Just curious if there's been any scuttlebut in the industry re a pickup in sailboat sales due to the absurd cost of gasoline? Or do people still shell out the bucks for a powerboat to go one or two miles per gallon? Guess sailing is too difficult, even if cheaper.
have to admit i thought about that too. last summer i found myself sailing rather than fishing because of gas., and my old duracraft just has a 40 horse on it. im sure that you are right. gas prices might make sailors out of a lot of people. i noticed that on the last few sundays on the lake a lot of power cruisers were just partying at anchor.
Gas prices be danged, I still would rather be sailing! Of course it is nice to use about 5 gallons a year!
If I were to go power, it would be a small, semi-displacement hull driven by a 4 stroke. Of course, electric drives are very interesting if you don't have a long destination.
Bob23 on the hard, splicing line
The worst part now is towing to the lake, mayby I can fit one of my old sails to my JEEP! HAPPY SAILING BILL
In my opinion, gas prices might slow down powerboat sales but not have an increase on sailboat sales.
The trip each weekend to the boat - power or sail - is an increasing expense due to gas prices. This could jeopardize boating in general.
my 2 cents, Gil
It's interesting to think that the cost of a season on a mooring might be cheaper than towing/trailering. Leave the Tahoe in the driveway and use the relatively efficient old car. Those with long drives to the water might think of closer if perhaps not as desirable destinations. Sailing off and on to a mooring can be done without using any fuel. Just a little practice.
ick
All true. But consider this. How many people vacation by driving to their destination only to rent a house or condo by the beach/lake etc.? Just imagine how expensive a "typical" vacation will be this year.
Now consider that most of us have the option of "camping out" on our boats. Yes, we trailer the boat to the destination, but our room and board is on the water. Still a bit more efficient, by comparison.
This coming from a family whose about to embark on a Disney vacation soon. Yes, driving the whole way. (The closest "nautical" thing will be the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.) :) :D
Paul,
We're doing the Disney thing also, Feb 4 - Feb 12. The off season is nice!
We're flying down, it's quite a haul from Wisconsin to drive, but next year I would like to bring the boat and sail to the Bahamas. I can leave the boat at my Dad's house and visit Disney for a couple days, then sail for a week or so.
I haven't checked the mileage I get pulling the boat as the truck wasn't broken in yet last year, and mileage has been going up very nicely as she settles in. I'm getting 18-22 mpg with my 6 cylinder truck depending how I drive, so the Florida trip will cost a few bucks, but it will be an adventure!
We bought a Sun Cat so we could trail it to other locations rather than sailing on our local lake all of the time. Hours spent on the road is more of a limiting factor to me than gas prices. Is it worth driving 13 hours to New England when the Chesapeake is 4 and NC coast is 5?
I live in Michigan and sail out of South Haven, Lake Michigan. A friend of mine who is a member of the South Haven Yacht Club says that gasoline sales are down 40 - 50 % since gasoline shot up. In my area we haven't seen a spike up in sailboat usage but have definitely seen a drop in power boat usage overall. People are still going to their boats but usage is down. Last summer I knew of a guy who made a trip from S. Haven to Chicago (about 80 miles) and back and spent $1,200 on fuel. Granted it was a large boat but it would sure make me think twice. Aren't you glad the wind is free!
Roger
I don't think gas prices will impact sailboat sales. Powerboaters would likely prefer just hanging out in a cove. We are a different "breed" than powerboaters.
A good friend has a very nice 40' Carver. If I'm not mistaken, it has a 200 gallon tank. I could by one of my boats for 2 tanks of gas!!! (slight exageration, but only slight!)
That's right, Salty16, powerboaters tend to hang out more than sailboaters, which is ironic, since sailboats go much more slowly than powerboats. Though I guess the tortoise gets there in the end, while the hare just hangs at anchor getting sloshed.
I agree with salty, SAILORS are not the same as a power boaters, but there is something about going across the water @ 70mph in a 16 foot bass boat. I believe sailing is a skill that takes intelligence, any one can push a throttle. BILL
Balancing the different forces: wind, current, hydrodynamic, aerodynamic drag and lift are more like flying a high performance thermal riding glider than say driving a car. It's for good reason that glider is called a SAILPLANE! Driving a powerboat is like driving a car. Not knocking porche or Ferrari. Just more interested in Glaser-Dirks or a Com-Pac. So take your pick, drive of fly, it's up to you.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Dg800.jpg/300px-Dg800.jpg)(http://www.com-pacowners.com/gallery2/albums/userpics/13441/normal_Compac_16_on_10-6-07_013.jpg)
ick
Gas prices have little impact on my sailing. Walk to the beach. Row or swim to the mooring. No motor on the boat so I couldn't use gas if I tried.
I've heard some anecdotes about powerboat sales in the town in CT I live in near Candlewood Lake. When gas prices took a sharp increase in August quite a few years ago a bunch of boat dealers, at least two in our area, got caught with a lot of unsold inventory and went under. I don't even remember what year that was but it was the summer that gas prices jumped to over $2/gal.
Where business interests dominate, powerboats are encouraged. Boat dealers see them as more profitable since the margins on motors is good and the expensive annual maintanance and repairs can keep the shop going even if sales are down. Marinas like the fact that they can charge good money to put boats on racks where space is tight and they want to maximize the profits from the space they have available. Sad but that's true. Fortunately some places have had the good sense to rein in on some of these business practices.
I spoke to a sailor in Mystic CT that regularly daysailed to Watch Hill RI, overnighted nearby and sailed back. A friend of his in a large trawler would sometime make the same trip. The trawler arrived first but with $300 less in his pocket after the round trip.
I've spoken to motorboat owners in CT that have said they aren't using their boat as much now that its costing $50-75 in gas every time they take it out.
Another local impact is they passed a 45 MPH speed limit on Candlewood Lake after averaging about a fatality a year for a number of years. Then later they started to actually enforce it. Its probably cut down on the number of twin 200HP setups being sold. Occasionally I see a big foot cabin cruiser, maybe as much as 26 or 28 feet, in someone's yard or on the water and wonder why anyone would think that was an appropriate boat for a 17 mile long lake. The dealer that sold those is one of the dealers that went under.
I haven't heard of any local impact on the boat industry that has been quite so dramatic as a few years ago. It didn't seem to impact boating on Cape Cod where most powerboats are just going out to fish rather than seeing how fast and how many times they can zip across a lake apparently just for the sake of burning the fuel. The local town by town bans on PWC on Cape Cod did have an impact somewhere but I don't know of any place that sold them near where I am so no businesses were impacted -- they were just starting to become a nuisance in some places when town officials (very wisely IMHO) put an end to it.
Curtis
Hello All. We're back. Had a great time relaxing and enjoying family time and Disney.
We did see several sailboats hauling down I-95, usually by duallies. Some were bigger yachts hauled by tractor trailers. Was tempted to take the two and a half hour trip to Clearwater, but declined this trip. Maybe next time.
We did accidentally find the most expensive gas station in the state of Florida, just off International Blvd (read high rent district) at $3.96. No kidding. Got $5 bucks worth 'cause the car was running on fumes. Was able to find better prices a short distance away by going to gasbuddydotcom. Nearly a dollar cheaper.
I agree that power boaters and sailors simply think of their "joy on the water" differently. I like Ricks analogy. I feel that if people do not use good sense on the water, then communities will enforce their rules of good sense on all who use those bodies of water, as Curtis points out. I simply wish the power boaters would be respectful of all who share that space.
Maybe if gas prices climb during the next 6 months or so, then all will at least think again prior to going max speed on the water. One can only hope.
in my area i see a distinct change. the summer before last i would have never considered sailing or fishing on a weekend. this summer i actually went sailing twice on a sunday and saw but a few powerboats and most were fishing boats. sailors with larger boats 22' and up who moor their boats probably continue to be the brunt of the sailing population on carlyle lake but i am beginning to see many smaller daysailers and cruisers everytime i go. seems that for those of us who cant afford mooring fees have found that small trailerable boats like my 16 are the way to go. if i had the money i would open a dealership nearby and advertise the benefits of boats like the 16. one day i might be priced out of fishing but im pretty confident that sailing will always keep me on the water.
You can fish from your CP-16. Sure, it's no bass boat but hey, what do you think the Atlantic coast fisher folk did before the industrial revolution!
ick
Welcome back Paul,
We went down to Florida last April and we did happen to go over to Clearwater to the "Home of our wonderful yachts-- Com-pac".
It was fun and good to meet Gerry and gang...we even got a tour of the facilities and all.
As far as powerboats and gas prices.......... here in Burlington Wisconsin I noticed that the powerboaters will put their boats in and tie them up to the public docks......taking up precious dock space while they sit in the park and get drunk and rude. Suppose to be a 15 minute dock time limit so people can load and unload their boats.... maybe this next summer will be different. I hope....
Roland,
Looking forward to Com-pac rendezvous 2008 at Carlyle Lake, Illinois... I will be there. Hope others will make the trip August 8,9 and 10th 2008.
It snowed here last night and all I can think about is sailing .....................
Doug, cp16, Summer Escape
I think one reason boat sales is going to be down is the state of the economy !
Have you noticed on this forum that no one has posted here that they have ordered or taken possesion of a new Com Pac !
I read on one of these post that Gerry (of Com Pac) said they were considering not making the 25 any more "it cost too much to build "
Gas prices will level out at some point, when no one is buying gas, the oil industries will be force to reduce the cost per barrel. The gas price will become stable at that point.
Wether you will be able to afford that price of gas at that time is yet to be determind.
I'm not sure it's only the economy that will decrease the new boat purchases. Also, consider fiberglass boats are "petroleum products." Polyester resin is closely tied to the price of the raw material: oil.
Maybe the guy who was going to buy the 25 footer would simply reconsider and purchase an Eclipse. Downsize as it were.
As for me, I can't afford any new vehicle and cringe at the thought of the instant depreciation. Others, I am certain, have a different view and prefer that new car or new boat smell. There is certainly satisfaction that comes with the newness. Just my $0.02.
Have you notice !
Other than Frank who just took delivery of his new 25 there has not been any one else here who has ordered a new Com Pac Boat.
Frank has the last 25, but what about the 23's , Eclipse or their small Legend (I think thats what they call it )
May be they are selling and the new owners are not aware of this forum !
May be we should send Gerry H. an e-mail to let him know were out here so he could refere his new client to us as a source of information and support ?
Glenn
HI
High cost of oil is going to affect number of new boats out there as materials used in fiber glass boats come from crude oil. The first oil embargo in early 70's had the same effect. Good for used market bad for new.
Arkansas has a lot of bass tournaments and last couple times I have been out sailing most of the bass boats have been hanging close to launch.
Ive put my name on the local dock waiting list. When and if that comes through I will moor about 15 miles from home and ride my cycle to the boat. Can't beat that combo.
Melvin
i would have to agree that power boats will spend more time at anchor this summer. my lake has a "party island" that attracts them big time. i went to the lake one sunday last summer and i thought it was a monday. no boat traffic, except the local sailboat regatta. we sailed for about three hours and decided to go north to the island. sure enough there were about a dozen boats and a large number of jet skis. seems like the only non sailboats were fisherman. this spring i see a lot more boats for sale----all power and no sail. i kind of feel sorry for those guys who bought big ski boats and cant afford to run them. well, not that sorry. the price of gas will keep me on my home lake this year (25 minutes away). i usually go to kentucky lake a couple of times but not this summer. most of the fisherman i know have a system of communication to we dont waste a day of being skunked on the lake. ill leave the duracraft with the 40 mariner in the garage until the white bass are biting. thank god for sail. and skip is right--a sail is just like a wing-----keepem flying.
Roland,
Maybe someone can get a business going to put daggerboards and masts on powerboats:)
At least we can salvage their cleats and things. Maybe offer some money on their shiny new anchors.
(Always looking for an opportunity)
BTW- good luck on your sail, I gave you a positive for getting out!
Stopped by a bass tournament today and talked to on of the fishermen. He had a new boat(professional and buys on every two years) with a 250hp mercury 2 cycle. On his gps he logged 44 miles fastest speed 75mph av. speed 40something. Thing was his fuel Gage was still touching the bottom of the full line.
Said even with the recession the people where he bought his motor last fall had sold a record for them amount of this same motor.
He said the new 2 cycle with fuel injection was far ahead of the 4 cycle.
Appears that some one has the gas crunch figured out.
good sailing
melvin