I agree, but there is a good argument for subsidised diesel as it is safer
for commercial and leisure users alike, not forgetting farming, construction
and gas oil used for heating. An increase will affect everyone.
Petrol, LPG and gas for cooking is not the preferred fuel afloat because it
is so volatile. Take the incident the other day on the south coast as an
example. A £10,000 petrol powered boat blew up. Lucky the people on board
were close to shore and jumped over the side minutes beforehand. Not ideal
if you are out beyond the horizon. I have owned several boats with outboards
but got fed up carrying 4 or 5 tanks around, never mind the expense.Orkney
sold me a volvo diesel for my Day Angler instead of a Yamaha outboard. I
have never looked back. If diesel goes to the same price of petrol it will
have and adverse effect on charter boats and private individuals alike. An
average wrecking charter is say £450 between 8 anglers. If the cost of fuel
is increased three times over who will charter or for that matter what a
boat?



"Dave" dave.samuel wrote in message
...
Those of us with outboards have been paying "full price" for petrol for
years

Now what would be helpful if there was a reduction in the petrol tax for
leisure users

Dave


"redfinn10" wrote in message
...
Its on the cards that cheap red diesel to power charter / private boats
will
disappear w.e.f. 1.1.07 as a result of EU Duty harmonisation. In other
words
instead of paying 34p a litre at the marina we pay full road tax price
of
abt 90p!

This will affect all who presently use red diesel. The Royal Yachting
Association managed to defer this proposal a while back. They now have a
new
petition and the boating mags have also followed this line. Will it put
charter boats out of business? Those who enjoy leisure fishing from
private
boats they may just have to give up - boating is already known to be
expensive. Good old Gordon Brown again taxing the sea fishermen and now
the
boats. Whatever next?