High gas prices change boaters’ habits

Marina operators say escalating fuel prices have impacted the 2008 boating season in a big way, and Minnesotans who love boating are trying to ease the pain by revving their outboards less, anchoring more, and downsizing to smaller engines.
A year ago, gas sold at about $3.70 a gallon at riverfront pumps in Lake City, near Lake Pepin. Now, it’s 80 cents to a dollar more. Gas is higher at some waterside pumps — reaching $5 a gallon.
Locally, Northernaire Houseboats of Rainy Lake Inc. have not felt these high-priced impacts through reservations. “People realize that they’re going on vacation, 50 to 100 extra dollars isn’t much,” says Dick Garbe, Northernaire Houseboats owner. People aren’t coming from as far away, Garbe adds.
Rainy Lake Houseboats Inc. has been affected quite a bit, according to Katie Bruggeman, administrative staff. “People are going slower in the boats, which helps with gas a bit,” adds Bruggeman, “We’ve been getting more and more boats as the summer continues.”
Lake City marina administrator Mark Lutjen said he used to see three or four couples hop into separate boats and cruise across Lake Pepin to Wisconsin for dinner.
‘‘You don’t see that as much anymore,’’ he said. ‘‘What you see is four couples on one boat going to Pepin. I’ve had people who just flat-out told me, ’It was nice to run to Pepin for a hamburger after work, but we’re not doing that anymore.’ You now think twice before you make that trip.’’
For Kim and Rick Klocek, the high gas prices meant selling their 34-foot-long twin-engine boat and downsizing to a 23-footer.
‘‘I just couldn’t justify taking it out anymore for two hours and being out $70 on gas,’’ Rick Klocek said.
There are 850,000 registered boats in Minnesota. The state boasts the most boats per capita — more than 15 boats for every 100 residents.
‘‘Certain things are special about living in Minnesota, and this is a quality-of-life deal,’’ Duane Lund, a commercial real estate broker from Orono, said after pumping $400 worth of gas into his 33-footer. That put his fuel tanks just over half full.
‘‘I’ll cut down on going out to eat and entertainment, but I’m not going to cut back on my boating hours,’’ he said.
Lund figures there are a dozen potential boating weekends a year, and typically half feature lousy weather. Throw in weddings, graduations and soccer tournaments and, he said: ‘‘You get three or four weekends a year, so you’ve got to play hard.’’
Cindy Bisek, who co-owns a marina near Red Wing with her husband, said many boaters who rent overnight slips are choosing to stay in the marina two or three nights.
‘‘When we first bought the marina, the smaller boats would stay one night and then go to the next marina,’’ she said. ‘‘Now we’re seeing Red Wing as more a destination point. Once people spend money and gas to get here, they’ll stay two or three nights rather than hopping down to the next marina. And they might bring a friend to help split the gas cost.’’
But the high fuel prices have stopped some from boating altogether.
Gordy Jarvis, who leases 12 overnight slips in Afton and another dozen in Hudson, Wis., said business is down on the St. Croix.
‘‘I believe gas prices have dramatically affected the watercraft industry. That’s the bottom line,’’ he said.
Rick Klocek, who has been on Lake Minnetonka for 32 years and repairs and sells boats at West Side Marine, estimated that boat traffic has dropped 75 percent on North Arm Bay.
‘‘There’s hardly anyone out there,’’ he said. ‘‘Used to be (on a) nice weeknight, 10-15 boats would be out pulling tubers and water skiers. Now you see maybe two or three. It’s weird.’’
Klocek said it’s hard to sell a boat right now — unless it’s a small one. He said he recently sold a four-cylinder, 18-footer after five hours on Craigslist. A 20-footer with a gas-guzzling engine is still on the blocks.
‘‘People don’t want anything to do with V-8s anymore because of the gas,’’ he said.
Maynard’s, a lakefront Excelsior bar and restaurant, is still busy. But boaters tell stories of changed habits.
Tom DePrekel, a bartender from Minneapolis, got his 22-footer washed and ready this spring.
‘‘But it’s still in the garage,’’ he said. He rented a big pontoon boat with his buddies for $350 for nine hours — gas included.
‘‘My aunt and uncle have a 48-footer and they told me they’re thinking of taking up sailing,’’ DePrekel said.
Trevor Millberg of Minneapolis sold his 25-foot, 1972 vintage Chris Craft after figuring he had eight friends with boats ‘‘and I could be that guy’’ who just comes along for the ride.
Up on Detroit Lake, Ken Tinjum of J & K Marina said steep gas prices are keeping new boaters off the water.
‘‘It’s stopping the entry-level buyer just because his day-to-day life is costing so much more, he can’t sneak in a $200 monthly boat payment in there and feel good about it,’’ Tinjum said. ‘‘But the guys who already have ’em are still using them.’’

The Associated Press contributed to this report.