Overview
- As Memorial Day weekend begins, marinas in New York, Michigan and Massachusetts reported pump prices commonly between about $5 and $7 per gallon, creating a sharper cost for boaters than recent street prices.
- AAA data cited a national regular‑gas average near $4.71 per gallon and marina operators said marine fuel typically carries a roughly $1.00 to $1.25 per gallon premium over street gasoline.
- Boat owners are responding by slowing speeds, avoiding long runs, taking shorter trips and buying smaller fill‑ups to conserve fuel, though many customers continue to refuel despite complaints.
- Poor weather and winter‑driven channel changes, including sand movement that has made some waterways shallower, have further muted the holiday weekend’s usual boating activity.
- The shift matters for local economies: Michigan’s roughly $8 billion boating sector is especially exposed to sustained high fuel costs because reduced time on the water can cut spending at marinas, repairs and related services.