GL: Subject: Re: Fuel costs affecting boating (and bits of FL local knowledge)

[George Hechtman]

Well, I certainly don't have any particular antipathy for those that  
practice various forms of asceticism while cruising: though at times  
we have found the reverse snobbery to be a little overdone by some we  
have met along the way.

We did pass a young couple on Haulover Canal today (twixt Indian  
River and Mosquito Lagoon), that can claim some bragging rights. It  
being somewhat calm there, the guy was powering their engine-less  
sailboat using a gondolier's type oar off the back. Had to be making  
a good half knot. Also a nod to them for broadcasting a "securite"  
explaining their situation.     (The LK for that area is to stay a  
little on the green side once you turn north into the Lagoon for  
several markers, and respect the red buoy that has seemingly ben  
place in what was once the center of the channel; we got tipped off  
in another forum from someone else's misfortune).

I don't feel guilty that we are not cruising in an old Volkswagen van  
adapted Cuban-style with a solar powered trolling motor off the back  
and a mast  made out of recycled materials. Our boat is our home, and  
also office. We like to welcome guests on board, we each like our  
"space". After much chartering and thought and shopping, we  
determined that it was (and is) the smallest boat we could be really  
comfortable on, as opposed to the smallest boat we could tolerate. I  
chose each of those last words carefully. Of course there are many  
compromises and inconveniences: bridges, shallow water, anchorage  
choices, difficulty picking a mooring ring out of the water. I am  
writing this at 3am because we ended up having to dock  
(unbeknowningly) next to an indoor/outdoor disco here in Daytona.  
There just wasn't room in the skimpy local anchorages for us. (LK: if  
you are going to stay at Halifax Harbor, avoid the "Plaza Dock"  
unless you are party animals and/or don't care about privacy.)

But as for fuel prices, which are big money on a boat like this (part  
of the flaunting of one's wealth that is associated with owning a big  
boat, I suppose), you really need to factor that into a reasonably  
projected cost of ownership. When we bought the boat last summer, we  
knew the fuel burn, and projected and average price per gallon over  
two years of $5.00 just to make sure. That's double what my first  
fill up was. Well, (another bit of LK) we paid $4.33 including tax at  
Port Consolidated (nee Port Petroleum) in Fort Pierce three days ago.  
Turns out Vero Beach Municipal is about 10 cents cheaper, by the way.  
So we are still in the zone. If and when fuel price, or one's "carbon  
consciousness" becomes the tipping point I'd have to wonder what kind  
of shape the boat is in, since updating and maintenance are where  
real money comes into play, not to mention nasty fumes in many  
instances.

The music's stopped and the crowd has dispersed and now I am really  
sleepy. One more pice of LK from today for north bound vessels. If  
your draft is much over 4 ft, take Sheepshead cut through New Smyrna,  
not the ICW channel. When you turn left at the split to/from Ponce  
Inlet closely favor Red "18" and *18a*. Then stay very close (as in  
15 feet) to the left of the dredge "Wilco" at "6"; they monitor 79  
and are very helpful. You then have a real tip-toe slalom through the  
buoys at the following intersection. Call your towing service ahead  
of time for the latest details.

George

Incentive
56 Hatteras Motoryacht