Gas prices, inflation concerns

Jan 24, 2018
23
Catalina 25 Whiskeytown Lake
Boating cost is one of the few things that doesn’t seem to be skyrocketing for us. The lake is just 25 minutes away. I go out almost weekly and the cost of boat gas (less than 10 gallons a year) is negligible. Our marina fees rose in January but not to the point I would give up sailing. We also have a travel trailer and have some extended trips planned. Diesel for the truck will be a big hit but we’ll still go. That’s life and you can’t take it with you. I’ll just go sailing to forget about it! :)
 
Mar 20, 2015
3,244
C&C 30 Mk1 Winnipeg
The only difference for me this year might be fewer power boats out on the lake, which would be an improvement.
I our case it should mean less powerboats and PWC in the marina. The lake is big enough and often scary enough that power boats aren't much of a thing once you get far enough out.

Even before the recent fuel increase and inflation, the 25ft+ powerboats went out for an hour or two, while the keelboats would be out all day, if not all weekend. I suspect many of the powerboats may become dock cottages. Already see the "for sale" ads being posted. Sadly I suspect many of them may be COVID boats that were only purchased in the last few years.

Marina fees are reasonable and have barely increased.

72 miles each way, to the marina, so fuel to drive up there would, in theory, be more than any boat fuel. But we now have a EV so that won't be a factor at all except for when we use the truck to haul stuff up there.
In fact, our "new" bigger boat will lower potential fuel costs because we won't be trailering it like the C22.

There are two gentlemen who share a keelboat at our marina. They use it both together and individually, and are apparently good friends. Not sure of the details of their agreement but it seems to work.

I suspect that inflation and fuel/transport costs will decrease engine based recreational activities and even boat and vacation home values. Who knows, maybe you will see increased rental demand.

Overall inflation will be the biggest factor, especially when you consider that Europe has had high fuel costs for ages and North America has had it good so nothing to complain about. (Or course the fuel contributes to the overall cost of everything)
 
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Feb 6, 1998
11,711
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
I. Was speaking with one of our sport fishing customers the other day. He bringshis boat from Maine to Fl every winter. Itwill now be costing him 50k round trip to do so. His answer is to buy another boat that will remain in Fl.. the folks who miss out are the small marinas up and down the East coast where they used to re-fuel..