Honestly, i find the entire increase for fuel ** marine pumps rather frustrating. Perhaps marina's justify their higher coast due to higher liability should there be a spill, etc. Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe it is partly that, maybe partly (larger part?) that the forces of supply and demand are not able to work properly in regards to checks and balances....all those boats, especially the big ones that can't trailer, have to get fuel, there are only a few places to do it, therefore, the audiance is captive, therefore marina's charge as much as they want, within reason.
Well, a guy just moved a large boat to our dock that is run on diesel. We are on an inland lake and almost every other boat runs on gas. Thus, no deisel is available at any of the marina pumps. This guy has to contract with a fuel carrier or some sorts that must bring a truck to the shore, run a long hose to his boat tied up at nearest point on the dock he can reach, and fill him up. I was thinking to myself when i heard about it, "man- that must be expensive!" Well, in talking to him it sounds like he is the smartest one of us all! Here we are paying $3.30/gallon for regular gas at the marina pump and this guy is getting his diesel delivered directly to his boat for $2.67/gallon after taxes and delivery fees!
I need to talk to him to see how he worked it out with the marina but maybe this could be a way to put the supply and demand back into check...? At a savings of $0.67 a gallon (assuming we could get gas for about the same price as his deisel), that would be a savings of right ** $150 per fill up for my boat. I am quite sure i could get some of my neighbors to sign up and fill up at the same time...perhaps getting a discount for a fuel company to sell 800-1,000 gallons in one stop, maybe even thereby dropping the price some more.
Sound crazy?
Of course, there is the potential issue that the marina is on leased land from the Corps and may not like their profit center being ignored, so they may protest. Maybe something could be worked out with the marina though, or maybe do it at one of the public ramps or something....??? Surely something could work out?
For that matter, i bet a hauler could be hired to haul out 2-4 boats in a row on a trailer, drive the 1 mile down a very quiet, easy to navigate road to the nearest gas station, and fill up there for $2.50!
I don't like it when free market is limited, particularly when i am footing the bill!!!
Well, a guy just moved a large boat to our dock that is run on diesel. We are on an inland lake and almost every other boat runs on gas. Thus, no deisel is available at any of the marina pumps. This guy has to contract with a fuel carrier or some sorts that must bring a truck to the shore, run a long hose to his boat tied up at nearest point on the dock he can reach, and fill him up. I was thinking to myself when i heard about it, "man- that must be expensive!" Well, in talking to him it sounds like he is the smartest one of us all! Here we are paying $3.30/gallon for regular gas at the marina pump and this guy is getting his diesel delivered directly to his boat for $2.67/gallon after taxes and delivery fees!
I need to talk to him to see how he worked it out with the marina but maybe this could be a way to put the supply and demand back into check...? At a savings of $0.67 a gallon (assuming we could get gas for about the same price as his deisel), that would be a savings of right ** $150 per fill up for my boat. I am quite sure i could get some of my neighbors to sign up and fill up at the same time...perhaps getting a discount for a fuel company to sell 800-1,000 gallons in one stop, maybe even thereby dropping the price some more.
Sound crazy?
Of course, there is the potential issue that the marina is on leased land from the Corps and may not like their profit center being ignored, so they may protest. Maybe something could be worked out with the marina though, or maybe do it at one of the public ramps or something....??? Surely something could work out?
For that matter, i bet a hauler could be hired to haul out 2-4 boats in a row on a trailer, drive the 1 mile down a very quiet, easy to navigate road to the nearest gas station, and fill up there for $2.50!
I don't like it when free market is limited, particularly when i am footing the bill!!!