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I've never used much fuel...
when it comes to boating. I'm fortunate to live in an area where the launch ramps are anyhwere from just a 1/4 mile to only 2 miles from my house. Plus, I can tie my boat to a friend's dock for as long as I need to, and it doesn't cost me a cent. I've never liked motors on a boat so I learned to row, pole, scull, kedge, paddle, or even drift on the tide in order to reach my intended destination -- anything to keep from firing up that "danged ol' infernal combustion engine!" So... nope, the high price of fuel won't affect my sailing in the least. Gary T Valentyne
when it comes to boating. I'm fortunate to live in an area where the launch ramps are anyhwere from just a 1/4 mile to only 2 miles from my house. Plus, I can tie my boat to a friend's dock for as long as I need to, and it doesn't cost me a cent. I've never liked motors on a boat so I learned to row, pole, scull, kedge, paddle, or even drift on the tide in order to reach my intended destination -- anything to keep from firing up that "danged ol' infernal combustion engine!" So... nope, the high price of fuel won't affect my sailing in the least. Gary T Valentyne
Summer sailing plans
Our summer sailing plans are somewhat defined by travel time and distance from the house to the boat (6 hours and 375 miles one way). We generally make the trip worth while by staying with the boat for a month or more, returning to the house for family events and medical reasons. Carolina has just returned from 6 months in the Abacos and we definitly noticed the change in diesel prices on the ICW, but it was much more on the other side of the Gulf Stream. We motorsailed in the ICW and used Marsh Harbour as a hub, letting the wind determine our choice of the Family islands to visit. Our cruising this summer will likely be aimed at the Inner Banks of North Carolina, and possibly venturing north into the Chesapeake, but we will know more as we do it. Steve and Sheila Kamp H-38 Carolina
Our summer sailing plans are somewhat defined by travel time and distance from the house to the boat (6 hours and 375 miles one way). We generally make the trip worth while by staying with the boat for a month or more, returning to the house for family events and medical reasons. Carolina has just returned from 6 months in the Abacos and we definitly noticed the change in diesel prices on the ICW, but it was much more on the other side of the Gulf Stream. We motorsailed in the ICW and used Marsh Harbour as a hub, letting the wind determine our choice of the Family islands to visit. Our cruising this summer will likely be aimed at the Inner Banks of North Carolina, and possibly venturing north into the Chesapeake, but we will know more as we do it. Steve and Sheila Kamp H-38 Carolina
Retired
Yep we are retired and plan on staying on the boat most of the time this summer our last year with the boat on Long Island,NY. We also were planning on some camping off LI with our motor home but with the price of gas will only do one or two local trips with friends. I am just fine with using our boat as home away from home in Florida and will enjoy all the great sailing to many harbors. Our marina in Greenport is full and don't see any empty slips,will see how often the power boaters leave the dock,usually get a lot of power boaters visit from CT,RI and south shore Long Island over the summer,I would think we will see less power boats speeding around as much this year. But there is a lot of money out on the east end here and very big boaters come here so time will tell. Nick
Yep we are retired and plan on staying on the boat most of the time this summer our last year with the boat on Long Island,NY. We also were planning on some camping off LI with our motor home but with the price of gas will only do one or two local trips with friends. I am just fine with using our boat as home away from home in Florida and will enjoy all the great sailing to many harbors. Our marina in Greenport is full and don't see any empty slips,will see how often the power boaters leave the dock,usually get a lot of power boaters visit from CT,RI and south shore Long Island over the summer,I would think we will see less power boats speeding around as much this year. But there is a lot of money out on the east end here and very big boaters come here so time will tell. Nick
Sailboats and trawlers will increase in value
When I bought my boat three seasons ago (ending my days as a charter) a rather perceptive friend predicted that sailboats and trawlers were going to increase in value. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but I noticed that a another buddy was able to charter a Bayliner 32 for the first week of August, and he did that just a week ago with no difficulty. They even offset the charter off of the weekends, plus they gave a discount. That says there are charter boats still available for prime weeks. I suspect small to medium size power boats are hurting. In large sizes, powerboats are owned by people who don't worry so much about the cost of fuel, IMO. For myself, even with long runs under power, my fuel usage is usually surprising low, and I figure I have at least a two year supply of fuel on board. So I'm going to be investing in fuel filters and stablizer. So no change of plans; I'm feeling a little smug about owning a hybrid (diesel, sail, solar) recreational vehicle.
When I bought my boat three seasons ago (ending my days as a charter) a rather perceptive friend predicted that sailboats and trawlers were going to increase in value. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but I noticed that a another buddy was able to charter a Bayliner 32 for the first week of August, and he did that just a week ago with no difficulty. They even offset the charter off of the weekends, plus they gave a discount. That says there are charter boats still available for prime weeks. I suspect small to medium size power boats are hurting. In large sizes, powerboats are owned by people who don't worry so much about the cost of fuel, IMO. For myself, even with long runs under power, my fuel usage is usually surprising low, and I figure I have at least a two year supply of fuel on board. So I'm going to be investing in fuel filters and stablizer. So no change of plans; I'm feeling a little smug about owning a hybrid (diesel, sail, solar) recreational vehicle.
Sailing More
We are sailing more this year than ever. The lake is a world away from home but the round trip of 30 miles takes less than a gallon of gas. Towing the boat for our fall trip to the San Juans will be about 700 miles round trip so that is about 70 gallons and around $300 or so in gas. Still a bargain for a two week cruise in a beautiful area on our own boat.
We are sailing more this year than ever. The lake is a world away from home but the round trip of 30 miles takes less than a gallon of gas. Towing the boat for our fall trip to the San Juans will be about 700 miles round trip so that is about 70 gallons and around $300 or so in gas. Still a bargain for a two week cruise in a beautiful area on our own boat.
You could be in Europe
The price of diesel for boats in France and Spain is now around 10 dollars per gallon. The 300 miles by road to go to our boat will cost us about 200 dollars, so when we go we will stay for a month or so.
The price of diesel for boats in France and Spain is now around 10 dollars per gallon. The 300 miles by road to go to our boat will cost us about 200 dollars, so when we go we will stay for a month or so.
GAS !!!
I dont use much never did. about 6 gallons for a 5 month season. Ill tell you what bothers me. I recently replaced my 20 year old 8hp outboard with a new 4 cycle 8hp outboard. The dealer told me: the gas is not the same as it used to be/ Old gas is problematical and I should avoid it. He said dont buy more gas than you can use up in month. After a month take whats left and dump it in your car. I feel sorry for anyone who has a 2 cycle outboard because when the gas gets too old they have to dump it.
I dont use much never did. about 6 gallons for a 5 month season. Ill tell you what bothers me. I recently replaced my 20 year old 8hp outboard with a new 4 cycle 8hp outboard. The dealer told me: the gas is not the same as it used to be/ Old gas is problematical and I should avoid it. He said dont buy more gas than you can use up in month. After a month take whats left and dump it in your car. I feel sorry for anyone who has a 2 cycle outboard because when the gas gets too old they have to dump it.
Only the wealthy?
powerobats, perhaps. But I am 22 and in college, and find owning my hunter 23 quite inexpensive. Purchase costs are lower than ever. Slips are becoming more plentiful. 10 gallons of gas a season is about the most i'll use. The biggest expense is slippage, and the price of gas doesnt do much to that. As for gas quality: buy a better grade! upgrading from 87 to 93 is only a 1-2% increase, and I promise you, the fuel is of much higher quality. Just as the poor 15 year old F-150 that hauls my 23 around.
powerobats, perhaps. But I am 22 and in college, and find owning my hunter 23 quite inexpensive. Purchase costs are lower than ever. Slips are becoming more plentiful. 10 gallons of gas a season is about the most i'll use. The biggest expense is slippage, and the price of gas doesnt do much to that. As for gas quality: buy a better grade! upgrading from 87 to 93 is only a 1-2% increase, and I promise you, the fuel is of much higher quality. Just as the poor 15 year old F-150 that hauls my 23 around.
fuel no problem
usually we go thru 15 gal of gas a season. So no need to change anything.Even though I like the challenge to use even less. Have sailed back into the slip several times now rather then motoring. I am actually cutting back on my work hours to spend more time on the boat. I love the much quieter lake. Less powerboats, less waves and much cleaner water. Hopefully people will turn to sailing, kayaking and other non motorized watersports in greater numbers. As a nation we have wasted so many natural resources and it wont hurt us to learn to be more frugal with them. We still have so much to be thankfull for. So go out to the boat and enjoy it!
usually we go thru 15 gal of gas a season. So no need to change anything.Even though I like the challenge to use even less. Have sailed back into the slip several times now rather then motoring. I am actually cutting back on my work hours to spend more time on the boat. I love the much quieter lake. Less powerboats, less waves and much cleaner water. Hopefully people will turn to sailing, kayaking and other non motorized watersports in greater numbers. As a nation we have wasted so many natural resources and it wont hurt us to learn to be more frugal with them. We still have so much to be thankfull for. So go out to the boat and enjoy it!
Brian, Most outboards are made to use the cheap stuff.
It is the alcohol that the State requires that kills the motor. I would buy 89 octane ( recommended by the motor MFG) in winter and store it so that there is no alcohol to hurt the motor in the summer. Pennsylvania requires alcohol in the summer as a mix in the gas we buy. The problem is that the older motors are not built for the alcohol. It degrades rubber and gaskets in older motors and clogs carbs and rots hoses. The good thing is it removes moisture from the fuel tank! You are a rare breed! Thanks for sailing! r.w.landau
It is the alcohol that the State requires that kills the motor. I would buy 89 octane ( recommended by the motor MFG) in winter and store it so that there is no alcohol to hurt the motor in the summer. Pennsylvania requires alcohol in the summer as a mix in the gas we buy. The problem is that the older motors are not built for the alcohol. It degrades rubber and gaskets in older motors and clogs carbs and rots hoses. The good thing is it removes moisture from the fuel tank! You are a rare breed! Thanks for sailing! r.w.landau
No Changes planned
We live about a mile from where we keep the boat so the cost of getting there is great. We figure that we will probably use around 20 gallons of diesel this year as the prevailing winds take us out in the morning and bring us back in the afternoon. Sometimes we even sail into the slip and have actually gove a month without even starting the engine. I laugh every time I watch powerboaters put $700-$900 worth og gas in their boats. The real plus side has been that there are a lot less powerboatsers going out to get in our way. It is such a joy to have the water shared by mostly fellow sailers. As we are retired, we used to go sailing mostly during the week when there were less powerboats on the waterNow we look forward to weekends as well. I even have some of my powerboat neighbors wanting to go sailing. As I charter my boat this has helped bring in some extra cash. Got to love the Opec nations.
We live about a mile from where we keep the boat so the cost of getting there is great. We figure that we will probably use around 20 gallons of diesel this year as the prevailing winds take us out in the morning and bring us back in the afternoon. Sometimes we even sail into the slip and have actually gove a month without even starting the engine. I laugh every time I watch powerboaters put $700-$900 worth og gas in their boats. The real plus side has been that there are a lot less powerboatsers going out to get in our way. It is such a joy to have the water shared by mostly fellow sailers. As we are retired, we used to go sailing mostly during the week when there were less powerboats on the waterNow we look forward to weekends as well. I even have some of my powerboat neighbors wanting to go sailing. As I charter my boat this has helped bring in some extra cash. Got to love the Opec nations.
Thanks RW
I mean, sailing is cheap. As opposed to the $7000 I need to pay by next summer just to get the registrar to officially acknowlege I turned in a thesis. As for outboards: I'm pretty new to them. I know in older snowmobiles, they always ran better on the high octane. A friend of my fathers is an engineer for sunoco, and he claims that the low grade is the only fuel with a large portion of alchohol - the higher grades contain just trace amounts. all I know is that I have towed my boat up a specific hill in the Poconos, 7 miles uphill at about 10% grade. I've done it with fresh 87 in tone tank and old high octant in the other (in fact, 15 gallons of gas that came out of the tank of a sunken salvage speedboat that my dad bought). The difference was the difference between crawling up the thing at 40 mph in 3rd gear and cruising at 60
I mean, sailing is cheap. As opposed to the $7000 I need to pay by next summer just to get the registrar to officially acknowlege I turned in a thesis. As for outboards: I'm pretty new to them. I know in older snowmobiles, they always ran better on the high octane. A friend of my fathers is an engineer for sunoco, and he claims that the low grade is the only fuel with a large portion of alchohol - the higher grades contain just trace amounts. all I know is that I have towed my boat up a specific hill in the Poconos, 7 miles uphill at about 10% grade. I've done it with fresh 87 in tone tank and old high octant in the other (in fact, 15 gallons of gas that came out of the tank of a sunken salvage speedboat that my dad bought). The difference was the difference between crawling up the thing at 40 mph in 3rd gear and cruising at 60
it's not the summer that worries me...
...it's the winter. We're liveaboards, and the primary source of heat is a diesel furnace. Might be time to think about electric space heaters.
...it's the winter. We're liveaboards, and the primary source of heat is a diesel furnace. Might be time to think about electric space heaters.
Warren, Have you concidered a pellet stove?
Then again, how much do you spend heating in diesel? That has to be pretty efficient with a blower. r.w.landau
Then again, how much do you spend heating in diesel? That has to be pretty efficient with a blower. r.w.landau
Shoot
Id be happy to pull up to the fuel dock and yell.."Fill-er-up" ....Im still not launched...
...its all relative I guess
Id be happy to pull up to the fuel dock and yell.."Fill-er-up" ....Im still not launched...
...its all relative I guess
1984 Hunter 25.5 - 4 stroke - Not much Gas
I guess I was lucky in selecting this boat 4 yeaars ago. I replaced the engine with a 9.9 4-stroke OB. I only use it to back out of the slip and down the fairway. Getting out into the Bay is an easy reach using my main sail only. No engine for the rest of the day. I have tought myself to sail with full main and jib right into my slip without engine - just for the excitment of it and in case my engine refuses to start in the future! My gas consuption is less than 1/2 a gallon per hour at about 75% of its max RPM. Since this is a trailerable boat - on July 4th weekend for the first time I am going to tow her to Santa Cruz Harbour and experience the ocean sailing - may be even make it to Monterey Bay ( 45 miles down wind) and back. I expect the towing cost to be about $ 200.00 - the experience - Priceless ... The marina is about 32 miles or $ 7.00, where it is kept in the water. So gas has not changed my plans for sailing.
I guess I was lucky in selecting this boat 4 yeaars ago. I replaced the engine with a 9.9 4-stroke OB. I only use it to back out of the slip and down the fairway. Getting out into the Bay is an easy reach using my main sail only. No engine for the rest of the day. I have tought myself to sail with full main and jib right into my slip without engine - just for the excitment of it and in case my engine refuses to start in the future! My gas consuption is less than 1/2 a gallon per hour at about 75% of its max RPM. Since this is a trailerable boat - on July 4th weekend for the first time I am going to tow her to Santa Cruz Harbour and experience the ocean sailing - may be even make it to Monterey Bay ( 45 miles down wind) and back. I expect the towing cost to be about $ 200.00 - the experience - Priceless ... The marina is about 32 miles or $ 7.00, where it is kept in the water. So gas has not changed my plans for sailing.
Fuel Prices
I took on about a half tank today in preparation for a trip tomorrow. The eight gallons cost me $38.00. I was gasping and wheezing on the dock as two power boats were filling up. One took on $1800.00 worth and the other only took on $900.00. I guess it is all a matter of perspective.
I took on about a half tank today in preparation for a trip tomorrow. The eight gallons cost me $38.00. I was gasping and wheezing on the dock as two power boats were filling up. One took on $1800.00 worth and the other only took on $900.00. I guess it is all a matter of perspective.
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