www.iFourWinns.com

Survey says: Two-thirds of US boat owners will not cut back due to high fuel prices

By IBI Magazine/Michael Verdon

A survey of 2,544 US boaters by Nationwide Mutual Insurance says that higher fuel costs would not cause them to cut back on their boating this summer. But they will make shorter trips. About two-thirds of the boat owners indicated high fuel prices would not cause them to use their boats less often. The survey noted that most would be willing to pay US$2.70 more per gallon for fuel — virtually doubling the current price — before they will consider docking their boats.

But fuel prices will impact the length of boat trips. According to the survey, boat owners will be on the water just as often as last summer, about 20 times, but expect to run their engines about 25 minutes less per trip.

Boat owners reported they spend 28 per cent of their total leisure time on the water and 36 per cent of boat owners consider their time boating more important than all other leisure time.

The survey noted that most owners have been engaged in the activity for more than 17 years and have owned their current boat for about six years. About 80 per cent plan to continue boating when they retire. Over the past five years, enthusiasts invested US$6,848 on improvements and accessories for their power boats and US$5,208 for their bass boats.



(17 May 2006)

_________________
One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Will the higher fuel prices change any of your boating plans this year?

For us it won't make much difference, we have a gas fund tucked away for just such an occasion. Now we just need some dryer weather, so we can get out on the water and burn up some gas.

_________________
One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

For as much money as I spend for the boat 'mortgage', insurance, slip fees, and maintenance; the cost of gas, while expensive, has increased less than 5% of the overall cost of owning the boat, so it really won't change my plans much.

Besides, my house is paid for, so I have extra money for gas.

_________________
1999 Vista 268

20 years of mortgage left, 3 college educations, ..... heck I could die tomorrow....wouldn't be life without the boat. college is overrated for the price anyway.

_________________
2000 268 Vista

Ooh, I think that's kinda low.....

_________________
1999 Vista 268

I'll probably boat more at places closer to home but won't boat any less. I tend to do a lot of rafting up in coves anyway so my fuel usuage isn't huge. Since reading that the 8.1 uses .5 gallons per minute at WOT I definitely won't be running like that very often!

_________________
Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

I also will not use the boat any less due to fuel prices. One thing I might do different is trailer the boat up to the Trent Canal instead of across Lake Ontario which is about 120 na. miles.

My goal every summer is to use the boat more than the year before and this year is no different.

Vista Al wrote:




Me too!!! I have spent more in 6 months of owning the 258 than I did in 4 years of supra ownership and we paln on using them. Even if it is just us sitting in the slip!!!

Whats the value in a hobby if you can't spend money on accesories and toys.

The price of gas is not going to affect my boat plans. I figure if I drive fast enough I won't be able to hear the kids complain that they are hungry.

Dang, and here I was hoping there'd be less people on the water because of the price increases! Ah well.

I'm sure there will be less people on the water, especially the larger cruisers, but those aren't the diehards that would normally post here.

_________________
2009 Four Winns SL 242
Searching for that "One Particular Harbor."

I'm not so sure... the folks that can afford these huge baots, probably are not fazed by an increase in fuel prices, its a small portion of their overall cost of ownership

I also expect as the price of fuel rises there will be MORE boating by all the oil company execs... gotta do something with all that extra money

_________________
2005 FW Horizon 230 Volvo 5.7 Gi DP 280 HP
2001 Toyota Tundra

In the cruiser range, I think the folks that are in trouble are the ones that own cruisers up to 40ft or so - those are the ones that are going to have a difficult time with gas prices, and given most of those boats have gas engines, the economy is not as good as diesel.

Above 40ft, its just an annoyance. If the boat cost $750K, it probably already has diesels, and the difference between a $10K or $20K annual fuel bill is probably pocket change for those folks.

_________________
1999 Vista 268