Fuel prices are shaping summer plans as US boaters get ready to hit the water

Fuel prices are shaping summer plans for U.S. boaters as families weigh how much fuel to load onto their pontoons. In Dexter Township, Michigan, Malik Amine prepared his family's 52-gallon engine on Portage Lake, deciding how many gallons to buy. AAA says regular gas is roughly 34% higher than a year ago and diesel up about 53%, while ethanol-free fuel can cost 20 cents to $1 more per gallon. One nearby station was charging as much as $7 per gallon for ethanol-free fuel, underscoring the strain on recreational boaters before Memorial Day weekend.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association notes about 100 million Americans go boating each year, contributing to a $230 billion sector. Some boaters say high fuel costs will alter behavior, from shorter trips to slower speeds and longer time anchored at docks. Neil and Kathleen Donohoe, living aboard a 50-foot diesel-powered Granuaile with a 1,500-gallon capacity, monitor prices and seek savings with marine apps. They plan to stay around the Chesapeake Bay this summer and avoid longer journeys, illustrating how fuel prices are shaping routes and priorities.