GL: Fuel costs affecting boating?

[Phil Little]

Fred,
   
  A thoughtful question. Would we allow the oil companies to steal the joy of cruising?
   
  If you cruised 1000 miles in a season, and averaged 2 mpg, at $4.00/gal the total fuel cost is $2000.00.
   
  This is still a relatively small amount compared to other costs of operating and maintaining a boat. Once you've plunked down all that money for a good boat, the fuel cost per mile is still a good deal, in terms of "Units of Pleasure" per dollar.
   
  All your other costs are still there, in full, and you only add the fuel cost, which really what makes having the boat so enjoyable, to begin with.
   
  I have never worried about the cost of fuel vs cost of boating, only the availability (anyone remember '77, '78 when you had to call the destination marina to make sure they would have any fuel at all?).
   
  Cruisers are among the few who can still say "getting there is ALL the fun!" The cruising fuel dollar still buys the greatest amount of satisfaction, IMHO!
   
  Anyway, I am about to relocate to the New York City area, so if the Erie Canal is a bit less crowded. well.........!
   
  Phil Little 

fred <fred at tug44.org> wrote:
  I'm involved in the politics of the New York Canal System. A question has
been raised ... how many boaters have changed or cancelled their cruising
plans for this summer because of the very high diesel fuel costs?

I'd like
to hear from all of you on this topic.

Fred Wehner
Tug 44
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