05-23-2022, 10:05 PM
I got some great advice many years ago from an old boater/Lake Powell nut before I bought a Cobalt family style ski boat. He said: "Never try to justify boating financially - It can't be done. Buy and enjoy a boat and make memories with your family but don't try to make financial sense of it." I have tried to follow that advice but I'm not immune from the sticker shock at the pump either. It cost me $75 in diesel fuel last week for and evening at the Berry. I remember many years ago at Lake Powell taking that Cobalt over to Halls Crossing fuel dock with an empty tank. saw the price of regular was $5.85 a gallon and knowing that the tank was almost empty and holds 60 gallons I knew it was going to be painful. As I sat there watching the dollars spin around waaaaaay faster than the gallons, I thought back at the last 2 full days of glorious fun that we had spent as a family using all that gas. Then the thought came to my mind that if I were to take the family to Disneyland It would have cost me north of $600 for just one day. When the pump finally stopped and $280 was "all I owed" I was so thankful that for less than half the cost of one day at Disneyland I had enjoyed 2 full days on the lake and had so much more fun! For the record, I would actually pay to not have to go to Disneyland ever again but I don't want to offend any of you Disney lovers. Anyway, I recognize that fuel is expensive and many of us don't have unlimited budgets but the more we forget the price and focus on the thrill the happier we'll be. My real aspiration is to join Brookie and some others who beat the fuel problem by just moving to the Berry for summer and get several days of fishing in for the same fuel cost. Still trying to convince my sweetheart that this is a good idea and that she would love it.