Boat owners changing habits because of gas prices

ATLANTA - If boaters on Lake Lanier are like a lot of others around the country, they'll be changing some of their habits this holiday weekend. The reason? The higher gas prices.

Scott Croft with the Boat Owners Association of the United States tells W-S-B Radio that some boaters are cutting back on their activities, making shorter and fewer trips, because of the high cost of fuel.

He says some boaters will go to the lake for a long weekend, rather than for a week. Others won't travel as far as in the past or make the trip to the other side of the lake.

Croft says some people have begun so-called ``boat-pooling'' or sharing rides on boats on fishing trips.

Meanwhile, marina operators are keeping an eye on fuel costs. Lakeside restaurants and other businesses along Lake Lanier, Lake Allatoona and West Point Lake rely on the boaters to survive.