Burning Question | How much pain at the pump?
Apr 15 2011 in Burning questions by Marty McOmber
Three Sheets Northwest is working on a story about how the high price of fuel will affect local boating this year. So we want to find out from you just how high is your threshold for pain at the pump before you change your cruising plans this year.
Take a second to answer this week’s Burning Question and then drop us a line in the comments section below about what steps you are taking, if any, to adjust to high fuel prices.
Al F. said on April 20, 2011
Our “new to us” boat is a “fast trawler”. So whatever that means, we will use it as a slow, normal trawler on one engine with autopilot and see what our diesel mileage is. Worse comes to worse, we will just live on her and stop traveling (apartment vs. adventure). Boat is a 1972 Gulf Commander 45′ with twin Cummins 5.9 engines.
Elsie Hulsizer said on April 18, 2011
As sailboaters, not only do we save fuel by sailing whenever we can, but when we do have to motor, our boat hull is so efficient it will never be as painful for us as it will be for powerboaters. We look forward to the day when fuel is expensive enough to slow traffic down on the water.
steve said on April 20, 2011
what a self-serving butthead comment!!
Devon J Liles said on April 18, 2011
Our Garden designed 42′ North Sea Trawler burns about 1.5 Gallons an hour at 7kts so it only hurts once or twice a year.
See ya on the water……
M/V Sofia
Rob Davison said on April 18, 2011
It doesn’t effect my actual boating as I have a 21 ft sailboat with a 4.5 hp motor that doesn’t cost much to operate but as I live in Central Wa and like to cruise the Sound or the San Juans and the tow rig gets about 8mpg with the boat hooked on it that is one of the largest expenses of cruising, Last year it was 180 to get there an back and 30.00 for gas for ten days in the San Juans. This year it will probably be 300 there and back and close to 50.00 for the boat.
It cuts down on dinners out at interesting places but doesn’t cut down on going.
thuja said on April 17, 2011
Given that fuel, even at higher prices, is a relatively small amount along side moorage and insurance, we will keep cruising as usual, though we may spend more time on the hook to avoid marina fees.
Scott Wilson said on April 16, 2011
If anything, we will probably end up boating MORE… we had talked about taking a road trip this summer to visit friends and family and see some sights, but at this point it’s looking too expensive for that, so we’ll stick around and go sailing instead. As others have mentioned, it isn’t any impediment to our activities on the water… we may top off the tank this spring but I doubt we’ll have to put any more in this year at all, even allowing for a trip up the fjord to Princess Louisa.
Bruce R said on April 16, 2011
As a trailer sailor in Eastern Washington we may not get over to the wet side as often as we would like. We may have to sail the local inland waterways more often. It is not as pretty over here but sailin is sailin.
Don Chase said on April 16, 2011
We too may not go as far north, and do more local anchoring. We’re pretty efficient – although a powerboat – at 1.8 gph for 7 knots. We’re okay with going slow.
El Chivo said on April 15, 2011
With a 2QM15 Yanmar diesel and a sail boat, fuel prices really don’t affect my boating plans. Last Year a cruise to Lasqueti Island in Canada and back to Seattle we used less than 20 gal of diesel. Generally, I am sad when I have to run the engine, I much prefer sailing, even if it takes a while to get where I’m heading.
Dylan Lippert said on April 15, 2011
We finally just filled up. Our 60 gallons should last quite a while now that we have new injectors.
Rob Morton said on April 15, 2011
The price of fuel won’t really affect what we do for going boating. It may affect how far we go and we may stay an extra night here and there to cut down on run time. When we plan vacation we kind of factor that in.
Rob
chickenbone said on April 15, 2011
My boat only carries 80 gallons and we filled up last fall. We should be good till next fall.
Oh and the engine on my boat is only double the horse power of my dinghy’s OB. Sooooo, she sips fuel, when we aren’t sailin…..err becalmed.