Gas Prices Aren't Stopping Boaters

Tony and Jenny D'Andrea are heading out for a day on Chickamauga Lake.

"Recreation, hobby, (I) enjoy it...it's a lot of fun," says Tony.

But they admit, the price of gas has forced them to make a bit of a change in their usual route. Jenny D'Andrea says, "we drive to harrison bay for lunch instead of up to steve's landing, which is 15, 18 miles."

If you come out to the Chickamauga Marina and get gas, off-road diesel, while cheaper than regular diesel, is $4.99 a gallon. Unleaded gas, with the marina tax, is $4.69.

"They're going out, they might not be running quite as hard if the gas prices weren't quite so high, maybe not going as far, but they're still going," says Melanie Dean.

Dean works the Chickamauga Marina and says it's not unusual to see 500 people on a weekend like this.

Many will bring their own boats--and their own gas.

"Because we are located across from the public launch, we still see some folks. They may trailer in with a tank of fuel, and they're gonna come here to get additional fuel while they're out playing," she says.

Bradley County Sheriff's Deputy John Thurman, who's also a TWRA-certified boating officer, says that will lead many to anchor down, adding, "it seems like people are going on the waterways and stuff but they're grouping more together, I guess. I guess people will pull up, tie up, and have a good time there, instead of traveling more."

But for the D'Andrea's, gas is the last thing on their minds.

"If you have a boat," says Tony, "and you start thinking gas prices, you won't enjoy it. It's just a fact that you're gonna have to live with it, and maybe it'll come down."