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from another forum
The search for alternative propulsion systems for pleasure craft will probably become far more urgent in the UK from November. Only commercial vessels will continue to pay reduced duty on red diesel, so that UK boaters will see the cost will rise to around £1-20 per litre from around 60 pence per litre.
Red diesel is a more polluting fuel that standard Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) for cars, and is therefore subject to a higher rate of duty. Currently, red diesel has a rebated duty rate of just 9.69 pence per litre, so boaters will have to shoulder the difference between 56.94ppl and 9.69ppl (47.25ppl) from November.
This means UK Boaters will be more than the cost of white ULSD from roadside petrol stations.
http://www.ybw.com/mbm/redalert/blog...lert_blog.html
This also means that the fuel vendor is handed the responsibility of
differentiating between commercial users, who will remain legally allowed to use red, and leisure users.
http://www.mbmclub.com/auto/newsdesk...14mbmnews.html
The news came through today from HM Revenue & Customs, with the following wording: "Private pleasure vessels will continue to be permitted to use marked (red diesel) but at a rate for heavy oil, repaying the rebated duty via the Registered Dealers in Controlled Oils who will declare this to HMRC. An allowance for domestic use will be permitted."
Here is the sting in the tail. Using Straight Vegetable Oil seemed like a reasonable option, but HMRC's Dave Fitzgerald told MBM that it would become a criminal offence to use red diesel for propulsion without proof that you paid the full rate of duty. They dip you tank and find it's white, so the questions start. If you are buying white ULSD from a service station, you are buying a less polluting fuel and apart from the difficulty of transporting it to your vessel and you show proof of purchase, all should be well. You might even be praised for trying to reduce air pollution. OTOH, they might ask for the extra duty on the grounds that you should be using red diesel in your boat and you are avoiding duty by using ULSD. Don't laugh. Lawyers will tell you the practice in courts of law, not courts of justice.
The duty paid was originally only applicable to road vehicles and HM Customs also took their cut if SVO was in your road vehicle. Boats are a different case. mSVO in boats could end up with higher duty than SVO in cars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_vegetable_oil
The tax harmonisation rules of the EU are responsible for the hike in duty which means recreational boaters will pay more for lower quality fuel and boats don't drive on roads. What next? If you put a wind generator and solar panels on your boat, invest in the EEstor technology and electric motors, then you sail everywhere, without using fossil fuels, the EU will find a reason to tax that as well.
I do have one message of cheer though. As the ice returns to Europe and the entire population of 450 millions or so pack up and move south, the Atlantic will freeze over and the hardiest amongst us will be able once again to walk to North America from Galicia living on the ice and chewing seal blubber,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solutrean_hypothesis
I am led to believe it's an acquired taste.
Pericles