You'd think with the price of gas, power boats would be flooding the market as fast as you can say SUV, but that just hasn't happened yet.

"I think if someone can afford a boat worth $200,000, filling it up with a couple of hundred dollars (of gas) isn't a big deal," said Conrad Gillies at DeWildt Honda's marine division in Stoney Creek.

He said that, so far, this spring's rainy, cold weather likely has more to do with a depressed market than high gas prices.

Still, Bill McDonald at Dundas Marine said, for this summer, the dealership decided not to order many of the new, bigger boats more than 25 feet long.

Turns out it was a good call.

"I can count on one hand the number of people interested in a boat like that."

But business for smaller craft is "brisk," he says. "We've had a great year so far."

Bob Newby, working on his 1944 Navy Ville tug at Macassa Yacht Club recently, said no one really expects gas prices to come down much.

"People are just holding back a bit from heading out much. There's quite a difference in the price of gas (at marinas)."

Al Donaldson, executive director of the Ontario Marine Operators Association, said the shock of paying $1.50 a litre at marinas is "something we are not accustomed to."

Donaldson said gas at marinas tends to be a bit higher than at the auto pumps due to factors such as the lack of a self-serve option, smaller sales, heavy insurance costs, water-lot lease charges and government fees.

But Donaldson said although boat traffic may dip as a result of the price of gas, "there is still no better sport for the whole family."

lmarr@thespec.com

905-526-3992