How will gas prices affect the boat market??

[SANonTellico]

That might have been true some years ago but I’m not sure that’s true today. Seems a lot of people are discovering surfing and really enjoying it. I get the impression that skiing and wakeboarding have decreased a bit in popularity while surfing continues to grow (again, my impression). Surfing also caters to a larger group of people, there are plenty of people that for medical or health reasons can’t ski or wakeboard but have no problem surfing. Also, someone in their 40’s or 50’s, or older, will probably have an easier time learning to surf and will be more likely to enjoy it and continue doing it. I’m guessing that the older a person is, the less likely they’ll try a wakeboard again after catching an edge and face planting.
I completely agree with you that higher gas prices will quickly weed some people out, if they don’t love being out on the water, they will be selling their boat.

[GMLIII]

Nautiquehunter I'm predicting $7.00 a gallon on our lake in Virginia by July 4th weekend. What you just paid is not too far off that mark.

[Luebowski]

Luckily I own my 2004 and I'm pretty happy I was not able upgrade around the Covid time frame. Prices shot up right when I was about to buy a 2015 era boat plus my son decided to go to ASU.
Throwing in 30-35 gallons at a time sounds better than 60+ for this summer in CA.
Gas prices will not keep me off the water since we have a solid crew of wakeboarders/surfers and this time with my fam is priceless.

[Myremd]

Great discussion on this thread! I agree with all that’s been said. I am a frugal guy at baseline but won’t be kept off the water in Wisconsin, the season and life is too short! I have almost always bought gas in town and walked it down to our boat lift to save $12-15 for every 12 gal I buy. Of course that was in my 82 SN that I sold last year that was pretty fuel friendly. Looking to buy a early 2000s OB now. Wondering if I should make a drive across the country for a 2006 Air Nautique for $20k or hang tight here in the midwest to see what becomes available and if prices go down much. Can’t wait for the ice to go out!

[ally505]

To give a little context, here in the UK fuel prices are presently £1.66/l for unleaded and £1.78/l for super unleaded (and being lower alcohol content that's what I'll use early and late season).

£1.66/litre equates to around $8.30/US gallon

Like in the US, there was a boom in the secondhand boat market over the last few years. Many people overpaid for their boats and now with the return of foreign holidays, the expectation is that there will be less boats on the water this year and a lot more for sale.