Gas Prices

T

Tug

New member
I think there was a thread recently on this subject but i couldn't find it:::

This morning i went to Sault Ste Marie Michigan to buy gas:

Payed $ 3.229 USD/G for 25.755 G ===== $ 83.16 USD

If i would of bought it in Sault Ste Marie , Ontario

price $ 5.542 Can/G for 25.755 G ===== $ 142.73 Can/D

That's a difference of $59.57 , even with the exchange rate plus the $6.20 Canadian bridge fare that is quite a difference.Someone is making a lot of money. Tug
 
In the U.S., the total tax on fuel (state, local and federal taxes is around $0.50/gal (source Wikipedia). So for gas that is $3.20/gal that's about 15% of the total cost. In Canada, the total tax on fuel is about 1/3 of the cost (again from Wikipedia). So of that $5.542Can/gal about $1.85 is taxes. So, the "somebody" is the Canadian government. In most of Europe the fuel tax is also quite a bit higher than it is in the U.S. Some governments view taxing fuel as a way to encourage more efficient use of fuel. While one may disagree with this philosophy, it's worth noting that average fuel efficiencies for passenger cars are MUCH higher in Europe than they are in the U.S. It's also worth noting that public transportation is used far more frequently in Europe relative to the US - especially in big cities.
 
Just as a reminder, particularly with the more recently enrolled members on this site......

The State of Washington and some other states allow a boater to submit fuel receipts for their vessels to the state for re-imbursement of the taxes paid for "road tax", since the fuel used in your vessel is not used on the "roads". That being said, save your receipts and you can claim up to 13 months worth of receipts to the state.

This does help stretch your "boating dollars" a slight bit!

Numerous threads in the past have addressed this benefit.
 
Larry H":21x7n23l said:
Here is a link to a site that has a comparison of the areas of Europe and the USA.

http://goeurope.about.com/od/europeanmaps/l/bl-country-size-comparison-map.htm

The largest countries in Europe are Spain and France, and both are about the same size as Texas.

Their transit solutions probably won't work in the USA due to size and population density.(emphasis added by Roger)
Click to expand...

I hear that argument a lot - not only related to transit but also related to other issues. Several comments:
1) The transportation system in Europe spans many countries. It's actually pretty seamless to take a train from one part of Europe to another.
2) The population density in Europe is not quite twice that of the US - 112 people/sq mile vs about 83 people/sq mile (source). However, we have vast areas with very few people in them that reduce the population density by a lot. If one looks at say just the east coast or just the west coast, the population density of most of those states is higher than the average population density of Europe. 21 out of 50 states have a population density higher than that of Europe. These are:
NJ, RI, MA, CT, MD, DE, NY, FL, OH, PA, CA, IL, HA, VI, NC, IN, MI, GA, TN, SC and NH (also the DoC). Even our state of WA has a population density of about 100 people/sq mile and Texas has a population density of about 80 people/sq mile). So while it's true that we might not want a transportation system similar to Europe in say MT, WY, AK or the Dakota's, it's definitely possible to have a similar system in the parts of the US where most people live.

It's a matter of priorities and to date our national priorities are not focused on efficiency in transportation. If one looks back about 20+ years, gasoline cost less per gallon than bottled water so it's no surprise that efficient transportation was not a major issue.

3) One "advantage" Europe had is that much of it's transportation infrastructure was destroyed during WWII and rebuilt thereafter (with a lot of help from the U.S.). Maybe if our roads were all destroyed in a war we would build a more efficient system.
 
rogerbum":q49w2x6u said:
Maybe if our roads were all destroyed in a war we would build a more efficient system.
Click to expand...
One could argue that is already happening, only not by the forces of a conventional war, per se.
 
rogerbum":13aorumq said:
In the U.S., the total tax on fuel (state, local and federal taxes is around $0.50/gal (source Wikipedia). So for gas that is $3.20/gal that's about 15% of the total cost. In Canada, the total tax on fuel is about 1/3 of the cost (again from Wikipedia). So of that $5.542Can/gal about $1.85 is taxes. So, the "somebody" is the Canadian government. In most of Europe the fuel tax is also quite a bit higher than it is in the U.S. Some governments view taxing fuel as a way to encourage more efficient use of fuel. While one may disagree with this philosophy, it's worth noting that average fuel efficiencies for passenger cars are MUCH higher in Europe than they are in the U.S. It's also worth noting that public transportation is used far more frequently in Europe relative to the US - especially in big cities.
Click to expand...

The $0.50/gal you see is just a small part of the actual fees (tax) we pay for gas or other items. Permits, regulations, corporate tax, EPA regulations and so on all add to the cost of gas. Some are necessary and some are fees charged for no other reason than to perpetuate a federal, state or local bureaucracy.

All and I mean ALL taxes and fees are paid by the user. Businesses and corporations do not pay taxes, frees or permits; they are passed down to the user in the form of higher prices. You and I pay them.

Dave dlt.gif
www.tolandmarine.com
 
We bought gas at Sam's or Costco for $3.08 a gallon 87 octane Naples ,Fl.

Our marine gas is at $3.85 a gallon for 90 octane no ethanol also we have a marathon gas station with recreation gas 90 octane no ethanol for $3.50 a gallon for those who trailer their boats . I'm not sure what our taxes are ?
 
The heavy taxation in Canada, and in Europe, goes 90% to pay for social services - as opposed to road repair...
As our lifetime elected politicians continue to promise (and give) entitlements to favored voting blocks to remain elected, our fuel taxes will continue to rise in the foreseeable future... That, compounded by the wholesale printing of dollars and the rising price of oil, means you will spend 360 days a year tied to the dock, in the near future...
 
I think we desperately need a real public transit system like they have in Europe. Our trains around Boston for example are not very reliable in terms of being on time (crap shoot in the winter) and they are filthy. We also have the oldest subway system in the country. Compare that to say Paris or Athens and the difference is unreal. Trains comes quickly, the stations are beautiful, they prioritize keeping them clean, etc. Of course, it also costs a fortune upfront.

The gas receipt for boat vs. road will buy you a nice dinner if you purchase a million gallons a year :D I looked into it once and the savings was not worth the time in my case. You get a small fraction of the tax you pay for road gas in a boat, it's not one to one.

Good thing C-Dory's are good on gas!
 
Matt,
Check the metro out in D.C nice subway system.. One other thing about gas, there are some companies which I believe Wamart is one along with Hess and Vallaro which are made from our domestic crude. So it might be better to buy gas that comes from here rather than buy Citgo which supports Chavez down in Venezuela, or elsewhere that might support our not so good buddies in the Middle East. If your local government offical needs some guidence on budget cuts maybe kill some forgeign aid and the the 25 billion the ethanol industry gets. Before we get a new transit system we need to stop giving away money in foreign aid that we had to borrow from China cause the interest is killing us.
D.D. :amgry :amgry
 
Interest on the national debt is around 9% of the total budget for FY 2012. Defense spending, medicare and medicaid and social security account and other gov't pensions for around 75% of the total. While 9% is a large (and growing) percentage to spend on debt service, we have to look at the big categories of budget if we want to have any real impact on the US debt.
 
The State of Washington and some other states allow a boater to submit fuel receipts for their vessels to the state for re-imbursement of the taxes paid for "road tax", since the fuel used in your vessel is not used on the "roads". That being said, save your receipts and you can claim up to 13 months worth of receipts to the state
_________________
Dave S.
"Sea Shift"

I think this is the way to post a copy of someones post. Where do you send for this reimbursement? Sounds like a good deal.

Guy
 
TOGO Guy said:

"I'll figure how to post a quote sometime.

Guy"
Click to expand...

Rogerbum Wrote:

TOGO wrote:
I'll figure how to post a quote sometime.

Guy
Click to expand...

Guy - you just need to hit the "quote" button in the upper right hand corner of a given post and type into the box.
Click to expand...

Guy, There are several ways to post a quote. I have not used the way Roger is suggesting, but I have heard it works. I take the portion that I want to quote, highlight it ( hold left mouse button down and drag over what you want to save,) Then cut and paste, (left button to copy) then go down to the bottom of the page and find the reply button and click there. When it opens the box, right click into it, then left click for the menu and click on paste. Whalaa, there is your quote. Then Highlight the whole quote and go up to the menu button, just below the "Subject line" and left click it one time. It will put a "quote" notation in front of and behind your quotation, that will show up in a box on your post. You can check it by clicking the "preview button" at teh bottom of the reply window.

Hope that helps. Now I have to go try Rogers way.

And getting back to the gas prices, I'm working extra shifts now to pay for boat gas later :roll: :oops: :twisted: :thup

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
TOGO,
We are going to be cruising around your area around May10th thru the 17th or so. How is the fishing at that time of year down there? Do they crabs get out that early? We are going to launch up in North East, Md. and work our way down Rock Hall, St Michael's to Oxford then over to Annapolis and up to Baltimore eventully back up to Northeast. Anything you could recommend we not miss. We are only going to be out a week.
D.D.
 
Will-C
I am a long way from that area Newport WA is in north eastern Washington We do have good fishing they catch 20-40 pound pike, Bass and even some trout. I am on the Pend Oreille River near by we have Lake Pend Oreille and Priest Lake. But no crabs.

Guy
 
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