I think the gas prices may be making a big difference. The slips at our marina are almost half empty. Normally they are filled entirely by the Memorial Day weekend. We've had a relatively cold spring so it wasn't that strange that fewer boaters were out during the previous weekends. This past weekend, there weren't many boats out despite high temps and the water is finally warm enough for swimming. The go-fast boats are noticeably absent. I only saw one with triple 225 hp's and he only appeared to make one lap before retiring (they used to make endless, mindless laps around the lake)!
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it's the environment
My power boat friends claim they are only trying to do their part to conserve fossil fuel energy sources by not using their boats as much. Sounds ironic to me (coming from poweer boat owners) but there are noticeably fewer wakes with which to contend so far this summer and that's a good thing.
My power boat friends claim they are only trying to do their part to conserve fossil fuel energy sources by not using their boats as much. Sounds ironic to me (coming from poweer boat owners) but there are noticeably fewer wakes with which to contend so far this summer and that's a good thing.
Don
I think your friends are only giving a partial truth. I think they left out the part where they cant afford the gas. Thats the part few like to admit. We have now entered a very scarey economy. I dont see fossil fuel ever going down again. This has an rising cost effect on everything we buy. I too have noticed much less power boat activity and also somewhat less sailboat activity. Lots of boats coming up for sale, both sail and power. If we didnt live aboard, we could not afford a boat this size, or perhaps any size. There was a previous thread not too long ago about sailors and how long of a trip to their boat and what influence fuel prices have on them. Me thinks that those of us that can still enjoy one of our favorite passtimes are fortunate indeed. Tony B
I think your friends are only giving a partial truth. I think they left out the part where they cant afford the gas. Thats the part few like to admit. We have now entered a very scarey economy. I dont see fossil fuel ever going down again. This has an rising cost effect on everything we buy. I too have noticed much less power boat activity and also somewhat less sailboat activity. Lots of boats coming up for sale, both sail and power. If we didnt live aboard, we could not afford a boat this size, or perhaps any size. There was a previous thread not too long ago about sailors and how long of a trip to their boat and what influence fuel prices have on them. Me thinks that those of us that can still enjoy one of our favorite passtimes are fortunate indeed. Tony B
Same Thing in Alabama
There seems to be fewer power boats out on the lake except for fishermen. The fishermen don't seem to be running around as much. This is fine by me!!!! I talked to a man in Iuka Mississippi that had a beautiful huge houseboat. He said that he got less than a mile to the gallon and rarely took trips. He said that his last trip cost $1600 in fuel and that was a few years ago when diesel was cheap and the rip was only about 100 miles. But he was living his dream. He said that he just likes living aboard and that he had sold his house on land. His houseboat appeared to have more room than my house on land!!!! It was two story not including the flying bridge level. Looked to be 60' long. My dream is much more humble and energy efficent. At $5.00 diesel I motor as little as possible...just enough to keep the engine working and to get in and out of my slip. One of the great things was a noticeable absence of the usual flocks of jet skis. There were a few but not the numbers seen in th epast.
There seems to be fewer power boats out on the lake except for fishermen. The fishermen don't seem to be running around as much. This is fine by me!!!! I talked to a man in Iuka Mississippi that had a beautiful huge houseboat. He said that he got less than a mile to the gallon and rarely took trips. He said that his last trip cost $1600 in fuel and that was a few years ago when diesel was cheap and the rip was only about 100 miles. But he was living his dream. He said that he just likes living aboard and that he had sold his house on land. His houseboat appeared to have more room than my house on land!!!! It was two story not including the flying bridge level. Looked to be 60' long. My dream is much more humble and energy efficent. At $5.00 diesel I motor as little as possible...just enough to keep the engine working and to get in and out of my slip. One of the great things was a noticeable absence of the usual flocks of jet skis. There were a few but not the numbers seen in th epast.
Marcia
I dont know if the number of sailboats sales will go up this year, I doubt it. But i can notice the number of sailboats up for sale has increased in my area. One broker in my area is advertising a 6% sales commission instead of the usual 10%. This is not a scientific survey, just an observation from living in the second or third largest sailing community in America. Keep in mind that lots of folks live 100 or more miles away from their boats. IMHO Tony B
I dont know if the number of sailboats sales will go up this year, I doubt it. But i can notice the number of sailboats up for sale has increased in my area. One broker in my area is advertising a 6% sales commission instead of the usual 10%. This is not a scientific survey, just an observation from living in the second or third largest sailing community in America. Keep in mind that lots of folks live 100 or more miles away from their boats. IMHO Tony B
It's a beautiful thing
Diane and I were out friday night in light winds and we were actually able to sail thanks to the lack of boat wakes dumping our sails. It was nice in deed. The State Police pulled over every power boat we saw out. They passed us twice and just waved. We have also noticed the boats that are out are driving alot slower I suppose to conserve fuel. The only thing I regret is I actually paid a $ 100 increase for my slip this year back when the snow was on the ground. I think he has about ten open slips. Don't forget its a five year draw down this fall also. The season will be shorter by a month or more. I don't think all the empty slips have a chance of filling up at this point. Be well Scott See you out there
Diane and I were out friday night in light winds and we were actually able to sail thanks to the lack of boat wakes dumping our sails. It was nice in deed. The State Police pulled over every power boat we saw out. They passed us twice and just waved. We have also noticed the boats that are out are driving alot slower I suppose to conserve fuel. The only thing I regret is I actually paid a $ 100 increase for my slip this year back when the snow was on the ground. I think he has about ten open slips. Don't forget its a five year draw down this fall also. The season will be shorter by a month or more. I don't think all the empty slips have a chance of filling up at this point. Be well Scott See you out there
I figure that the round trip cost to our boat is about six dollars
That's just about 35 miles. We are among the closer owners at our marina many of them come out of PA and drive for a hour or more each way. One of our slip neighbors told me that a fillup fo his gas engined boat is about 200 dollars and that he can burn that in one weekend.
That's just about 35 miles. We are among the closer owners at our marina many of them come out of PA and drive for a hour or more each way. One of our slip neighbors told me that a fillup fo his gas engined boat is about 200 dollars and that he can burn that in one weekend.
Watch the price of all boats go up
Oil is a major ingredient in epoxy, plastics and so forth. Everything is going up. It's 160mi round trip to our boat and my wife says we are going. Last time we got out was for Memorial day weekend and the power boats were flying. This coming weekend will be test to see how many are out.
Oil is a major ingredient in epoxy, plastics and so forth. Everything is going up. It's 160mi round trip to our boat and my wife says we are going. Last time we got out was for Memorial day weekend and the power boats were flying. This coming weekend will be test to see how many are out.
Speaking of Fuel Costs ....
...even some pretty wealthy motor yacht friends have way dialed back their trips. In their cases, I tend to think it's more psychological. And, you see a lot of planning hulls going hull speed or less. However, in an earlier post this year, I speculated I'd be paying $4.50 / gallon for automobile gas in my California community by summer. Well, it just broke through $5.00 so I'm changing that call to 6.00. A round trip to my boat in January cost me $34; now it's $49. Not a big deal but it adds up, especially since it hasn't washed through the general economy or the marine one yet. RD
...even some pretty wealthy motor yacht friends have way dialed back their trips. In their cases, I tend to think it's more psychological. And, you see a lot of planning hulls going hull speed or less. However, in an earlier post this year, I speculated I'd be paying $4.50 / gallon for automobile gas in my California community by summer. Well, it just broke through $5.00 so I'm changing that call to 6.00. A round trip to my boat in January cost me $34; now it's $49. Not a big deal but it adds up, especially since it hasn't washed through the general economy or the marine one yet. RD
Really notice it in Chicago
Hardly see any power boats out. The ones that do circle around the harbor at hull speed for about an hour and then come back in (maybe juice it once for a few minutes just to remember what it used to be like when diesel was cheaper). Most of the time they just sit on the boat at their mooring (probably the same as at the slips). Guess I'm luckier than some as I can take a bus and a train down to the harbor and back from my house if fuel prices get outta site.
Hardly see any power boats out. The ones that do circle around the harbor at hull speed for about an hour and then come back in (maybe juice it once for a few minutes just to remember what it used to be like when diesel was cheaper). Most of the time they just sit on the boat at their mooring (probably the same as at the slips). Guess I'm luckier than some as I can take a bus and a train down to the harbor and back from my house if fuel prices get outta site.
Up and Down
We are actually seeing a few more power boats. Our lake is not a great water skiing lake due to wind. But, I see more power boaters coming here now instead of driving further up into the mountains to the higher reservoirs where the water skiing is better. I don't mind them. The kids in the tubes/skis are having fun and they don't hassle us. I have never understood why some sailors instinctively dislike power boats. As for boat sales - both power and sail boats are down. The economy and credit are certainly part of the equation. I would guess that many "luxury" items are off. We are 15 miles from the lake and, in our Camry hybrid, that is less than a gallon round trip.
We are actually seeing a few more power boats. Our lake is not a great water skiing lake due to wind. But, I see more power boaters coming here now instead of driving further up into the mountains to the higher reservoirs where the water skiing is better. I don't mind them. The kids in the tubes/skis are having fun and they don't hassle us. I have never understood why some sailors instinctively dislike power boats. As for boat sales - both power and sail boats are down. The economy and credit are certainly part of the equation. I would guess that many "luxury" items are off. We are 15 miles from the lake and, in our Camry hybrid, that is less than a gallon round trip.
Randy, I agree with you ...
I think that water skiers are far more like-minded with sailors than they are with other power boat users. Besides, the desirable conditions for water skiing and sailing do not coincide at all. You may not even realize that there are many people who cross over a lot between active sports activities such as water skiing, snow skiing, windsurfing and sailing. Now, water skiing and fishing ... that makes for some nasty confrontations! When I used to be much more heavily involved with water skiing on a small lake that was perfect for that activity, the only confrontations we had were with fishermen (and they were nasty SOB's)! They used to purposely get right in our slalom course, while we were using it, just to disrupt what we were doing. And if we left our markers out overnight, we would come back in the morning to find them slashed. It was never the local residents. It was always the guys in the rental boats, and we knew it meant trouble everytime one of them headed in our direction! Actually, as a water skier, I hate watching performance boats and party boats driving around in pointless circles as well! . Nothing ruins the water skiing conditions faster. I agree that as much as tubing is annoying to contend with, you can't feel angry about some kids (and it is always little kids) having fun. Sailors? ... not a problem in any way!
I think that water skiers are far more like-minded with sailors than they are with other power boat users. Besides, the desirable conditions for water skiing and sailing do not coincide at all. You may not even realize that there are many people who cross over a lot between active sports activities such as water skiing, snow skiing, windsurfing and sailing. Now, water skiing and fishing ... that makes for some nasty confrontations! When I used to be much more heavily involved with water skiing on a small lake that was perfect for that activity, the only confrontations we had were with fishermen (and they were nasty SOB's
)! They used to purposely get right in our slalom course, while we were using it, just to disrupt what we were doing. And if we left our markers out overnight, we would come back in the morning to find them slashed. It was never the local residents. It was always the guys in the rental boats, and we knew it meant trouble everytime one of them headed in our direction! Actually, as a water skier, I hate watching performance boats and party boats driving around in pointless circles as well! . Nothing ruins the water skiing conditions faster. I agree that as much as tubing is annoying to contend with, you can't feel angry about some kids (and it is always little kids) having fun. Sailors? ... not a problem in any way! 
not true everywhere
I work at a sailboat dealership and so far this year 2008, we're up over 30% in sales from last year. We're getting new boat deliveries almost once a week. Most of the people who can afford $250,00-$450,000 aren't too worried about that. They have either traded in their 2-4 year old boat or have $$ up front.
I work at a sailboat dealership and so far this year 2008, we're up over 30% in sales from last year. We're getting new boat deliveries almost once a week. Most of the people who can afford $250,00-$450,000 aren't too worried about that. They have either traded in their 2-4 year old boat or have $$ up front.
Stillraining!
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