Tampa Bay area marinas are grappling with diesel prices exceeding $6 per gallon at some locations, forcing boat charter operators and marine businesses to absorb rising fuel costs during what should be their peak season. Gasoline prices in Tampa have climbed about $1.30 since last month, with marine fuel costs reaching well over $5 per gallon at numerous Bay Area marinas.
“You have to roll with the punches,” said Capt. Travis Pack, owner of Captain Pack Sparrow Adventures. “You gotta be resilient. There’s going to be waves. There’s going to be times when things cost less and things cost more, so you just gotta roll with it.” Pack operates fishing and boating charters around the region and has watched fuel prices double over the last month.
“From the low $2 range, to now, it’s in the $4 range,” Pack said. “So, I not only have the boat fuel, but I have the truck fuel, because I trailer the boat to the water. So now I’m paying for truck fuel, and I’m paying for boat fuel.” The timing creates particular challenges as charter operators book trips months in advance without knowing future fuel costs.
At the Riverwalk in Tampa, dockmaster Garrett Sherman witnesses the daily impact on boaters visiting the downtown marina. “There’s a common acronym when you own a boat, which is B-O-A-T, bring out another thousand,” Sherman said. Despite the rising costs, Sherman noted that boaters continue arriving throughout the day, though conversations about fuel expenses have become commonplace.
Visitor Brad Gordee experienced the uncertainty firsthand while planning his family vacation. “I booked this trip for my daughter’s 18th birthday like two months ago, and the captain on the boat was kind of like, ‘oh, you know, I don’t know if I should charge you guys a surcharge for fuel or not,’” Gordee said. The potential for fuel surcharges reflects the unpredictable nature of current pricing.
Boat captains around Tampa report that some have seen gas and diesel prices double over the last month, creating operational challenges for charter businesses entering peak season. “It’s just unpredictable,” Pack said. “When you’re booking charters months in advance, you don’t know that the gas prices are going to double.” Many operators are attempting to maintain current pricing despite increased costs.
“Right now, I’m keeping my prices the same, but if it keeps up, then who knows,” Pack said. “I might have to reconsider that down the line.” The strategy of absorbing costs rather than passing them to customers appears common among Tampa Bay marine businesses, though sustainability remains questionable if prices continue climbing.
The fuel price surge extends beyond marine operations to land-based businesses with vehicle fleets. George Spowart, chief revenue officer of College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving, reported similar challenges. “Most of our trucks actually use regular gas, or unleaded gas,” Spowart said. “The same price that people are seeing, we’re seeing a similar price increase. So about a buck over a month ago.”
Despite the financial pressure, boaters continue visiting Tampa Bay marinas during the Easter holiday weekend. Visitor Kirk Olimb acknowledged the impact while maintaining his boating plans. “You need it. You have to have it. If it’s expensive, it’s going to put a dent into the old bank account. It’s too bad. Hopefully they get lower,” Olimb said.
Fuel analysts tracking marina prices through Waterway Guide indicate the ongoing chokehold on nearly one-fifth of the global oil supply at the Strait of Hormuz continues driving oil prices higher. Experts warn that without resolution to global tensions, particularly the conflict involving Iran, prices could continue climbing throughout the peak boating season.