Gas prices... At what price will you throw in towel?

[Mr. Sandman]

and sell the boat?

[Raven]

when i was a very young man i built my own fold down sail for my pram.... an oar was my rudder.

it was the only logical thing to do "then " other than to row...

it took me to some great striper fishing spots.

i am considering doing something similar

and then have dual trolling motors for when not using

the sail and mast which i want to be telescopic and a fold down.

i have started collecting materials to build a sailing skiff.

no fuels........ will be required. Screw O P E C

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

and sell the boat?

Problem is..Could you sell it? How much of a loss will you have to take? I see a ton of boats for sale and none seem to be moving..Not good..

[Mr. Sandman]

Well, basically you would abondaon it and get out of boating and take the total loss. Keeping a worthless boat in the yard gets old after a decade or two.

I don't think most people have grasped just how worthless their boats have become in the last two years. It is going to get a lot worse too.

[InTheHole]

I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of boating related losses for the insurance companies by the end of this season.

[Raven]

if they can build electric cars

why not electric boats?

[fishaholic18]

Have you seen the amount of boats for sale out there..Crazy..These gas prices have everyone in a panic and for good reason..Ridiculous..

[big jay]

Not a good season to have one of those triple outboard, 30' center consoles.

[Uncle Matt]

I may not throw in the towel but I will fish more wisely and closer to shore. I don't know if I can put less than the 46 hours on the boat then I did in 2007. I may just visit my boat this summer. Go down, drink beers, and pretend I'm fishing as it sits on the storage lot on the trailer. Maybe wax the hell out of her if I'm sober enough.

[Raven]

Hows the New House?

[Raven]

the page with all the electric boat links....

even the Queen Elizabeth 2 is an electric Boat

http://www.econogics.com/ev/evboats.htm

[keeperreaper]

The gas issue is out of control for sure. I will hedge my days offshore to optimal condition days and will keep my limit everytime out. I used to dump a lot of the fish back but need to justify the $$$$$$$$$$$ in my mind at least. This year I will also be fishing with buddies instead of the solo trips. As for running closer nah.

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by keeperreaper

will keep my limit everytime out. I used to dump a lot of the fish back but need to justify the $$$$$$$$$$$ in my mind at least. This year I will also be fishing with buddies instead of the solo trips. .

I'm thinking the same..

[EarnedStripes44]

Keep the dogfish- some say they don't taste all that bad

[striperman36]

I may get a 24 volt bow mounted electric instead of a new gps/plotter unit this year.
I also am getting a second vehicle for day to day traveling. The truck will be for hauling the goods only. Probably save me enough in weekly gas bills to be able to fish every weekend this summer.

And definitely passing the hat for gas at the pump in the morning.

[keeperreaper]

Originally Posted by striperman36

I may get a 24 volt bow mounted electric instead of a new gps/plotter unit this year.
I also am getting a second vehicle for day to day traveling. The truck will be for hauling the goods only. Probably save me enough in weekly gas bills to be able to fish every weekend this summer.

And definitely passing the hat for gas at the pump in the morning.

I never ever asked for gas money, EVER. This year will be different.

[Raider Ronnie]

Not sure about more or less on the boat,
But definitely trying for find another 4 cyl Toyota PU that I used to drive or similar to get me back and forth to the boat about 30 miles each way !
Driving my Ford super duty F350 is costing me about $100 a week just getting to and from work a week, only 10 miles each way

[zacs]

Originally Posted by keeperreaper

I never ever asked for gas money, EVER. This year will be different.

me too, i think

[taJon]

if it makes you feel any better, I paid over $8 per gallon in Baltimore the last time I went through there. Thats ridiculous.

[keeperreaper]

Yes but that was a fill-up and a hooker.

[Goose]

It used to be---as long as the weather cooperated I'd go out there with plan A, B, C, & D. Oftentimes thats what ya gota do. I'll still target bass but I won't steam around like I used too. Just outside most buzz-bay ramps there is lots a structure that I've been overlooking, and when the bass have moved off it still holds excellent bottom fish. If money gets tight I will have to plan and fish smarter.

[fishaholic18]

I'm thinking of filling my tank today b4 the price goes any higher..Get a few trips out of it anyway..

[MakoMike]

It'll have to get a lot worse before I give up completely, but I will be trying to cut down on my fuel burn. Less trips to far far away, more inshore trips.

[Gary]

Im probably not going to throw in the towel, Im just going to re-power with diesel. Feeding the 454 in my truck is bad enough, I can't wait to see what my new to me 30' sportcraft will eat with a 454 inboard, im figuring 20-25 GPH

[blue oyster]

not keeping that many people away , the marina around the corner from me is sold out for the season already

[Raider Ronnie]

I see a BIG jump is sales of locking gas caps for boats.
Especially if you keep in a slip !

[Mr. Sandman]

I was with some family members not too long ago and they showed a photo of me with my 13' Boston whaler ( I was 13 or 14yo)...in the background you could see the price of gas.....29.9 cents/gallon.
Now THOSE were the days you could go out and fish all day on a few gallons of fuel and it didn't hurt. I have a 23' cc now and it cost over 4 bills to top it off. A few years prior I had a 33'er with twin crusader inboards and it I couldn't look when I gassed up, just gave him the card and moved on. Nowadays you can't even use a boat like that seriously. I think I am headed back to the days of the 13' whaler....how sad is that?

My wife has been pushing for a trawler to hang on for the summer, I may just succumb and screw a couple rod holders on to the trawler and call it a day.

What would I like? a 36' predator that cruises at 35 and I don't have to faint when I get the fuel bill.

[nightfighter]

Rethinking the season...

Not going to be gearing up with new tuna gear as I had planned, ie. a reel or two, tackle and 3 or 4 spreader bars. Will make only a couple Stellwagen trips with my boat, and pool up gear and gas money with other bigger boats for the rest of my tuna hunts.

Will be sticking to my local haunts, fishing smarter, as Goose mentioned.

Held off on adding the T-top, as budget was more than tight from Dec-January. Fortunately, work has picked up and we are slammed again.

[EricW]

I guess I am lucky, I have a 14' with a 15, and from late may to nov last season I burned between 12-15 gallons of fuel. I fill up with 3 gallons and did that 5 times (and still have a bunch in my tank that will probably end up at the town's disposal day). I only fish freshwater with it, but have lots of fun. I fish basically fish 1 to 2 times a week, and do quite a bit of running around and also did a good amount of trolling in the fall. Looking forward to trout season coming up. Good luck out there.

[missing link]

I'm going to keep my boat , I don't go far for fish I'm not after the big one. Heck I usually get SKUNKED anyways but I get a Scup or to Black Sea Bass also thats a given.
I might consider selling to down size , I kind of like the "Lady Bug Plymouth" CC , but I tried to sell her last year and almost lost my mind went down to the broker and dragged her back home where she belongs, there's alot of inshore spots to hit with that Plymouth CC or even a tiller w/ extension very stable work boat
I went out 20 times last year I didn't spend over 500$ on gas
ML