Boat owners laugh at gas prices ("Break Out Another Thousand" dollars)

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Boat Owners Not Likely to Curb Fun Because of Gas Prices
Wednesday, April 26, 2006

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,193230,00.html

PEORIA, Ill. — Dick Winkler says most boaters won't drop anchor this summer despite fuel costs that could top a wallet-squeezing $3.50 a gallon at Illinois marinas.

"You know what boat stands for, don't you? `Break Out Another Thousand (dollars),'" Winkler joked as he spruced up his houseboat at a Peoria marina. "You gotta fill those puppies up. ... We'll cut back someplace else."

ike drivers on wheels, Illinois boaters grumble about rising gasoline prices that already are higher on water than on land in part because of stiff environmental regulations, high overhead costs and a shortage of competition.

Boaters and marina operators estimate fuel prices that spiked last week could add $25 or more to a day on the water, but most say that's not enough to ground skis, inner tubes and fishing poles. "At some point the cost of gas is going to have an effect, but I don't think we've reached that point yet. Most people who have boats have the disposable income to run them," said Mike Anderson, a director of the 30,000-member American Boating Association.

[ComerPerro]

1. Which is why they keep voting Republican

they can afford it.

[Jack from Charlotte]

17. Lighten up, Francis. There are loads of jokes about the cost of boating...

For example...A boat is just a hole in the water to pour money into.

Gas at marinas cost about 50 cents or more per gallon than it costs at gas stations. Some of us fuel our own boats with gas cans, however. Some of us have boats that use very little fuel, too. Less, per hour than you do in your car.

[SteppingRazor]

2. They kid, but I know plenty of boat owners who are putting on brave faces

Living, as I do, in South Florida, I know lots of people with boats. And most of them are certainly worried. But the Buffett-ish, boat-owner style doesn't let it shine through a lot. Still, the old Break Out Another Thousand joke doesn't seem as common as it used to. More often, I hear this equally old adage:

Q: What are the two happiest days in a boat owner's life?

A: The day he buys his boat, and the day he sells his boat.

[phantom power]

4. For many people...

the old addage "if you can afford it, you can afford the gas for it" doesn't really apply.

[SteppingRazor]

10. Yeah, but that doesn't really hold water (pardon the pun)...

especially for guys like the one in the OP, who have houseboats. His boat may not just be a recreational activity -- it could be the roof over his head. Besides which, I detect a bit of ruefulness in the second part of the quote. I think he said the BOAT joke more as gallows humor than as blase, uncaring humor

[phantom power]

3. I wonder about sport fishermen.

Even when gas was at $2/gallon, some of these guys easily spend $200 for a day of tuna fishing. Or more. It's a lot of coin.

[maxsolomon]

5. last year i asked a jet ski owner

were there electric jet skis? he laughed at me, but i bet he isn't laughing now.

[lutefisk]

6. Oh great. So now DU boat owners will be shunned...

...like DU truck/SUV owners?

I'm cutting back on red meat, though.
:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

7. No...where the hell did you get that idea?

I shun the prick who made the B.O.A.T. joke...bet your ass I shun him.

You read W-A-Y too much into my post. I also didn't mention red meat, trucks or SUVs. Never have. See, I don't pass judgment on people. Sometimes people stop by my threads and pass judgment on me, but that's their business...ya know?

:patriot:

[lutefisk]

15. not passing judgment- just forgot the sarcasm smilie

Nothing directed at you, just thinking about the SUV driving, red meat eating, Wal Mart shopping, smoking man's thread. And a little jab at generalizations taking place every once in a while around here.
:toast:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=998375

[AValdoux]

8. Tell me about it

I drive a 1/2 ton pickup truck. I do have a purpose for it, we have livestock and I have to haul feed.

I have a bass fishing boat but we go to a small lake and don't rip up & down the lake towing skiers.

Oh yeah, I'm a NASCAR fan also.

I live in a very energy efficient small house if that helps.



AValdoux

[dchill]

9. That's what those tax cuts were for!

So they could bank against higher gas prices. We can't have our most important (= richest) people worrying about the same things the riff-raff (us) have to worry about, like paying higher prices and paying for Neo-con military incursions. Tax cuts for everybody... Well, not everybody. But, hey, at least gays can't get married!

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. On his houseboat, eh? How well can you waterski with one of those, Dicky?

[SteppingRazor]

14. Who said he waterskiied with his houseboat?

:shrug:

[corker]

12. I have a kayak

gets great gas mileage and is a good workout too...

[bluedog]

13. we're putting ours in dry dock

until prices go down.......we finally got a 16ft used boat for hubby's fishing.(fl)salt water ..he uses it on Sat's. only to relax.....its his little baby.........now.........we can't afford gas for it and for our truck.which is a business vechile..(extermination equipment).heavy load......especially in summer.......

so its choice between fiching....work .....rising prices on our customers......which..most are older.and are having a hell of a time making ends meet as it is.......we'll forgo our pleasure until things get back to norm

[Alcibiades]

16. When and if

things ever get back to the norm. I don't think $1.40 a gallon gas is in our future again. Ever.

[fishnfla]

18. Dockside fuel prices have always been higher

people just buddy up and split costs more. Now we go when the fish when and where the fish are biting, not all the time

Boat owners are used to spending more

[MichiganVote]

19. When you live through a long, gray, Michigan winter.....

summer boating is the bomb and babies, so long as there is gas, we're going. Water skiing, wake boarding and tubing.

As for the socially conscious thing, we do plenty but oh, that's right, this isn't the congressional confessional and who gives a hoot.

[northofdenali]

20. Personally, I like kayaks and canoes.

n/t