Fuel prices expected to leave boaters feeling gassed

By Stephen Tait
Staff Writer

May 16, 2008 10:17 pm

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NEWBURYPORT — The price of fishing, cruising and anything else requiring a boat motor is going up this summer.

Charter boat captain Bob Yeomans said the price of gas forced him to raise the charge for his deep-sea fishing charters for this summer by $175.

Last fall, anticipating prices of $3 to $3.25 per gallon, Yeomans increased the price of his fishing charters by $125, from $265 or so to $395. But now that the price of gas is now well above $4 per gallon on the waterfront, Yeomans said, he boosted the price of charter another $50.

"Where does it stop?" he said about the cost of fuel.

It is a question many boat owners and marina workers are asking as boats get lowered into the Merrimack River, docks begin to fill with watercraft and gas tanks thirst for the first fill up of the year — an expense that can cost hundreds for many recreational boaters and thousands for those who own commercial vessels.

While the price of gas is certainly hurting drivers, it is even worse for many boat owners since gasoline along the water is often much more expensive. Jay Larcome, dockmaster for Newburyport Marinas, said the gas he sells is more expensive because of the special additives marine fuel must include.

"It will always remain higher than street gas because there are additives in it," he said.

Many, like Newburyport's Harbormaster Ralph Steele, say the price of fuel is going to change the dynamic of the city's harbor, but in what way isn't exactly clear. Steele said he already knows of some who won't put their boats in the water this year and others looking to sell.

"I think the price of fuel will have a big impact on boating this year," he said.

Steele said the increase in price, which he says is $4.70 per gallon for diesel and $4.50 for regular gasoline, will probably mean fewer trips and trips of less distance. For instance, he says many people make an trip on July 2 or so to Boston to celebrate Fourth of July and watch that city's impressive fireworks display.

"This year, there might not be nearly as many doing that," he said.

Larcome, like Steele, said there will likely be more people using boats as a "recreational, second home kind of thing." But most of all, Larcome worries about how high the price per gallon may rise. He said he doesn't want to see it get to $5 per gallon.

"It's scary," he said. "I don't even want to think about it."

Larcome also has some advice to dish out, though. He said like driving a car, slowing down on the water can save gas. He said drivers on the highway can slow down from 80 mph to 55 mph and see a big difference in consumption.

"You slow down, you save fuel," he said.

It is a trick that Yeomans may find useful.

Yeomans uses his boat, the Erica Lee II, to take people out more than 20 miles to Jeffrey's Ledge to catch cod and haddock. To get to the ledge, Yeomans says he uses about 100 gallons of gasoline, an overhead cost of about $425 each trip.

Yeomans also runs Coastal Discoveries, a program for children that introduces them to the ecology of the coastal waters, and has had to boost the cost $10 per child to help pay for the fuel.

He said it also doesn't help that customers often must travel from other communities and also feel the pinch on their pocketbooks.

"Then take your passengers, they have to get here," he said. "It's a whole vicious cycle. The price is going up to fast for the economy to catch up."

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