2022 Fuel Price Discussion

Any boat is far more efficient at hull speed. Personally unless we re in a rush (guests on board, narrow weather window etc…) I prefer running at hull speed than up on plane, even though I don’t pay for the fuel. . Less noise, smoother ride, less wear and tear.

Yea that is a nice lifestyle but in little boats running from inlet to inlet we need to skoot. St Augustine to Bald Head island in time to get a golf cart, get groceries, fuel and de-salt for early departure.

Agreed. Long legs and proper conditions I even stagger the RPM's, drop another 25% of the burn. Because why not.

We do not do hull speed unless in a canal with speed limits.

I agree very much with your sentiment, we use to cruise all up and down the east coast and Bahamas on plane. Now, I do all of my cruising at 7 to 9 knots, unless there is a weather issue, late arrival, or a long day with a beam sea. We run up on plane maybe 1 out of 8 hours max to keep the engines clean.

Everything mechanical last longer, sea water pumps, belts, cutlass bearings etc. etc. It saves fuel by at least a factor of two, which this year will add up. Its good for the environment. And its one of my favorite parts of boating, out of site of land on a long passage.

A buddy of mine sets up syndications for oil drilling- he killed it during fracking boom, slowed some, now picking back up. But he had a great analogy;
Q: What’s the cure for high oil prices?
A: High Oil Prices
What’s the cure for low oil prices?
A: Low oil prices!

When prices spike too high demand drops and production increases& prices recede; and when price is too low demand increases and production drops and prices climb.
He said the sweet spot is $65bbl+\-$10

I’ve lived through multiple boom/bust price cycles. I know they’ll happen, just not sure for now long.

my totally wild ass guess is US Marina diesel prices this summer will be $4.25+\-$0.50

I’ve been averaging $3.75 last few years- although I had a tanker delivery in COVID Summer 2020 for $1.88