Jul 4, 2008 5:19 pm US/Eastern
Gas Prices Don't Keep Boaters Anchored
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
Boaters at the marina aren't letting the gas prices keep them at home.
Weijia Jiang reports in some cases, when boaters pour money into the Baltimore area, they're even saving cash at the pump compared to years past.
It's a time when friends come together. They come with swimsuits on and coolers packed with food. When you top it off with some time on the water, the 4th of July is pretty perfect.
At the Anchorage Marina in Canton, visitors have plenty of company because it's packed.
Just under a hundred boats were expected to come in Friday.
They're coming from Jarrettsville, Md., Mechanicsburg, Pa., the Bohemian River on the upper bay and the list goes on.
Many out-of-towners say coming to Baltimore is a no-brainer because it's a relatively cheap ride.
Instead of heading to the beach, local boaters are anchoring in town to save gas money.
"Sure we might cut the length of the trip down. We're still going out on the boats, though. We're not going to let that stop us," said one boater.
But it's not smooth sailing for everyone. Commercial fishermen have to spend money to make money everyday, and these days that can be tough to do.
"Our profits are just shrinking by the second, if there are any left," said fisherman Pete Anchich.
It costs Anchich $9,000 to fill up. Daunting fuel prices are exactly why it's tough to get rid of new boats.
Brunswick, the largest boat-maker in the world, says it's suspending production at many of its plants this month.
Marinemax, the nation's top boat retailer, reports profits are down 50 percent. That's not surprising since the price at the fuel docks have jumped 100 percent in the last year.
But for most water lovers, going out on the boat is priceless during this big holiday.
'You gotta do it. It's not a 4th of July without it," said a boater.
The Anchorage Marina manager says he's talked with all his buddies who also run marinas in the area. He says they all expect a full house for the 4th of July.
Boaters are also trying to save money by slowing down on the water or, just like drivers, considering the marine version of the hybrid.
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