TERRANCE PHILIPS -- The Harbor Column

I’m pleased to inform all boat owners that you may hereby climb another

rung up the social ladder by now describing yourself as a yacht owner.

However, don’t get excited as this does absolutely nothing to enhance

your net worth, in fact, owning a boat/yacht, may do just the opposite.

Far too frequently I’m asked the question, “what’s the difference between

a boat and a yacht?”

Why they ask me is even a bigger question. Realizing that the dictionary

provides such answers, I pull one of the thickest books I own, off its

shelf.

“Boat, n. 1. A vessel for transport by water, constructed to provide

buoyancy by excluding water.”

Well that sounds like a boat to me, but it also describes a yacht doesn’t

it?

“Yacht, n., 1. A vessel used for private cruising, racing or other like

noncommercial purposes.”

Therefore, I guess a pleasure boat is a yacht and a yacht, a boat. I hope

this isn’t confusing anyone. This must mean if you own a Sabot, by

definition, you own a yacht.

If you buy into this, there is one thing you have to do. Have you ever

noticed people who own yachts have a tendency to call them by their given

names? Rather than saying, “Honey, I’m going down to the boat,” they say,

“Your Highness, I’ll be aboard Britannia for high tea this afternoon.

Care to join me?” There you have it; the difference between a yacht owner

and a boat owner is the way they refer to their vessel -- by its given

name. It certainly adds a little class to your fiberglass.

One thing that can’t be labeled with a more favorable name is, marine

fuel pricing. Traditionally 89-octane gas has always been more expensive

at marine service stations, (currently priced around $2.10 per gallon).

However, the $1.50 per gallon marine diesel fuel is different than what

you put in your car.

“Marine grade diesel fuel is called off-road fuel. It has a lower c-tane

(like octane for diesel) and is dyed red. It’s used in farm and

construction equipment, but is not recommended for cars,” said Gary Hill,

owner of Hill’s Marine Chevron station adjacent to the Balboa Pavilion.

Another issue about refueling your boat-ahem, yacht, is that fuel is

priced by the quantity you purchase, rather by pricing

* TERRANCE PHILLIPS can be reached via e-mail at terrkp@email.com .

FYI

Splish Splash

Hill’s Boat Services, 814 E. Bay Ave., Balboa Peninsula (949) 675-0740.