ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. – Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of boating season in Michigan.
The state is among the top three markets in the U.S for boating and it accounts for close to $8 billion in economic impact.
But as boating season gets underway, high gas prices on land are having an even bigger impact on the water.
“Out here, if you’re on a boat, clearly you can afford to have it out and fuel it, but they still complain and they still pump,” Rodney Stewart, an employee at the Miller Marina, said on Friday. “There’s people out here that’s been out here for decades. We have our customers that’s been out here for 30, 40, going on 50 years.”
“They complain; everybody complains, but they still pump,” he said.
According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular gas is $4.71. That’s down 18 cents from one week ago, but still nearly a $1 higher than a month ago. The price is even more steep for boaters.
“Marine fuel is on average anywhere from $1 to $1.25 more than a street pump,” Stewart said. “There’s no way around it, you need fuel.”
At the BP gas dock at the marina on Friday morning, the price for a gallon of regular gas was $5.99. The price for premium gas was $6.49 and diesel was $6.99.
Some of the reasons for the price difference between Marine gas and Street gas include:
- The location of the marina, which is often in higher-end, more affluent areas.
- The seasonal demand for gas
- The fuel itself, which often has specific additives to fight moisture and prevent engine problems and could contain ethanol.
“You know, you always pay a premium when you’re here at the dock, so that’s part of it,” Ryan Everett, a boater from Royal Oak, said. “I drive a diesel truck, so I’m used to paying $6 a gallon, unfortunately.”
Everett was out on his boat -- The Sparty Party -- with his friend and they were spending a lot of green on gas. When his boat finished filling up, it cost $238.
He recognizes that while the prices are high, it’s the cost of having a boat.
“Hopefully, gas prices come down eventually because it’s definitely taken a toll, Everett said. “Fortunately, this fill-up is on my buddy for a birthday present.”