Boat fuel tax increase

Boatie_Bird

Not sure if this is the best place for this post - but here goes.

I live on a boat with my DH and DS and at the moment we pay approx 50p a litre for red diesel. This diesel is used to run our engine - most of the time when we run it the boat is stationery and we're running it to charge our batteries - and also to run our diesel central heating system. We do sometimes cruise the boat, but not very often to be honest, it's primarily our home.

There are moves afoot to stop 'pleasure' boaters being able to use the red (i.e. untaxed) diesel and this could possibly double the cost of our heating and power generation. I feel it's unfair to class people who live on boats as 'pleasure' users.

I have spoken to Customs and Excise about this and they say that there is legislation that is being looked at currently, but it's not yet law. And they do have a number of points to consider yet, including people in my situation.

So I was wondering if there are any other money savers out there in a similar situation - if you do know of any perhaps you would be so kind as to direct them to this post.

It would be good to share knowledge and perhaps find some way to lobby for a fairer way to tax 'liveaboards'.

moonrakerz

I have a narrow boat, and agree this would not be good news. However I must say that this is probably aimed at people who use red diesel in their cars etc.

I used to keep my boat at a canal side marina on the Grand Union. They had two red diesel pumps, one on the water side and one landside. I have to say I was amazed at the amount of diesel that went from the landside pump in 5 gal containers in transit vans. I just don't believe that was all going into people's boats or tractors !!

I would think the chances of getting caught using red diesel in your car are somewhat less than zero. I have never heard of anyone being stopped on the road, I have heard of the occasional raid on a farm or haulage company.

This is another revenue raising scheme where the innocent will end up paying a lot more than the guilty. I don't see how they could legally justify a house owner paying no duty and 5% VAT for their central heating oil when a boat owner would have to pay the full whack for theirs.

Perhaps you will have to promise only to use red diesel for heating; same tank ? Hmmmm................

greyteam1959

You would be suprised how many livestock markets the Customs Testing van visits each week checking for illegal use of red diesel and how many people get caught using it.
I our area we have had lots of prosecutions for improper use........
farmers family moving house put furniture on trailer take down road to new house = illegal use cos not used for agriculture !!!!!!!
Why not produce your own fuel from waste cooking oil ????
Loads cheaper and loads of people doing it now

Boatie_Bird

mervyn11 wrote:

You would be suprised how many livestock markets the Customs Testing van visits each week checking for illegal use of red diesel and how many people get caught using it.
I our area we have had lots of prosecutions for improper use........
farmers family moving house put furniture on trailer take down road to new house = illegal use cos not used for agriculture !!!!!!!
Why not produce your own fuel from waste cooking oil ????
Loads cheaper and loads of people doing it now

Our local boatyard got prosecuted for selling red to road users. We drive a diesel car and we've had out tank dipped twice when visiting this yard. Have been looking into using biofuels, it could be the way forward!