[PUP] $100 per barrel oil

[Scott E. Bulger]

Bill,

I'll try to answer this honestly, without slipping into a political diatribe
that will result in the thread being shut down.

Fuel is a factor, but honestly it's insignificant in the scheme of cruising
or Passagemaking.  If your of a mindset that fuel is an issue I think buying
an older, perhaps wooden sailboat would be more appropriate course of action
than continuing on the route of buying a diesel powered passagemaker.
Remember, this is a list about Passagemaking Under Power.  So, in that
context the price of oil is a minor factor.  I've taken on fuel 3 times
since leaving Seattle in August.  I'll take on fuel again in Panama and
again in FL.  So, the other costs of the trip make fuel a factor, but not a
big one.  More comments below:


Bill asked:  What are the thoughts of oil-powered-voyagers as we in
the US sustain/maintain this elevated price of oil?

[scott]  Hmm, in El Salvador the fuel price is above $4.00/gallon.  This
isn't a US issue, it's a world issue.  Also the price isn't elevated if your
from Canada or Europe, it only seems elevated to those of us from the US who
haven't been paying what the rest of the world has been paying for decades.


Bill:  Scale down trips?  More time at anchor?

[scott]  It seems reasonable to shorten a trip if you decide that the cost
of fuel is prohibitive, but you can also slow down.  Just pulling the
throttle back a hundred RPM can save a LOT of fuel.

Bill:  Better efficiency aboard present vessels?  

[scott]  Best achieved by keeping the bottom and prop clean and SLOWING
down.

Bill:  A more efficient platform, perhaps catamaran or
trimaran?

[scott]  My thoughts on multihulls are well known.  If you rarely need to
tie up to a dock and plan to keep the boat a long time a multihull might
make sense.  Again, if your thinking along those lines, Sail is likely a
reasonable alternative as well.

Bill:  Resort back to sail power, or a motorsailor?  On
perhaps a more efficient hullform?

[scott]  What do you mean "back" to sail?  There is nothing about sail that
is "back", it's just different.  A power passagemaker is more a choice of
lifestyle and cost than anything else.  I believe it costs at least 50% more
to have a power passagemaker.   It's less about the basic boat then how you
use it.  We have A/C, big watermakers, a fridge and a freezer, wing engines,
big generators so we can run our A/C and charge our batteries.  The sailors
here in the river are enjoying life as much or more than we, just making a
few different decisions to keep it affordable.  While we may choose to tie
up in a marina more often, our sail brethren either anchor or use a mooring
ball.  It's not unlike traveling across America on a sight seeing trip and
staying at a Motel 6, Holiday Inn or a Hyatt.  Everyone is having great
experiences, there are just varying cost components and comfort levels
involved.  One is not better than another, just a bit different.  

Or what are the combinations of the above or other
alternatives?

[scott]  If oil prices are an issue, the number one thing you can do to make
a difference is slow down.  I suspect as you weigh that in your voyaging
plans the throttle will creep right back to where it was and you'll simply
make a few more meals on board rather than eating at the marina dining room.

Sincerely,

Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA
Currently in El Salvador