This is kind of a strange question. I was having a discussion with a friend and he stated that gas prices at the marinas are usually cheaper than gas prices at a gas station due to gas for boats not being assessed the road tax. I never filled up at the marina so I never checked the prices.I always assumed that gas on the water would be more expensive.Is my friend correct.

Good luck in finding that one true!! They increase their prices for convenience so you don't have to trailer your boat back and forth to town.

Good question. I recall years ago we stayed on a canal house and the gas at the marina was about the same as it was on the street. Who knows maybe been filling the boat up at the wrong place!!!

If gas prices keep climbing I'll be rowing the boat instead of driving it!

save your receipt and you can use it as a tax write off

Gas in my marina is $3.90 a gallon, gas about a mile away at the gas station is $3.47.

There is a way that you can turn in Gas Station receipts to the state for boat gas and they will refund the road taxes. I don't recall the exact procedures, but I know the first time you do it you will be asked for proof that it was offroad use by showing some proof of ownership...

With current prices it may be worthwhile.

That's a thought. The problem with that idea for me is thar I am only in Texas during the winter and am not a resident so I don't file TX taxes. (It seems like I spend enough money to stimulate the economy though).
Our marinas on the lakes here charge about a buck more per gallon. With gas prices the way they are I guess we all get hosed

I don't think you have to be a resident to get the road taxes back, and it's not a tax return that you file, it's just a form you send in whenever you feel like along with the receipts for gas showing number of gallons that was purchased. They then send a check for the road taxes back to you.

Filled up the Bertram awhile ago with 680 gallons and the total with a few extra things from the Marina was $2,700.


..Now that sucked.




-Z-

OK, here are the details for what is needed to get a refund on the STATE taxes on your gas (information comes from State Controllers Office).

Here is a link to form 06-106 for claiming your refund

The first time you make this type of claim your claim will be scrutinized closely (as per the person I spoke with). His suggestion was to send a photo copy of you boat and motor's title, and photo copies of all the receipts showing the gallons pumped. You will also need to write on each receipt what the gas was pumped into.

Here's the catch, you have 1 year from the date of purchase to file your claim for refund.

Once your first claim is filed, then after that you just send the form and the copies of the receipts to them.

Make sure you keep detailed records, including copies of the receipts so that if they decide to audit the claims you have the documentation to back up your claim.

Also you will receive $.20 per gallon refund. For me that's $11 per full tank of gas on my boat, ALMOST the cost of the oil that goes with it

Hey where do you get these forms and who do you mail them to?

See my previous post for where to get the form, the address is on the form.

Send my commission to .....

That's some really good info Michael. I just happened to have saved all my receipts as I used a cc to fill the boat.
Thanks again

I used to send that stuff in back when I owned my Cessna 172, but I sold it in 2003. I was just looking back over my receipts for the boat and have almost 600 gallons of fuel in the past year, didn't realize I had used the boat that much....

Mike, What if your boat has a LIEN on it, and you don't have a copy of the Titles? Will that cause problems?

Would think some proof of ownership would be adequate - purchase documents or such.

Thanks for the info,since i will have the travel trailer and the boat down at Port A. for all of July and August , I'm looking at a pretty heavy gas bill for the boat(75 gal per fill) this ought to be worthwhile plus i already go through about 2 tanks a month. I owe you. Thanks

Reel;

What they are looking for is simply something to prove that you do own a boat or something that would use fuel off-road... Anything that would prove you own it would be adequate I am sure.

From 1996 to 2001 I submitted all the fuel bills for my plane, and never had a problem, the only thing I sent them for that was a copy of the plane's registration. I used about 40 gallons a week at the time, and was complaining because fuel was almost $2.00 a gallon

I will be sending off my forms sometime tomorrow, all I have to do is get the receipts copied and I will be finished.

Kinda glad I run into this thread because I had forgotten about this entire process. The money I get will pay for the new fuel flow management system for my boat...

Mike, speaking of fuel fow Management, I am installing mine tomarrow, and plan on being on the water all weekend. I'll let you know the results. Bill

If you think the gas prices now are bad, just wait until a year or so from now.


My advice is to buy a Hobie pedal drive kayak. They are more expensive than some at $2000, but they move much faster than traditional kayaks. Moving at half the speed of one equipped with both pedals, I traveled one mile from the marina to the flats in less than 15 minutes. You could probably top a cruise speed of 12 mph with both pedals. They are very stable and quiet, and come in two-person models with plenty of storage. They are so quiet, i have had fish jump almost into the kayak before. The best thing is, they dont use gas...



...Unless you equip them with a small motor.

Reel;

Are you installing the Lowrance system, or are you going with something different?

I was looking at the Lowrance LMF200 (I think thats the model), it replaces the fuel guage in my boat, and ties into the network that they have. I was then going to put fuel level and fuel flow sensors in. I use Humminbird 987 for fish finder so the only thing I will not have is the Fuel burn per mile, but I am mainly interested in the per hour burn, and total gallons burned.

Dave;

I cannot swim, my balance is so bad that I frequently fall into walls and I am so prone to accidents my insurance excludes death by accidental causes :))

Put me on a kayak, and you might as well order my grave stone at the same time and make sure it reads: "He knew Murphy intimately, why he ever thought getting into a kayak that was actually in water was a good idea only God knows."

Michial. I am installing it with my Lms 27. I am interested it fuel burn mostly and a backup to standard guages.

Gas was $4.09 (regular unleaded) on the water last weekend. Am taking my boat to the Kemah "Blessing of the Fleet" this weekend and shudder to think what it's going to be. With 215 Gal. of fuel, I top it off everytime I use it.

I have also instituted a new fishing/boating rule for my buddies. I am paying for the boat and boat maintenance, you all are paying for the gas. They all agreed, whew, I was afraid of a mutiny. I just don't tell them that I am also keeping the receipts to get the road tax taken off.

I was also thinking of setting myself up a DBA as a charter so I can write the maintenance and expenses off, depreciate the boat, etc. Then every month when we go fishing, I collect money to over the gas from the fishing trip, but obviously it won't cover my total expense. Does anybody know what it would take to set that up?

Be careful setting up the dba to commit fraud. Unless it's a legitimate business with the true intent of making a profit your flirting with danger.

Just remember the IRS has the ability to take everything you own, and put you in jail, and if you get a collection agent that's having a bad day you can find the full weight on your shoulders in a heartbeat.