This summer's record high fuel prices are keeping boats off the water across the country. In Western Pennsylvania, the pinch is being felt particularly at state park marinas, where many anglers and day boaters aren't showing up even on pleasant weekend afternoons.

BoatU.S., the Boat Owners Association of the United States, is cutting the cost of boating by offering a discount of up to 10 cents per gallon on gasoline through many of its 885 cooperating marinas. Discounts are available to BoatU.S. members. Find out more at 800-395-2628 and www.boatus.com.

In addition, BoatU.S. offers the following tips to help boaters stretch their fuel dollars:

• Don't load the boat with unnecessary weight. Unused equipment should be removed.

• At 8.33 pounds per gallon, it's unwise to keep the water tank topped off if you're only out for the afternoon.

• An engine tune-up can easily pay for itself over the summer.

• Replace props. A boat that moves 30 mph with an undamaged propeller but only 27 mph with a prop that's bent, dented or out of pitch, loses 10 percent in fuel economy. That's a waste of 1 out of every 10 gallons.

• A rough hull pushes through the water like a dull knife, requiring a lot more fuel. Sand and paint the bottom of your boat to give it a smooth finish that cuts through the water.

• Distributing weight evenly will help move the boat through the water with less effort and less fuel.

• On the ocean, consult tide tables and try to move with the tide whenever possible.

• Install a fuel flow meter (costs about $300), which works like a heart monitor, alerting the pilot when consumption starts to rise. It also allows the pilot to choose a comfortable cruising speed that optimizes fuel consumption. Or just calculate fuel mileage by dividing the distance traveled by gallons at fill-up. Gauge fuel flow by calculating average speeds and time under way.