Record gas prices aren’t stopping boaters from heading away from Coralville Lake

SHUEYVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – When it comes to gas prices, Aaron Hopp said, “Honestly, the best thing to do is not watch.”

The national average price of a gallon of gasoline topped $5 for the first time on Thursday, according to GasBuddy. AAA showed the average price of a gallon was just below $5 that day – $4.97 on Thursday. On Sunday, AAA showed the current national average at $5.01.

“I put – $100 gave me three bars. I think there are about 6 or 7 bars,” Hopp said.

One hundred dollars seemed like the maximum. Shannon Vanrees said that’s the amount he put in his jet skis for his family’s afternoon on the water. He said last year it cost half the price to put gas in it.

We asked Vanrees if gas would ever be too expensive for boating. “I don’t think that will ever be the case. Because you can regulate how much gas you use on the lake based on how far you go and how fast you do it.

Brian Tjelmeland said something similar. “You probably have to go pretty crazy because we don’t have to drive very far and a fairly efficient vehicle, a fairly efficient boat. So in our case it would have to be out of this world to stop us I think .

Wanting to go boating didn’t mean people weren’t budget conscious.

“I wasn’t going to put in more than $100,” Hopp said. “And I can last a long time. In fact, this thing doesn’t suck in much gas.

What we heard at launch was that despite record prices, boating is worth the higher prices.

“You have to get the kids on the water and show them a good time and do your best and squeeze in other places,” Hopp said.

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