Gas prices hitting home for those ready to enjoy boating season

May 22-Memorial Day weekend usually sees a parade of boats take to the waterways as people celebrate the unofficial start of summer.

Boat owner Shawn Force usually takes his boat to Lake Jacksonville during Memorial Day weekend, he said, but, first, he has to fill up his boat with gas.

That can put a damper on the thrill of taking to the lake for the first time of the season.

"My boat has a 34-gallon tank," Force said. "I try to take care of my boat and engine, so I run premium."

If he were to fill that tank from empty, he would spend about $207 based on the average cost of premium gas in Illinois, according to AAA.

Premium gas averaged $6.08 Thursday in Illinois, according to AAA. A year ago, the average price was $4.49 a gallon - or about $54 less for a fill-up. Regular gas, which averaged $5.01 on Thursday, averaged $3.43 last year.

The cost would be slightly lower in the Springfield metro area, which averaged $5.89 a gallon for premium gas and $4.85 for regular gas.

A tank of gas can last Force a while, he said, noting it depends on how often he goes out. He tries to get out on the water ever two to three weeks, depending on his work schedule, he said.

How much fuel a boater uses also depends on the boat and the boater's style.

"We tend to putt around and find a place to anchor and hang out," Force said. "Mine is not a speed boat. We go cruising, tie up with friends, hang out and swim. I think that will be the usual this year with gas prices the way they are."

Gas prices might not stop boaters from getting out on the water, but they may change how people operate and enjoy their boats, Force said.

"There may be less cruising and more sitting tied up with everybody," he said. "I think there may also be a lot more people taking turns."

The cost of gas won't stop William Thady of Manchester from taking his daughter out fishing, as he did Friday, he said, noting it likely will impact his participation in things such as poker runs.

"We usually go out on the river, but we are going fishing," Thady said. "We will be out for a couple hours and probably won't even use two gallons. I don't have a big engine. Those burn twice as much."

If he were to boat at a high speed, he likely would use a lot more gas, he said, but taking his daughter out for a relaxing fishing trip is not likely to be an issue.

"I'm not going to be running wide open; that just costs too much," Thady said. "You are adding that into the cost of insurance, food and everything else that has gone up. I just wouldn't spend that money."

There area a lot of friends groups among those who spend time out on the lake, Thady said, adding he could see people taking turns hosting groups on their boat so not everyone is using their own gas each weekend.

"I can see a lot of people who have room inviting others to join them and switching each week," Force agreed. "That way we are not all using a bunch of gas."

Despite high gas prices, sales at S&R Marine and Equipment in Beardstown have been steady, possibly even slightly up from last year, salesman Cody Burgett said.

"April was extremely good," Burgett said. "We figured gas prices would make a dent, but we haven't seen that so far."

Boat owners instead are making sure their motors are maintained to help improve fuel efficiency, Burgett said.

"We've had a lot of typical maintenance," he said. "A lot of motors have about 100 hours between services, so many get their motors serviced every two years if they don't reach that."

Force still is looking to put his boat in the water this weekend.

Things might look different, but gas prices will not stop a summer of boating, he said.

"One thing about boats, if you got one, you spend the money," Force said.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.