Hello, My Name Is Woody, And I Am A Gasoholic.
help! I am powerless to the pump..
They say the first step of a 12 step program to heal thyself is that we admitted we were powerless over using to much gas—that our lives had become unmanageable.I am there. OK it’s still manageable, but Jesus Christ… OK wait, that’s part of the second step. (Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.)
Anyway. Christ, I drive a Suburban and a pick up truck thousands of miles a year to boat shows and my boat has a Lincoln 430 in it . Riding lawn mowers, Power trimmers, A 1958 truck, and a vintage Ford Tractor.. DEAR GOD! With gas at 4.20 a gallon, I find myself driving on fumes to get to a gas station in the country to save 50 cents on a gallon of …the sweet nectar of combustion.. mmmmmmm Full take and empty bladder, is there any better feeling.. Anyway.. I realized last night driving to the river after another 25 gallon binge fill up that I have a problem. Am I alone? Should we have a support group? I will start.. It’s Saturday morning.. I need gas for my lawn mower.. I am afraid that I will fill three 5 gallon jugs in stead of the just one that I will need..should I….
They do make wooden sailboats……Oh the horrors!!!!
Be strong and proud to be one of the diminishing group of loyalists who still know how to burn hydrocarbons, create polution and make a lot of noise in the pursuit of happiness!
You are not alone. I just had my triton V-10 replaced, 2 more trucks, 2 tractors, 2 outboards, 12 small engine pieces and the forty tires that it all rolls around on. I’d say I have one hell of a problem.
You are losing sight of the big picture, Matt. IT’S THE LIFE STYLE!!!
My bow to the environment is that the Yukon XL that I told my wife was the only vehicle capable of towing the 17′ CC can use E85. When I can find it.
Than is one HEAVY 17 footer!
Shhhhhh. Will also haul a big triple which I’m starting to fantasize about.
The biggest problem is trying to fill up at $4 a gallon is the pump stopping at $100 because you used a credit card. I am fortunate to only have Chris-Craft’s and Harleys that burn gas. So I get to ENJOY every gallon of gas burnt. Now diesel that’s another story.
NICE BOAT, can you photoshop that face out of it?
Well, the third step says we made a decision to turn our life over to God as we understand him(it-she). I know the steps (you don’t have to know why). During my “recovery” I became aware of many who decided that the God they understood was often an inanimate object. For instance, I know a lot of guys who made their Harley’s the God they understood. So – our object is our boats. We understand them and they speak to us spiritually and in ways that “normal” people don’t always understand. But – WE DO! So I say we face the addiction, admit it, give it up to the boat and let it dictate our lives from this point forward.
Is this called “denial?” Or, is it good old creative thinking?
The worst part about all of this is running these rigs/boats/bikes and smelling the component of today’s fuel that does not burn efficiently – ethanol… I long for a whiff of good ol’ leaded “high test”! Plus, I’m getting tired of the Prius’ tailgating the old 454 dually thinking they’ll get enough fumes in to extend mileage! Maybe they are just closet gasoholics…. 🙂
100LL
I’ve accepted the fact that we have to feed our toys with over priced fuel. I just wish they’d stop telling us about the record profits the oil companies are reporting every quarter!
It’s a control issue……a bit like we who casually roll along the shoreline smugly smiling at all those on shore who are secretly thinking that SOB in that wood boat is (fill in the blanks).
I have a wealthy client who owns a huge yacht on the west coast. He told me he recently filled up with gasoline (well his crew filled it actually) and the gas bill for the fill up was 96,000.00.
Yikes! I forgot to ask him if the crew added 500.00 worth of StaBil to the gas…
Ok, I feel better. Its all reletive i suppose. the sad thing is that i would mortgage my home to go boating.
I’m lucky, it only costs me $100 to fill the tank, and I only have to fill it 960 times a summer. That is much cheaper than those big yachts!
Feel better everyone. With each gallon you buy and burn, you help those of us in Hessel get a longer boating season.
Or so I’m told.
i was wondering if i was the only one that got 3 miles per gallon (4 if i idle) in my ’47 runabout with a 95 hp model k. but what can we do?
It really is all realitive Matt.
I lived in Rhode Island in the 70’s, when gas tripled to something like $1.70/gal, yikes!
Almost all of the nearby boatbuilding companies quit building power boats and switched over to sail boats. They all thought the era of power boats was over, because nobody was buying.
The fiberglass boat companies today are struggling to survive or disappearing.
We have developed such an infrastructure with the antique and classic boat clubs, boatshows, publications, and passionate devotees such as you, and this site, that this “lifestyle” will continue.
Besides, realitively speaking, what is an occasional $100 fill-up, compared to a plank replacement?
I found an original can of gas from 1950.. Should I use it? Its original!
Suzy will love the lead!
Did a “half fill” on the Tolly yesterday and took the family our for the first “Sleepless in Seattle” cruise of the season, a great way to get back out on the water. 90 gallons at $5.00+ at the gas dock, but in perspective, still less than one month’s moorage in most covered slips here…
The family time? The granddaughters were all ready to spend the night on the boat – (not this time) – Priceless!
Get real! I took the cruiser to the gas dock last week, got 89 non eth…..Told the dock boys to cut the pump off at 50 gals per side….walked in to pay……$499. Up side: the Boat US discount paid for my Boat US dues. Go Boating….slowly…no four barrels coming in…..we all have TRAWLERS now….
And remember every time you encounter Matts Mantra: “I smell gas….” that is at least a bucks worth…buck a whiff….
John in Va.
You tell’em John. Can’t idle or jut drift in those runabouts, just not cool but on our crusier’s we have already adapted. Bottle of wine or a JD and sevenup some munchies and were good to go and look good idling there. And we are not beat up.
BETSY