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Location: Oshkosh | Many of you talk about the gas prices in relation to tournament fishing.... while the dollars that tournament fishing brings to the economy is substantial, think about the millions of little guys out there who would like to spend a day on the water with their kids, or whatever. Combined, they represent a far bigger slice of the pie. Last year I decided to give up fishing in tournaments, even if it was one or two local events. This year, my boat has seen the water a grand total of 5 times, the last time being in late June. I cannot justify the gas expenses for my tow vehicle and my boat (36 gallon tank) today at $2.59/gallon (and still rapidly rising). Sure I could drop a couple gallons in and go out in the Fox River a couple blocks from my house and be happy with what I may end up catching there, but things will never be the same.
Tyee, you related the different gas prices fom several areas in the world. One of the main reasons their gas prices are high is because of their reluctance to build refineries on their own soil- they purchase the bulk of their gas already made from other countries. Overall, the situation is what it is here because of 3 things- Economically Third-world countries (mainly China) are in the midst of an economic boom that is seeing their automobile use skyrocket. They are demanding a large chunk of the current oil supply. Secondly, the US hasn't built a new refinery here since the 70's. We only have so much production capabilities. And thirdly, there is NO oil shortage out there- we just have too many countries (including our country) that are reluctant to harvest what is already in the ground in their territories. When you have OPEC nations (like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela) dictating how much oil they will produce, it is tough to meet the demands of the entire world.
I am not one to believe that just because gas prices are high in Europe of wherever that we should be "happy" that our gas is "only" $2.60/gallon. With that logic, we can still be happy when gas hits $3.00/gal (which it will by the end of the year) because there are so many places where it is still higher. Our country has the ability and resources to cover a large chunk of our supply needs, but as a country we do not yet have the political will to get this done (of which why is completely beyond me).
I envy all of you who are still able to gas up your boats and fish in different places in competition... I just hope that you don't end up going in the hole in the long run. The bad thing is high prices for gas isn't where it will end. With an economy that relies so heavily on gas-burning vehicles to distribute product, we are starting to see companies pass on the hike in fuel prices in the form of higher prices for those goods sold. Maybe this is in the form of a Rapala being 5 cents more in cost or a rod and reel combo being $5 more... it all adds up and it gets harder to justify spending your hard-earned money for recreational purposes.
I see no end to this trend in the foreseeable future....
Is anyone interested in buying a used boat?  |
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Member
Posts: 540
Location: Milw, WI | I just filled the car at $2.85 a gal.
I can not afford to drive to the Wis. river to shore fish even at these prices.
I get better better value ( 7 mpg) on real gas but can not afford to drive 2 counties out to get it, any more.
It will be a long boring fall for me if some thing dosen't shake losse.
Tip if coming in to Mil.area fill with real gas before you get here, the RFG still sucks.
They just dropped the RFG regs. for a bunch of cities , but not us.
Boy thanks............. |
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| I wonder what would happen if someone developed a circuit that had a limited boat length and horsepower rating? Kinda like the local race tracks do with different classes. For instance you could say that the circuit is limited to 18' boats with a max HP of 150HP 4 strokes?
Sure would go a long way to limiting your expense on equipment and fuel. I would think the boat companies would like this idea as the bulk of their sales are more targeted towards this market than the 21'er's with the 250's. The tourney guys would be using the products they are actually selling.
As long as everyone was using the same or similar equipment, what difference would it make?
When are they gonna make an outboard that can run on ethanol? |
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Posts: 1188
Location: Chicago IL. | That reminds me of the GNWC IL state championship I fished 2 years ago. We fished Evergreen Lake and it had a 10 hp limit. It was the first time I smoked the big boats off the shot gun start!!!!!!! HAHAHA |
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Location: Rhinelander | We hit $2.85 a gallon yesterday. Listeing tp an analyst yesterday on the radio, gasoline is supposed to drop some after Labor Day IF there is no natural or other disaster that would interrupt refining. |
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| Ya watch it go to $3.00 on Labor day and then it will drop back to 1.85 for October and then up to $3.00 again for the Hunting/Holiday season!!
Good Luck
Tyee |
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Location: upper michigan | I will do cart wheals if it hits $1.85 I think $2.00 is more realistic. |
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| What's SO surprising is that (according to what I saw on World News Tonight, last night) demand has not gone down (yet) and actualy went up a bit as most are still in their "two and a half truck" families and as we all know, you have to get to work. As far as gas mileage, consumers in general are JUST starting to make those types of decisions and most are already looking towards a limited spending year for the holidays as the next step, before down sizing their ride or drastically changing driving habits such as car pooling.
What can we do? A rotating boycott of gasoline companies? I think that just hurts the local station owner and their employee's the most. Demand better technology? How much is our government spending on funding for better technology such as hydrogen engines? Billions being spent on "pork". I really wonder how much control the "lobbiests" have over things like this? I mean if the people who voted you in to office make money selling oil, where are your loyalties? To the USA as a whole or? I also wonder how the "futures" market really works. They say that part of the reason for high oil prices is fear about the future of this or that. Does that mean we are paying more for gas TODAY because of fear about six months from now??? Time for a change!! |
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| A big part of the solution is within our grasp. I've been getting 105 miles per gallon of gas in my '04 Yukon with the 5.3 flex fuel engine for several months. 24 gallons of fuel per fill at 15% gas equals 3.6 gallons. I get around 380 miles per fill which works out to over 100 miles per gallon!! As more and more flex fuel vehicles are sold and more locations offer E85 we can reduce demand and our dependence on foreign oil, and that will help lower the price. I don't make the 20 minute drive to save the 25 bucks but rather because it feels good to do what I can for the long term solution. Helping the local farmers, the environment, dependence on foreign oil and my pocket book!!!!! |
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Location: Rockford MN | I have to think that will work both ways! As we depend more on the blend fuels the prices will go up because of demand! In other words no matter what fuel it is SOMEONES going to profit GREATLY! Whenever something has to be manufactured people have to pay for it! Fuel is the easiest product produced to jump prices around, we have to pay whatever they want to run our vehicles! Although it's nice to see some more people here profiting from fuel, it's also the next step to government taking control of fuels. After reading a few things about blended fuels seems we pay more in the end anyways, we meaning TAX dollars are fundind the whole thing. The old saying is holding true " You wash my back and I'll wash yours"
Impact will be Hydro power, better all the way around for the environment and the pocket book! However if someone does'nt stand to make a TON of money this will be years away from being standard issue! |
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Location: Rhinelander | Remember though, it's definitely not the corner gasoline station making all the money. This situation now causes them to sell the same or slightly less fuel, but MUCH less product across the counter in the convenience section which is where the money really is because of less disposable income.
Oil prices are defined by the world market; gasoline reflected directly within that same framework adjusted by current US demand and supply and the 'futures' market. If, for example, a major US refinery in the south has to shut down because of a Hurricane for say, three weeks, but demand remains the same, the price of gasoline at the pump here in Rhinelander, WI WILL go up sharply. It's the age old economic supply/demand model, with LOTS of speculation added in because of the Middle East situation and much, much more. Oil at over $60 per barrel is not a sustainable price in the current model if demand falls and the market stabilizes, so all the analysts say fuel prices will come down some after Labor Day as travel reduces. IMHO the key is having supplies outstrip demand for awhile, that will get it done. |
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| Yep, simple supply and demand. The solution is within everyones grasp. Cut back on consumption. The pain level has not been reached. I think it will take $3.50/gal plus to make folks seriously change there consumption habits. Those who can afford the increases will not change their ways unless they feel some communal obligation. The many who's budgets are severely impacted will be the leaders in the conservation efforts through necessity.
Remember the trama at $2.00/ gal.? Whether we will make the true pain threshold this year is yet to be seen. If the price levels stay high, the SUV and truck sales may show there first significant sales decreases in years, which will contribute to long term conservation.
These things all work out in a market economy, it just isn't pretty.
Take care,
Jim O |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | gilman911 - 8/16/2005 6:49 PM
A big part of the solution is within our grasp. I've been getting 105 miles per gallon of gas in my '04 Yukon with the 5.3 flex fuel engine for several months. 24 gallons of fuel per fill at 15% gas equals 3.6 gallons. I get around 380 miles per fill which works out to over 100 miles per gallon!! As more and more flex fuel vehicles are sold and more locations offer E85 we can reduce demand and our dependence on foreign oil, and that will help lower the price. I don't make the 20 minute drive to save the 25 bucks but rather because it feels good to do what I can for the long term solution. Helping the local farmers, the environment, dependence on foreign oil and my pocket book!!!!!
Gillman.
I like any idea that puts money in our own USA farmers pockets. Even if the technology and refinement costs for this high bred fuel had a sustained higher cost, I think I'd bite that bullet for as long as I possibly could. It would be bound to level off at some point, and not be fluctuated every time some Arab Sheek farted.   |
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Location: Milw, WI | I think you will all be suprized if you found out who really names those prices.
It is not the guy whos well it is pumped out of.
When the price was $40 a barrel here the price was $2.00 u.s. funds to the well owner.
Edited by Richfish 8/19/2005 9:56 AM
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Issue Date: 8/18/2005, Posted On: 8/18/2005 DOE sees fuel prices continuing to rise
Average retail prices of gasoline and diesel jumped nearly 20 cents a gallon earlier this week, the largest increase on record, according to a weekly government report. The Department of Energy’s Energy Information Agency says prices at the pumps will continue to rise over the next few weeks as recent price increases in the wholesale market work their way through to consumers. Crude oil prices, which last week topped $66 a gallon, helped lead to price increases at the pump. But reduced supply of gasoline due to recent refinery outages, which reduce the amount of gasoline or diesel that can be produced, also drove up prices. “The biggest problem is refinery problems,” says Kevin Little of Onyx Mansfield oil. “Refineries drive everything that’s going on in the country.” The nation’s gasoline supply fell by 5 million barrels last week to 198.1 million barrels, or 12 percent below last year, according to the Department of Energy. Crude oil inventories grew by 300,000 barrels last week to 321.1 million barrels, or 11 percent above year ago levels. Retail prices were on the rise throughout the country, with average prices for regular gasoline about 18.2 cents higher and diesel prices about 16 cents higher.
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Location: Rockford MN | Yes it's all about the money! Nice report (or scam) they put out! I have yet to go to a gas station that has sent me away because they don't have any fuel! This sickens me to end the amount of money that these companies make off our suffering. When is the last time ONE of these fuel refineries lost money? They can have a huge oil spill somewhere off Alaska and 3 years later are back to making BILLIONS of American workers hard earned money! To top that off "our" own goverment seems to turns its head when ever the scam artists want more money! Oh to be that powerful and able to buy people! I think they let them do these things to take focus off of other things if you know what I mean?? Maybe they should be spending some of that money to up date there equipment or hiring more help, instead of buying the people we trust to take of these problems? Just a thought, now I have to get the door the IRS is here to audit me again! lol |
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