why does it cost so much...

[Saechao]

i bought a skeeter a 6 months ago...n cant even afford to take her out peacefully...with high gas prices, cost of oil, n all the other things...

for you guys dat are thinkn bout buyn a bass boat do ur homework lol im mean on gas, oil, where will it be used, how offten, do u really need a 200opti, n last of all can u afford it hahahah

its a lil quarter tank of to run from kings island to russos dats not even far.. if ur wondern how much a dat is....one way dats about 15-20 bucks...n dats just one way...i have 8 quarters hahah

how but da truck....wow


how do ya do it....???

[Gator]

BOAT DEFINITION = BREAK OUT ANOTHER THOUSAND

Just do it. It ain't gonna get any cheaper!!

[Skeeterman]

Now these days you have to pay in order to play.

[snapitoff2002]

It's pretty bad when you head to the lake, and don't know if you want to launch at another ramp to get closer to one spot, or launch at the closest ramp and run to your spot....Because it's all expensive! Every time out I am spending at the very least, 65-70 bucks in gas. MINIMUM. I almost can't afford to fish a night tournament where I run my trolling motor for most of the night!

[biteme]

Ill tell ya! But hey its the price we have to pay. I bought a three year old boat and saved to buy it. If I had a payment I would be fugged! Ive had to replace batteries, leaf springs, new jack plate, service, oil, gas. Man I dont know how you guys with payments do it!

[Cesar L]

At first I wanted a bigger boat, but now im glad I got my ranger 170vs with a 115 merc. I can make that 25 gallons of gas go a long way, the down side is my top speed is 45mph but the money I save is awesome.

[biteme]

Oh forgot to add, I wouldnt change it for anything. This thing brings me a whole lot of joy!

[Dan McKenzie]

First thing I see every time I'm out is guy's flying W.O.T. all over the place, I'll see someone pull up nearby, fish for 5-10 minutes and on they go full speed to the next spot. 2.) buy a season launch pass and park entry if applicable, doing so can save a lot of money. 3.) use the recommended octane rating for your motor, 91 octane isn't any better (in fact will cause carbon build up) if it isn't required, "premium" is a marketing ploy that has sucked a lot of people into buying it that don't really need it. 4.) weight-do you really need all that crap in the boat? take what you need and leave the rest at home. That includes filling livewells and running around with fish when not in tournaments. 5.), air pressure-check the air pressure on both the tow vehicle and trailer prior to every trip, it will save money on gas and premature wear. 6.) find a partner to share expenses with. 7.) Tow at the speed limit, I constanly see people pulling their rigs at 65-70 mph, towing at 55-60 mph will save gas and it is safer, period. There are a bunch of other things like tune ups, consolidated trips, car pooling, etc... that you can do to reduce gas consumption and save money in your weekly driving. Thing is most people would rather just complain about the prices and keep wasting money.

[Sean Graf]

Just go launch at body of water and learn the ares right around the ramp!

Good example would be Rivers End, drop the boat in the water, get onthe trolling motor and start fishing!

[lucas boden]

win tournaments!

[Smile_n_Jax]

What Dan said. I also have two 5 gallon containers in my truck. I fill them up here at home so I don't have to pay $4.00 to $4.50 at the marina. I also run at 4500 rpm instead of 5500. The difference amounts to about 5 mph and it saves a lot of gas. I also run a hyrofoil. It helps a lot.

[bassindon69]

I can go many times out with my 17' with 90hp Ficht. I have caught more fish on her then I could ever dream of. I think it's a 30 or 36 gal tank. lasts a long... time. All I need now is a good 6 cylender truck to pull her, My GMC Van does ok but there can be much more saved. I do like the van for lakes I travel to, it's just like having a room. When the wife goes well.....you know how that goes. Gota get a room.

Don.

[Calistar]

Yup, offer up a open backseat and generally you can cut your fuel expenses in half. There's a lot of non-boaters on this forum (myself included) that rely on invitations to go fishing....and most of us don't mind kickin' in 30-40 bucks (or whatever) for fuel. We know it costs alot.

Don't load the boat with excess tackle, keep off the throttle, don't make long runs, and keep the boat tuned up.

I met a lot of my good fishin' buddies by answering an open backseat post. Keep in mind....that if you split expenses with another angler, you can afford to go fishing twice as often.

[rickd]

For those of you who get to the Deta via 580, get off on Vasco and head north. There is a Quck Stop there with gas at ONLY $3.09 a gallon.

I don't know how they do it? Been saving money by filling up on the way home.

I've had my Ranger for just less then a year and lost a motor and just reciently a lower unit.

[Gator]

The gas in my area is dropping rapidly (Arco on Auburn Folsom was 3.02). I will be putting some gas in the boat tomorrow for the CAST for Kids event Saturday. I may just bite the bullet and fill it up. 38 Gallons at 3.02.......................115 Bucks PLUS!! Sheesh.

[biteme]

The gas in my area is dropping rapidly (Arco on Auburn Folsom was 3.02). I will be putting some gas in the boat tomorrow for the CAST for Kids event Saturday. I may just bite the bullet and fill it up. 38 Gallons at 3.02.......................115 Bucks PLUS!! Sheesh.

2.97 on sunrise and fair oaks! Im filling up tomorrow!

[Mike]

$3.05 @ Arco in Oakley

[Paul W]

Good thread, especially since I'm looking at a boat for later this year. I need a boat for fresh and salt, and *really want* a bayboat like a bayRanger, but do I want to pay all that $$ to run the thing, thats the question. My last boat was a 17' w/ a 115 and it was pretty economical to run, it wasnt fast but cheaper is better.

Paul W

[Marty]

Ok Calistar,

Come on out this Sat and we will go fishing – the back seat is open!

[CATCHEMCARO]

32 of our club members fish a tourney on Sunday at Highland Springs Res and we spent nothing on gas. Just the gas to drive there. Nothing like a float tube for a great day on the water.
Rich

[Fish Chris]

I've said for quite some time; Either guys in the big, powerful, high-per bass boats, make a LOT more money than I do, OR they don't fish near as much as I do. In reality, it's probably most often both.

The other thing I've often said, is that if somebody were to walk up and "give" me a brand new high performance bass boat, I'd have to sell it immediatly, because I couldn't afford the gas to operate the thing...... least wise, and still fish 140 days a year.

But this all suits me fine though, as I feel really comfortable in my little 14 foot aluminum G3. On a long day, with a lot of running around, I never burn more than 4 gallons from a 6 gallon tank, and sometimes, like yesterday at Clear Lk, I don't even use a full gallon.

Gas for truck though, is a whole other story My worn out old Toyota only gets about 18 mpg. I've heard of big trucks that get that. Oh well.

But anyway, yes, $3 a gallon SUCKS !

Fish

[Calistar]

Marty,
You have a PM!