Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
Got this on a Sea//Tow bulletin.

Not sure I believe it.

Rising Gas Prices Not an Issue for Boaters

In a recent press release, the National Marine Manufacturers
Association (NMMA) reported that despite rising gas prices, 94 percent
of American boaters will be out on the water this summer as usual. The
report was a result of a national study of 1,999 U.S. boaters
conducted earlier last month and also revealed that while 57 percent
of boaters' vacation plans will be affected by rising gas prices,
they're more likely to curtail other activities, such as dining out,
entertainment and driving before they cut down on their boating time.

Sea Tow recently conducted its own independent poll of 4,000 active
boaters, in partnership with Harris Interactive's Marine Research
Division, in which 66.8 percent said they expect to continue boating
and plan to maintain their current equipment (25.4 percent also
planned to upgrade from their current boat).

Last year, according to the NMMA, boating participation increased to
71.3 million overall participants, up 2.3 million from the 2004
figures. New boat unit sales remained steady in 2005, with less than a
one percent decrease for a total of 864,450 units.

Don't beleave it. I have a friend that owns a gas dock, volume is way
off. People are using their boats, but they pick their days, and don't
go far. Only your die hard fisherman is holding on. I spoke to the
owner of one of the oldest and largest marine stores in my area, his
comment, the high price of fuel is eliminating the middle class from
boating, and that is the really sad part because they make up the bulk
of the boaters in the US.