Have the gas prices made me out of my mind?

[Sproguy]

Ok guys I am taking a serious look at selling my bassboat, which I dreamed of non stop my whole life before finally getting one six years ago and buying a smaller 16ft Jon boat. Also planning on selling my F-150 in favor of a Ford Escape in which to pull it with. I figure I save a ton on gas and a ton on boat payment and storage. Have the gas prices made me crazy or am I thinking straight? Please help me!

[Buckslayer]

I suggest taking a look at how much more you are actually spending on gas. I bet in the long run it is not that much more. Dont go out to the bar one time while up north, or buy one less thing at Gander next week. People make it sound like their whole pay checks are being eating up at the gas pump!

[Ralph Wiggum]

I'd suggest selling me both for a very low price

[76k20]

Absolutely stark raving mad

I conidered the possibility of upsizing from my 17' alumacraft and moving into a deeper wider hull maybe a foot or three longer. But my money moniter aka loving wife has informed me that she gets a new car first.

so to the back burner the bigger boat goes.

[Mark Christianson]

I'll be very honest.

I was oh so close to buying a new Triton bass boat last year. I am pretty happy I didnt.

I fish a lot. And when you fill a tank that feeds a gas hog 175hp motor, it adds up. Also that boat is much bigger and heavier than my current boat, which will make the old truck suck down the fuel faster too.

I am pretty happy I have my fuel sipping 75 hp Honda tiller still.

I don't think you are crazy. There are limits every person has as far as expenses go and how your budget fits your lifestyle.

Something has to give at some point with most people.

[Slyster]

My take? I can go where any bass boat can go... and more... (just not as fast)

And VERY cheap. (15hp 14 foot lund)... and with my modifications I did.. it is, in fact, very useful and very comfortable! 5 gallon tank will get me 80 miles or something like that- that's a good 6 or 7 long days for me.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I agree with buck, heres some numbers to think about.

200 mile trip with gas at 1.65 and a vehicle that gets 18 mpg would be $18.59

same trip with gas at $2.79 would be $31.35 with a difference of $12.76

Thats 4 #2's at McDonalds, 3 large turtle mocha's at Carabou, a haircut, or a case of long knecks. It isn't really that bad when you put it into perspective.

I agree that it would be nice if there wasn't the extra cost but you just have to deal with it the best you can.

[Animal]

Sounds to me like you might be a little over extended in the check book to take that drastic of action. I like to think of my fishing fun as a hobby and budget accordingly for my equipment, boats and trips. All money spent is after my basic expenses are covered including savings. Point is- how much do you value your boat and what kind of pleasure do you derive from it? Even though fuel prices have spiked they are up just 35 % from last year. I don't know how much fuel you use, but figure it out , subtract 35% and that is the figure you should react to. I'll bet it's not near what your emotion tells you it is. Gas prices have already slid back 50% of the post Katrina spike. I have a very good income with my job and wife's business. I'm still not above taking a few side jobs each year to augment my fishing fund. You could do the same and maybe even move up.

[Dan Thiem]

You can't be serious, selling something you've dreamed of your whole life? Now you got it so hang on to it Dude! Find some other fat to trim.

Also keep the truck and get a small p.o.s. to go back and forth to work in. That will save some bling right off the top.

Can't blame you for wanting to put things into priority though. Just don't cut back on the things that keep you sane.

[Mark Christianson]

Airjer

You forgot the gas he has to burn in the bass boat too.

If you spend a long weekend somewhere, you can rip through a tank of gas on a boat if you are making some long runs.

Also, I know if I got 18 mpg in my truck pulling my current boat, I would be happy as heck. I get about 18 mpg without pulling anything.

I see your point for sure, but I think you are underestimating what it really costs to run somewhere for a day/weekend of fishing.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

I also have to agree with Buck it really is not as bad as you might think it is. Just skip a few non-essential purchases like a night out or that Mc D’s reference is exactly dead on.

You have to make your priorities (that is only your own knowledge).

But the fact that gas has gone up to as high as it has I really don’t think it is as bad as most people think it is. I know people who buy their fancy coffees every morning for $2.00 - $3.50 for 16 Fluid Ounces now calculate that as to what is a priority???

Makes no sense to me…

Bottom line; just cool your emotions and take a long and educated evaluation of the situation.

[Captain B.R.K]

I agree with BiglakeBa$$ 100%!

I too see your point AirJet, but when I have a 10 gallon tank in the boat, that's another $12 or $13 extra just to bomb around the lake for the day or weekend, depending on the time spent on the water.

In the case of a big triton or ranger, now we are talking 15 or 20 gallon tanks....ouch!!

Something has to give and sometimes it's those fly by the seat fishing trips that will have to take the back seat for the time being.

[Jeremy airjer W]

biglake and captain, your points are good but lets think about some other things we do on the weekends.

Movie - 8 to 10 bucks per person to get in, popcorn - 3.50 to 4.00, pop 3.50 to 4 bucks. Total for two $28 for a couple hours of entertainment.

Valley Fair - 38 bucks per person, food and beverages 15 to 20 per person easy. Total for family of four minimum of $150.

Dinning out (sit down restuarant) - family of four minum $70.

Wild hockey game - $40 for tickets, 4.50 each for refreshments, $4-6 each for food/snacks. Minimum $90 for two people.

I think a day on the water is still a pretty good deal!

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I get 19 mpg with my pickup towing an 18 foot lund!

[upnorth]

There is no doubt about it these gas prices are going to put a cramp in my life style. But I am not thinking of selling the boat, the truck(new F150) or the RV. We may not be out using this stuff quite as much, but I am still gonna play. Also cutting back on some of the other things to compensate is going to happen, bring a lunch to work, cut out a couple of eating out episodes and consolidate trips to the store etc.

Stay home and whine about the cost of gas, not me

[Deitz Dittrich]

I have a bass boat and am not going to give it up any time soon. FOr me when the prices for gas get to high, I fish closer to home. I have quite a few lakes around my house. Many of them I can fish a good 8 hour day with out even starting up the big motor... Now that is saving gas!

[blakjack23]

Not that I want to sell my boat or truck....but these examples of savings for the cost of a day trip is small scale. If someone was to sell the truck and boat they could actually save alot. Truck payment $450, boat payment $200, gas for a month $500 (I actually spent over $600 last month). Now trade in the truck for a small car...save $250 in payment, sell boat..save $200, save more then half in gas...save $300, insurance would go down at least $50/month. Thats $800/month saved, granted you won't be fishing anymore. Its amazing how much it costs to fish every month. For what it cost to fish I could have a second house. If one of my friends had a boat I would sell all my stuff and just go with him.....as it turns out, I am the friend with everything.

[Animal]

Blackjack23

I've got a friend like that. My doesn't own anything friend and I went to Canada a couple of weeks ago. We took my boat, truck, camper. When we got back we split the gas and camping fee, etc. which was about $300 each. As I was leaving his house he shook my hand and said " Now that was a cheap trip." "You sure can't beat $50 bucks a day". I keep telling myself that he has other redeeming qualities, but sometimes I wonder.

[Buckslayer]

Well I guess we could look at it that way as far as everything goes. Sell everything and you wont have any payments. Sell the house and no mortgage, you could always live in a box at the park. But, when looking at gas prices, all these items were owned when the price was 1.75, and you were already paying $800 a month to use them. So what is another $20 of gas in the truck to pull it to the lake and $20 in gas to run the motor? Man, think about all the other S#$t that we waste money on. I am pretty sure I could give up my 2 or 3 mountain dews everyday, and stay away from McDonalds, maybe not hit as many happy hours, and I would be able come up with that $40 pretty easily.

I think everyone should sell it all, these gas prices are way to expensive.....I'm riding my peddle bike up north next time!

[river rat316]

I agree with dietz on not even starting up the big motor, alot of our lakes around here are small and the big motor is not needed, and you still catcha ton of fish!

[blakjack23]

Box in the park? Not a bad idea. I think I would prefer to sell my truck and boat before living in a box though.

[ChuckN]

If Ranger sold an accessory for the 621 DVS where I could live in it year round, I would be in high heaven!

[Bobby Bass]

Years ago when I bought my Tracker the goal was to pay her off and buy a Ranger. Well 4 kids change that plan. I still have the Tracker 17 years later, I keep her clean and fix what I break. Yesterday I had to buy gas for the 40hp 6 gals.. Got 10 fishing trips on that tank. Maybe 50hrs on the elect trolling motor during the same time. I had a simple way of covering my gas hike, I only smoke a good cigar on the way home from fishing now not both ways. If it goes up some more I will stop the one on the way home, A good vice to be rid of anyway I guess.. The thought of giving up my truck and boat never entered my mind. Spent to many years fishing out of a jon boat to think of stepping back over a few dollars in gas. If it gets that tuff 1 or two less trips would cover the gas or if you have to take someone with...

[Valv]

I believe if you think toget out of expenses you will find youself in more problems if you sell your rigs, especially if you have payments.

Both of them are worth less than what you paid or what you owe, you'll end up selling boat in "low market" season, take a beating and owe all the difference in 1 sum, instead of several payments.

If you don't owe anything, you are still taking a "beating" selling boat now, you will loose a lot.

If you can hang on until spring it will help you.

Escape is a great little SUV I'm driving one right now and it's a lot of fun, I have the 3.0 and it does 25mpg interstate at 70mph, and 22mpg city, but I don't know about pulling a big bass boat with it, motor has power but it's a light rig.

[andy j]

I agree with sproguy, captain, and biglake, This is a time that everyone should be cutting back in some way. If everyone ignores it and takes it up the behind then things are going to get better anytime soon, I agree with doing other things to save money to account for the higher gas prices but that doesn't help the supply and demand for gas. I have been doing what Deitz said, fishing smaller closer lakes that I have use the electric alot. and I have used a lot less gas. And I have caught more big bass this year then last year running all over the place. I have always thought about buying a bigger bass boat, but wont if prices dont go down considerably.

[Captain B.R.K]

Right on AJ!

Airjet- I catch your drift with everything else and it's cost to be considered. Fishing on a weekend isn't a real heavy expense if I'm fishing with a friend (1/2's on things) but it would be a bit much for myself to just bump on a lake. I'm hoping for the gas to come down for ice fishing or sooner!