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

[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.

[piemma]

So I am fortunate. 17.5 ft Sea Hunt CC. 90 Yami 4 Stroke. 3 trips up and down the Bay = 9 gallons. $3.00 per gallon X 9 Gal + $27.00 last year

9 Gal X $4.00 per gal = $36.00 this year.

Difference $9.00 Not bad considering. If I throttle back to say 3500 RPMs rather than 4200 I bet I can save a 1/2 gallon a trip.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by piemma

So I am fortunate. 17.5 ft Sea Hunt CC. 90 Yami 4 Stroke. 3 trips up and down the Bay = 9 gallons. $3.00 per gallon X 9 Gal + $27.00 last year

9 Gal X $4.00 per gal = $36.00 this year.

Difference $9.00 Not bad considering. If I throttle back to say 3500 RPMs rather than 4200 I bet I can save a 1/2 gallon a trip.

18 foot boats with a 4-stroke are the way to go.

My buddy has an 18 Parker with a 115 4-stroke Yamaha that I often fish on and it returns only slightly worse numbers.

[Monty]

[QUOTE=Pete_G;574589]18 foot boats with a 4-stroke are the way to go.

I'm glad I just re powered with a new 90 hp Honda, it's great on gas and very quiet. It's on an 18 foot Privateer.

Spent my Sons college tuition, He'll just have to work in the trades and do an apprenticeship like me.

[Mr. Sandman]

Originally Posted by piemma

3 trips up and down the Bay = 9 gallons. $3.00 per gallon X 9 Gal + $27.00 last year

I suppose that depends on how you look at it....3 trips per year? That must be a typo....I do 2-3X that per week. I wouldn't bother owning a boat if I used it that little. The shrink wrap alone cost more then your fuel not to mention insurance and all the other junk.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

I suppose that depends on how you look at it....3 trips per year? That must be a typo....I do 2-3X that per week. I wouldn't bother owning a boat if I used it that little. The shrink wrap alone cost more then your fuel not to mention insurance and all the other junk.

No, no I mean 3 trips per week. I was just putting the fuel consumption in perspective. Hell, in May and June I fish 7 days a week if possible. Sorry if I was vague. I just meant to indicate that 3 round trips burn 9 gallons.

[Mr. Sandman]

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/...gas.prices.cnn

5.20

[Flaptail]

My 14 foot MirroCraft Deep Fisherman will be starting it's 39th season this year. 6.5 gallon tank w/18 hp Nissan combo pull/electric start 2 stroke. A humminbird Piranha 5 and compass and hand held GPS.

I get two days on the flats out of one tank. One day day along the Elizabeths.

I have been to Cuttyhunk, Circumnavigated Monomy a zillion times, Cape Cod Bay, Narragansett bay, Buzzards Bay just pick your days and go.

One or two guys, perfect. Gas can go to five bucks and I will still be doing what I want to do.

The day of the small boat is geing nearer.

[Mr. Sandman]

Small boats are fine inshore but just don't get caught in a blow in places like that.


I would like to see a sport fishermen designed around a 40-60' sailing cat. These things have enormous beams and cruise at 20+ and are remarketably stable at lower speed trolling speeds. They just need to reconfigure the cockpit.

[Van]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

My 14 foot MirroCraft Deep Fisherman will be starting it's 39th season this year. 6.5 gallon tank w/18 hp Nissan combo pull/electric start 2 stroke. A humminbird Piranha 5 and compass and hand held GPS.

I get two days on the flats out of one tank. One day day along the Elizabeths.

I have been to Cuttyhunk, Circumnavigated Monomy a zillion times, Cape Cod Bay, Narragansett bay, Buzzards Bay just pick your days and go.

One or two guys, perfect. Gas can go to five bucks and I will still be doing what I want to do.

The day of the small boat is geing nearer.

CHICK BOAT !!!!!