Those of us with trawlers aren't horribly affected by higher fuel prices. My 200 gallons of fuel for the summer cruise cost me, with tax, about $800. We would have spent 1/3 of that on gasoline during the same weeks if we had stayed home and simply driven our cars around town.
Where the fuel thing is taking it's toll is in the less fuel efficient categories. Take, for example, a guy who buys a classic Chris Craft with two big block gas engines. Suppose, like most of us, he has to do some serious budgeting to even afford the initial purchase of a used boat. (The reality of the costs for moorage and maintenance don't really sink in for a lot of folks until *after* they start writing checks as an owner). At 80% of WOT, the commonly designed cruising speed for many such vessels, he could easily burn 30 gph, per engine, or 60 gph. Fuel for a 5 hour cruise, 300 gallons at $4.50, would be $1350. Suddenly, Mr. Classic Chris Craft, who owns a beautiful boat that may be in fantastic condition, voluntarily slows to 8 knots to control the cost of fuel. Problem is, many people who chose a boat capable of a cruise speed in the upper teens to low twenties are not content to cruise at or near displacement speed.
We belong to a large yacht club in Seattle. We have spoken to many members who are using their boats substantially less and/or staying closer to home port due to the cost of fuel.