The price of gas

[josko]

poring over the price of gas, I added up the logs and found I'd used up 3800 gals last season. Assuming the price jumps from $1.60 to $3.00 this summer, that's some $6k extra. On one hand, not too big a share of the overall boating costs, but still, I'd feel better knowing where that's gonna fit into the boating budget. My guess is that some 'tronic niceties will have to wait a bit, and I'll 'squeeze the squeeze' for the rest.
What are the rest of you folks doing re fuel costs? Anything?

[Adam-Albino]

<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>Well I carry about 6 feet of 3/8" hose - and Rocky's boat is right next to mine.... No gas trouble for me ;-)</FONT></P>
<P><IMG align=baseline alt="" border=0 hspace=0 src="http://photos.netclubs.com/live/photos/v/9/t/2/t2c710a3839h31nr004cfcdhuo/flyman2.gif"></P>

[RayG]

I must say that I am happy I only put a 50HP on the new boat. With the 24 gallon tank, I should be good to go for weekends on the Cape and fuel economy should be good. I also have an extra 6 gallon tank that I will bring for long weekends. I live in Mansfield and will fill up at the local station before I head out. Gas is always a little more expensive on the Cape, especially in Chatham where I spend most of my time.

But, it will still not be cheap considering my truck is still new and has yet to break in. I am only getting about 16 MPG, but it should get better after 10K (I hope).

I guess it is all relative and one way or another, we will all be out on the water.

More to come on the boat - picking it up Saturday!!!

Ray

[snake]

Josko,
Where did you come up with 3.00? Diesel or gas? My guess is we'll be at about 2.00-2.50 at the dock for the North Shore.

[josko]

Maybe $3/gal is a worst case. It helps to plan for that and then be pleasantly surprised. Actually, this was prompted by a reuters newswire claiming $2-$2.50/gal at the gas pumps by the summer - it's a safe bet it'll be another 50c at least dockside.

[snake]

A somewhat related issue: I have an old '87 Johnson 140 that runs great but has a ton of hours and the compression is off signalling limited life (not to mention that it is a gas hog and an environmental nightmare). I have been toying with getting a new engine and gas price increases only serve to push me further in that direction, but my question is does anyone know how much fuel the Honda 4's use and do the savings justify the higher price of the engine as the ads claim?

[josko]

I think it depends on how you drive. At WOT there's very little difference between cargburated 2-stroke and 4 strike, since the two-stroke engine is in its element. As youreduce RPm, the 4 stroke advantage builds, until it is juge at < 1500 rpm's (I heard 1/2 fuel for same power output.);

Also, remember that 4-strokes are a lot heavier, and will need more power and gas to push themselves through the water.
I was surprised to find out (From a Florida friend who's into the kingfish circuit) that carburated 2-strokes are still the way to go for people who drive hard and far. the weight advantage makes them preferred vs. EFI, and other fuel-injected engines, let alone 4-strokes.

[JHorton]

<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>Ouch! $ 3.00 a gallon is going to be hard to stomach.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>On the bright side, don't you feel extra-smart now for getting the inboard, rather than dual 225HP outboards? Also, there is bound to be less company down at the fishing grounds, when a round trip is three-hundred bucks+.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>I better get back on that diet, I don't want to increase the fuel consumption any more than necessary-:)</FONT></P>
<P>
<P><FONT size=3>J.Horton</FONT></P>
<P><A href="http://people.ne.mediaone.net/aromafusion/masssalt.htm"><FONT size=3>Mass Salt</FONT></A></P>

[Slamdance]

Josko: Captain Tom issued a thread on the WMI board about a Massachusetts road tax rebate form which can be used to get all of your MA road tax back (currently .20 per gallon) when the fuel is used in a boat. Basically you keep all your boat fuel receipts and fill out this form and the state sends you a rebate check. If you used 3,800 galons of fuel last year, they owe you $760 bucks.

I'm wondering how much the gas on Nantucket will be. Typically it's at least $.50/gal more at the regular auto stations and $.70 -.80 per gallon more at the marinas! Plus, it's over $350.00 to get a vehicle on and off the island this year!

[josko]

Steve; saw the thread, but all I kept were log entries, not receipts. Oh well, I'll know for this year.

[Slamdance]

Here's some more info.

In Mass. the form is GT-9M Gasoline Tax Refund Application, Watercraft Use, MGL Ch. 64A, sec.7

[JHorton]

<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>Uhhh..I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you are only eligible for the road tax rebate if you actually PAID it when you bought the gas. This means that if you gassed up at the corner Mobil, you are eligible, but if you fueled up at the fuel dock, you never paid it in the first place.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>One more good reason to trailer, if you can.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Doesn't help much with twenty-six footers, though.</FONT></P>
<P>
<P><FONT size=3>J.Horton</FONT></P>
<P><A href="http://people.ne.mediaone.net/aromafusion/masssalt.htm"><FONT size=3>Mass Salt</FONT></A></P>

[mcollins]

Not a problem, 25HP 4 stroke - all day on 6 gal !!

[Slamdance]

Jay: Are you sure about not paying the tax on gas at the dock? I know there is an exemption for marine diesel at the docks (remember the whole red fuel vs. green fuel debacle?), but I'm not sure the same applies for regular gasoline.

I trailer anyway, so either way I'm covered- most of the time.

[JHorton]

<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>My understanding was that fuel delivered to the fuel dock, for marine use, was not subject to the road use tax, regardless of fuel type.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>I guess we should ask the marine fuel sellers, to be sure, but I think it's still the same.</FONT></P>
<P>
<P><FONT size=3>J.Horton</FONT></P>
<P><A href="http://people.ne.mediaone.net/aromafusion/masssalt.htm"><FONT size=3>Mass Salt</FONT></A></P>

[hightech]

Shhhhhh don't tell anybody but for the last two years I have gotten tax rebates for fuel bought at the marina.
Now I'm here in New Hampshire, maybe they just haven't figured it out yet!!

[gfm]

<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>Not sure how the hell you guys get to $3.00 - if it was say $1.20 at the pump last year and say$1.65 at marina how does it go from $1.80 at pump to $3.00 at marina </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>Also, I truly think that it will come back a little.&nbsp; Ultimately, it is going to be more over time so get used to it - this year it may be time to pass the hat. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>In the end - no matter how much gas is - I am going boating!!&nbsp; I work my ass off and don't care what it costs!!</FONT></P>

[SunganaBeach]

About gas tax at the marina...
It gets refunded for ALL gas. It is a ROAD tax on ALL gasoline. That's why you can get it back for boating. You can also get it back for lawn mowers, ATVs, etc... It says so right on the form. Keep all your receipts!