Lighter boat traffic this year?

[Cal]

The greedy folks causing the high cost of energy and making huge profits don't really care. They have found we will pay what we have to pay to get the gas. Unfortuately other services and products will suffer , be it recreational travel or an extra dinner out. I'm afraid if it continues long enough (and it will) , it will cause major problems in our economy , as in major reccession. Boy , I hope I'm wrong

[Kevin C]

Originally Posted by Cal

I'm afraid if it continues long enough (and it will) , it will cause major problems in our economy , as in major reccession. Boy , I hope I'm wrong

Cal....I'm afraid that you are on target. A recession will most likely be right around the corner.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by Cal

The greedy folks causing the high cost of energy and making huge profits don't really care. They have found we will pay what we have to pay to get the gas. Unfortuately other services and products will suffer , be it recreational travel or an extra dinner out. I'm afraid if it continues long enough (and it will) , it will cause major problems in our economy , as in major reccession. Boy , I hope I'm wrong

Hey we all still buying the stuff so let's not forget the demand end of supply and demand. While there's some hurt now I'd say it is/was inevitable because as more people (think China, India) demand the same product the price will rise. The silver lining is that as energy (gas included) prices rise alternatives get to be cost competitive. Just looking at oil/gas ... "new" oil gets found and old hard-to-get oil gets to be worth the expense to retrieve. Things like TDP get to be economically viable as well. The real trick it too use oil/gas for those things, and only those things, that it's practically suited for (at this time) and use "other stuff" for our other energy needs. While I think some form of economic downturn is possible (perhaps even likely), I don't see it as long lasting. Prices will stabilize at or near the present values in the not too distant future and people will adapt. Some of that adaptation will be as you say and some will be to waste less so as to be able to go out (on the boat or for a dinner). Me, I'm thinking it's time to home brew rather than buy that inferior beer ! That alone could fuel our boat for the summer.

[Kevin C]

It's just that oil is the common denominator in our economy. Not just what we use in our personal cars, boats, etc but it's used in production all over the U.S. We heavily rely on plastics (to use just one example) to make virtually everything we consume. Plastics are petroleum based. When the cost of oil / fuel skyrockets that cost is passed along to the consumers by way of higher prices to produce and transport those goods to market and inflation starts. Hope recession is held at bay, but I'm nervous about the economy.

[ApS]

Seems to be a trend: In 2004, the weather was to blame for the low boat density. In 2005, it was the price of gasoline.

While the worst gas-guzzlers are everywhere, it seems that the number of tiny sailboats these past two weekends have greatly increased. Encouraged, I've started a fiberglass repair that's kept my Sunfish on shore.

The class of boat that appears down in numbers is in the middle: pontoon boats and bow riders. The number of skiers and tubers may be down some as a result, but the water is warming up.

I'd say it's too early in the season to call this a permanent trend, but that's what I'm seeing from this shore.