I’ve commented previously about a lack of boating sounds coming from a nearby reservoir, as an ominous sign of just how expensive gas has become. (And, FWIW, I did hear a little bit of boat noise…for a little while…on Sunday and Monday.)
It seems that the price of marine fuel has become worthy of an article in Sunday’s Courant:
But there’s a major cost issue during this year of ascending gasoline prices and growing concern about global oil supplies. Marine gas generally sells at 50 to 75 cents a gallon over auto fuel, and last week, as the Memorial Day weekend approached, fuel was already selling at $4.66 a gallon on the East Lyme docks. By the height of the power boating season in July, the Pratts and their marina friends expect to pay $5 or more a gallon for fuel.
Nobody’s pretending that 33-footers like the Wenweken III — there are dozens of them along the neighboring slips — are anything but gas-aholics. The Pratts’ boat, powered by twin, 250-horsepower Yamaha outboards, burns 30 gallons an hour — and that’s just, as Ken says, “loafing along at 30 mph.” Their fuel tab this summer will come to $150 an hour, but the Pratts have few worries about running low. The Wenweken III’s tanks can hold 350 gallons.
“We’re looking this summer at our first $1,700 fill-up, but you have to remember that it’s just as much fun sitting here at the marina enjoying the boat and our friends,” said Wendy Pratt. “When I saw these fuel prices beginning to climb this spring, I said to Ken, ‘Honey, no more running over to Greenport for lunch, OK?’ We’ll just use our plastic spatula [credit card] for takeout food right here on the dock.”
Ugh; a $1700 tank of gas?
Meanwhile, just to add to that happy news — when I went out last night to get enough gas to tide me over until my next trip to the cheap gas stations on the Berlin Turnpike, I happened to notice the neighborhood price for diesel was up to $4.899/gallon.
The high price of diesel troubles me, since so many homes around here are heated by oil. Maybe it’s time to get over my pyrophobia, and start getting the fireplace ready for next winter.
