatches is $200.00, gas will be... god knows . Payments I have no clue since I dont pay them. I did spend the weekend buffing and waxing the boat though and cut out a 12" hole in the kicker panel under the concole for a new sub Can you say Ripples in the water . But yeah. Mom likes having expensive cars and what not and she pays the bills soooo the boat will be gone by the end of summer. Question is when between here and then .

[da.bell]

well Engine work and winterizing was $800.00, Hatches is $200.00, gas will be... god knows . Payments I have no clue since I dont pay them. I did spend the weekend buffing and waxing the boat though and cut out a 12" hole in the kicker panel under the concole for a new sub Can you say Ripples in the water . But yeah. Mom likes having expensive cars and what not and she pays the bills soooo the boat will be gone by the end of summer. Question is when between here and then .

boooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dogbert]

wow, that is a lot of fuel! Prices last year were what, $3 a gallon ( $4000 /3=1333 gal of gas) Was it worth it? I think it most likely was a sound investment in your family life.

Well, we logged over 220 hrs and averaged about 5 gals per hour. It was sooo much fun and we met lots of interesting people. I think everyone knows my boat on Lake Austin now. I'm guessing we'll be back this year with a vengence. Lake Austin was closed a good portion of last summer, so this year we'll probably top that.

[yllw20]

why don't you sell your mercedes and keep the boat.....life is all about priorities.