Outrageous Fuel Costs

[sdowney717]

An argument against power boats as being reasonable.
have you thought about this way. My boat has a 300 gallon tank.
If it cost $4 to fill up that is $1200.

If I filled the tank a hundred times that will cost $120,000

I have easily filled my car tank many more times than a hundred.

Power boating well I see very few boats on the water today. Most of the boats at the marina just sit there. How was boating back in the 1960's as far as the number of boats on the water? That was when fuel was considered cheap before the Arab oil embargo.

[goboatingnow]

try in europe where its $10 dollars a gallon!!

Dave

[Unicorn Dreams]

That's what I like about sail.

$4200 worth of sails good for over 30,000 NM.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

try in europe where its $10 dollars a gallon!!

Dave

Indeed. One of the pleasures of venturing across the Channel from here is that you can stop off in Guernsey and fill up with tax-free diesel at -- oh - 70p per liter? That's, like, $5 per US gallon? What a deal! Otherwise we are paying a pound or so.

So filling my 682 liter tank costs over a thousand US dollars, if I do it in the UK.

The good news is that my boat has SAILS! So most of the fuel is actually used for heating, making hot water, and generating electricity. I don't usually buy more than two or three tanks a year, despite getting in a couple thousand miles of cruising every year.

[bill good]

The only cost I don't worry about is the cost of diesel. Less than $2.00 per week. When I do motor 3lts. for 7nms two 1GMS. The overhaul of the water pumps cost more!!

Bill

[zeehag]

i gripe about price of fuel-- but it does nothing to do that-- now the thing is to find ways to alleviate your financial pain. is not gonna get better any time soon.

[Mark Zarley]

Canceled the Direct TV, clipping coupons, may, and I say this with shaky hands, have to give up the rum, but I will satisfy the chronic dieselholic needs of my twin engs.

[lorenzo b]

In 1962 a pack of cigarettes cost 25c, a quart of milk 20c,my rent was $43/month in Manhattan, and my salary was $69/week. There are many respected economists that feel we would be well served if gas in the USA were more like $8/gal.

[markpierce]

The "crime" is that a lot of people (many who are powerful and influential) believe you aren't paying anywhere near enough for fuel and other forms of energy.

Unless one owns a gas guzzler, fuel is one of the least costs to owning a boat. A proper diesel engine powering a boat at less than hull-speed boats is very economical (one-half to three gallons an hour).

[Wavewacker]

I basically dumped my cuddy cabin gas guzzler at lower gas prices. Now I have no plans to go fast, just steady using a small outboard and downwind sailing. If batteries were more advanced I'd consider electric.

[lorenzo b]

The "crime" is that most dumbass Americans can not imagine driving 10 mile down the road to their local bar in anything less than a 4800lb pickup. Or pick up the kids at soccer in anything less than an Escalade.
The entire nation of Indonesia rides around in 125cc motorbikes or, God forbid, walks.

[Target9000]

Originally Posted by lorenzo b

The "crime" is that most dumbass Americans can not imagine driving 10 mile down the road to their local bar in anything less than a 4800lb pickup. Or pick up the kids at soccer in anything less than an Escalade.
The entire nation of Indonesia rides around in 125cc motorbikes or, God forbid, walks.

While an individual may be ignorant or foolish for their inability to make "wise" choices, American's demand for what THEY WANT and not what others tell them that they can have or afford has driven innovation and can-do spirit to places previously unknown.

The market will find the efficient path.

Once the pickup trucks cost more than they are worth to the consumers, the consumer will change or the producer will innovate. These things are not cheap or pretty for the economy so they will not take place until they HAVE to. Its just not there yet.

Don't slam people for wanting what they want. It does occasionally drive innovation. Demand for what you are told you cannot have or should not want often yields gains for all of us, even if we didn't want it to start with.

[lorenzo b]

Quote "The market will find the efficient path."

While the price of crude is a function of a free market, gasoline at the pump is not. Some societies/governments subsidize the price of gas, others tax it heavily. As a democratic society we can choose to encourage less waste and in fact we do all the time.

[James S]

Not sure calling someone a dumb ass is very encouraging.

[cburger]

Originally Posted by lorenzo b

The "crime" is that most dumbass Americans can not imagine driving 10 mile down the road to their local bar in anything less than a 4800lb pickup. Or pick up the kids at soccer in anything less than an Escalade.
The entire nation of Indonesia rides around in 125cc motorbikes or, God forbid, walks.

Great post! We're getting ready to get everything we deserve.