Disparity in Fuel Costs

D

DaveS

New member
On Friday we returned from a five day cruise in the San Juans and noted an interesting disparity in the costs of fuel.

Fuel in Friday Harbor was $3.45/gal.
Deer Harbor was $3.65/gal. (which I expected to be higher than Friday Harbor).

However, Anacortes was $3.85/gal. (I'm still perplexed by this higher amount as they are connected to the mainland by bridges and don't have to "ship" their fuel to their pumps by special ferry boat service....additionally there is a refinery within site of their fuel pumps.)

Having a fuel efficient C-Dory, I'm certainly not overly concerned about this, however I find the most unusual disparity in fuel cost interesting.

Any thoughts why Anacortes would be so "out of line".....is it to finance their new fuel dock?
 
I think the answer is "because they can get it". Also, there might be differences in taxes from county-to-county and "environmental fees" that account for some of that. Certainly there is a King county tax that helps drive up the cost closer to Seattle. As an aside, I paid only $3.10/gallon at Big Salmon Resort's dock out at Neah Bay. I though this might be due to no state taxes (as they are on the reservation) but I was told by the owners that NO - they do indeed pay state taxes but that they get rebated to the tribe. The owners wish they saw a piece of that money...
 
Hi,
I always wounder if they take the highway tax off before they sell gas to boaters it amounts to 13 cents a gallon ,not sposed to have to pay that with a boat or do they just pocket that? Seems like a perty big gouge almost a buck more a gallon. I always fill at a station on land and keep the receipt sos as to
take it of my taxes at the end of the year. I guess your perty much stuck if your out away from your trailer.
Richard
 
The federal highway tax is not removed, and in many states the state highway tax is not removed. The federal tax is returned to the states in the form of grants for boating activities (or so they say). The state tax can be refunded in some states, in other states it goes into the state budget--and hopefully comes out in the boating funds. In Florida, we see a part of the registration money come back to the county speciifically for ramps and docks etc. Reefs were included, but recent legislation seems to have stopped that for now...

There seems to be no control over the marine costs, except is almost always is more than the highway stations. Ours often is a dollar more than the service station.
 
Yep... "because they can". Just like when prices at the pump go up all over town at the same time. It galls me to see the price gouging, because you know that eventually it will take a toll... from fewer people out spending money on gas to entire industries suffering. Our economy takes a kick in the guts everytime there is a big hike in fuel prices.

We can call our C-Dorys fuel efficient, but no one would tolerate a land vehicle that got between 2 and 4 miles per gallon. Our 25 is one of the smaller traveling vehicles we've owned, yet it gets the worst mileage... worse than a motorcoach or even a twin-engine airplane. There are plenty of boats that have become marina queens because their owners can't afford to run them.

I don't have a solution other than to frequent the places that try to hold down prices and avoid the ones that gouge. Unfortunately, when you are out cruising, you lose much of that control. In Canada, I quit figuring price per gallon, instead telling myself, "Hey, that tank only cost me $400 for a week's worth of fun and entertainment." Easier to tolerate. :roll:

At our home in deep south Texas, the price on the water is the same as the price on land. We haven't seen this anywhere else. But, obviously it can be done. Both fuel stations there also have land pumps.

When traveling, we try to do what most others do: fill up on land before launching. $1 per gallon premium for the priviledge of fueling on the water borders on obscene. And we've seen many marinas that have a "policy" of no fueling from containers.

We could try to start a thread regarding fuel prices in an effort to make comparisons, but it would be a tough proposition to keep current.

One thing's for sure - I'm gonna be out there as much as I can! :mrgreen:

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Richard,

In WA, the state highway sales tax is collected but is rebated at any time after you have purchased at least 71 gals of gas and not longer than 13 months after the purchase. To get the rebate, you must first apply for "Application for Fuel Tax Refund Permit Account" Go to

http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/formsprft.html

and down load that form. Then keep all yopur receipts.To get the refund you will need the "Boating Refund Claim Assignment" form (available at the same site). The fuel need not be purchased at a marine location it just must be used in the boat. That is, you can even get a rebate for the gas purchased at a normal filling station. Given all the pot holes and traffic problems we have around here, I've never bothered with it but many do and are happy to get the rebate.
 
One of the nice things about a trailerable boat is that you (unless you are on an extended cruise) can go to a land based gas station and fill up. I get my gas for my vehicles at the Swinomish Standard Station. Always .15 less than other stations. $2.47 right now. I know this is probably the result of them not having to pay the states tax and it gets passed on to me. And some will say , "well, this is not supporting the state" I support the state enough, and the Fed also. So I will take the savings.

My boat is filled up on our islands only little store/gas station/deli/restaraunt/espresso stand/video rental/farm supply/......... At $3.27, it is still cheaper that any marina. And I do the refund thing with the state for my road tax also.
 
I've always saved my receipts and applied and received my Washington State "road use tax" rebate as well as many other boaters in this state. Additionally, I fill up at "land based" gas stations when the boat is on the trailer. Personally, I find it reasonable to expect higher fuel prices at the marinas as I'm certain they have greater potential of environmental contamination than "land based" fuel stations and therefore have to spend more money to take steps to limit those risks.
However, as I stated when I started this "thread", I was really surprised to find the cost of fuel at the Cap Sante Marina so much higher than at the more remote islands where Friday Harbor and Deer Harbor are located and they need to "ship" their fuel in by special ferrys. (Cap Sante does not have to "ferry" their fuel in). (The bottom line for me is, that when cruising in the San Juans, and I find it necessary to fuel at a marina, I would make Cap Sante the last choice on my short list of fueling location prospects).
 
"Because they can" really sums it up. Diesel is going for 5 to 8 cents more per gal than premiem gas around here. $65 to fill up my tank on the truck and I already had a half a tank. All the while the big oil companies are posting gazillion dollar profits, and their CEOs have multi million dollar salries

Chuck
Bootleg Hooch
 
I believe it's called free enterprise, been to a doctor lately or used a plumber? Their prices are through the roof as well but folks don't make such an issue about these services. Probably because they have insurance etc to help defray those costs.
Having worked in the Oil industry for over 30 years I've seen some major swings in the per bbl price of crude, and in all those years people complained about gas prices. They complained when it was less than a buck per gallon!
Long story short, you obviously can afford the boat, fill er up and go enjoy it.
P.S Anyone invested in oil these days does not seem too disturbed, buy some stock!
Mike :smiled
 
Despite the defence put up by oil company employees, executives, and investors, I truly think that most consumers feel that they are being manipulated and gouged by the oil industry.

Here on Shasta Lake, the marina regular pump gas ranges from $4.65 to $4.85 per gallon.

Why?

Because they can.....(really because The Force (Profit Motive) Is Strong!.....and some folks simply have to buy gas at the marina.

Those who can, fill up on land at a service station @ ~ $2.80/gallon.

Indeed, $2.00/ gallon for the extra expense of providing and the convenience of buying gas on the water would seem excessive.

This time, the extra cost is attributable to the marina, however, and not to the oil companies themselves.

Joe. :sad
 
If you find this practice unacceptable, contact your State Attorney Office, State Consumer Complaint Office and Better Business Bureau for details. I dont know if it is lawful or unlawful business practice. Maybe they are exempt and it is an open market. The supply and demand story.

OTOH Federal and many State governments have price gouging laws and regulations. Maybe they are not clearly defined, they will check the facts. Price gouging on gasoline and other petro-chemcials which Federal taxes are paid, is a Federal crime. Some unlucky business will be hit by the new Federal price gouging laws.
 
Another idea is to contact Gasbuddy.com
http://www.gasbuddy.com or other price checking sites to add marine gasoline prices. I expect if every C-brats makes a request then they will add this feature. It would be interesting to see the prices.
 
Here in Maryland the dockside fuel is running at around $3.35 per gallon for gas. Diesel at the docks is almost the same. Here's the rub... the diesel fuel dispenser clearly states the fuel is dyed pink because it is NOT subject to the Maryland road tax. Offroad (pink) Number 2 diesel and home heating oil are one and the same. I can buy 250 gallon bulk loads of heating oil (i.e. offroad diesel) a just under $2.00 per gallon. It don't take a rocket scientist to see boaters are getting screwed. In Maryland a boater has the right to petition the state to get the fuel tax refunded on a per gallon of fuel basis. When I did try to do that... I found the marinas were already were selling non-taxed gasoline to the general boating public at the taxed prices.... JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN and get away with it.

I have a 200 gallon fuel transfer tank on my truck and if I am not cruising and just playing at the head of the Chesapeake Bay... I deliver my own fuel.
 
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