A difference of opinion between me & HWMBO; arbitration required

Becky

Becky

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I like to leave the fuel tank full to the brim over the winter to stop/minimise condensation. (Cornish Maid is coming out of the water on Monday)

BUT HWMBO has read that two English yachts have been fined heavily for having pink diesel in their fuel tanks. One was in Belgium, the other W France. So he says we leave the tank half full (as it is now), andf fill up next season in Guernsey (probably).

We have mostly clear fuel in the tank now, having bought it on holiday this summer.

I do not believe that we will be searched/threatened provided we don't drastically upset the local authorities when we are abroad. We have had 4 months abroad in the last two years without any sign of trouble, or even heard of anybody else having trouble.

As there is no other fuel available in English marinas we aren't given a choice over which sort of fuel we buy (unless we are prepared to transport it from a local garage). So as EEC members, we shouldn't (IMHO, anyway) be liable for local regs when in France/Belgium, so I don't think that there is a problem in the first place.

I think that the yachts fined must have seriously upset the local peeps, and maybe loaded up with red diesel while abroad so infringing local regs.


So, everybody, which one of us is right? And more importantly, which one is WRONG? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Only place I've heard of the problem is Germany.

If your worried, just make sure you get a reciept for the red diesel.

Ideally your better with the tanks full. Though it's not that big an issue, especially with a yacht sized fuel tank.
 
A vexing question to be sure, we too have had a think about this. The fines thing is a great worry so to avoid it fill the tank with diesel bought from a garage - or dose the tank with fuelset and forget about it. We have used fuelset for the last 10 years and dont worry about the fuel level in winter - it just takes care of things. (no commercial interest in Fuelset).
 
I must not spread this salacious rumour amongst the farming community. I must not .....

Bulk suppliers of Fuller's Earth FYI
down to earth

We used to be able to get it from Cornwall when English China Clays was a proper company.
 
Becky

As a lady you should know you are always right and certainly in this case you are! You have a UK based British registered vessel with every right to fill your tanks with tax free red diesel. We always fill the tanks at season's end and anyway we fill to the brim before departing for France, especially when going for our main 5 week cruise there. We have been boarded many times by French customs over the years and never been asked about diesel and would not expect to be - unless maybe we went OTT with lots of extra cans of red on deck or got lippy with them.

Robin
 
Re: A difference of opinion between me & HWMBO; arbitration required

Pink I thought it was red is this a "Girly" thing ?
Anyway what difference does it make if it,s half/ full (or half/ empty depends if your a pessimist or an optomist I suppose) still got a Pinkish Reddish hue?
Or is the quantity an issue should there be an issue (Gazuntite!) apologise to the Krauts.
You mention "mostly clear fuel now," don,t understand, does that mean your tank is now furnished with fuel from the Channel Isles where there is no dye added?
Excuse My ignorance!
I know from recent posts that the proposed jack up of fuel prices in The Islands has now been recinded. Was , or should I say, is the diesel there standard gear without the tell tale dye?
You don,t mention in your post ,where you are wintering ,or have I missed something?
My gut feeling is if you use your "Womens Intuition and Charm (flashing eye lids and all that ) The Authorities will succumb anyway. As for HWMBO Well He,s got NO CHANCE!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Re: A difference of opinion between me & HWMBO; arbitration requir

Errm, what bit of my original post escaped you?

I always filled the fuel tank of my boat (when I owned it on my own) to the brim for the winter to minimise condensation. Been told it was a GOOD thing.

We regularly use fuelset, so maybe no big deal now.

BUT, have you heard of, or met, anybody who has had problems due to the presence of pink (or red, if you prefer it) fuel in their boat's tank when abroad?

'Cause I haven't; I don't think there is a problem here.

Have you an opinion?
 
Re: A difference of opinion between me & HWMBO; arbitration requir

As I recall, at least one of the reports related to southern, inland France - perhaps a little more difficult to explain away in that region; can't imagine a problem along the Channel coast
 
Re: A difference of opinion between me & HWMBO; arbitration requir

You posted "One was in Belgum, the other in W France" andf fill up next season in Guernsey" Was that a stutter! "Sorry takin the p8ss)!
So I didn,t know where you where /are
Keeping it (TheTank full is good).
I think Robin,s post is most relevant.
Only had personal experience of Holland, no probs there for me.
Just realised !!! Strange one this ,never thought about it before .
All My boatings been done in Wales ,Scotland ,Ireland,Canada, Us oF A, Holland and the IOM.
Never actually been on board a boat in England or what we may term as "English Waters".
Doubley weird , all my Day Skipper stuff and Yachtmasters Theory (Shore based )stuff was done in a Classroom in Anglesey pouring over RYA "(do not use for navigation") charts of The Channel!
North Foreland to Cap Grinez or somewhere , look out for the sandbanks etc etc .
Hovercrafts have a flashing yellow light!
Well it was 20 odd Years Ago! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: A difference of opinion between me & HWMBO; arbitration required

Ta! Knowledge gleaned . I am more learned tonight .
The Power of "The Forum" What?
 
Fullers earth ....... (basic cat litter !!)

In fact this is not a successful way to do it ... as it only removes the mechanical red dye and not the yellow chemical marker.

As to lower taxed Diesel ..... this is available in near all EU states - but is reserved for Domestic Heating .... and can come in Red, Blue or White depending on state. Many states require that you have a permit to buy and will be delivered by authorised truck. It is not unusual - as out here in Baltic - for uninvited "guests" to arrive and dip your tank to see if it really went into your heating tank.

But of course the above doesn't really answer the original post .... I am led to believe that UK registered boats can have full tanks of Red and be legal ... but extra cans etc. are not accepted and may be liable to fines / taxes etc.
But if original poster has non-red in tank - what is problem ?

FYI - when my boat comes out here, possibly to be trucked shortly - I will have a full tank of Red on board ..... why not she's UK reg'd and that's it .... may even stow a few cans away ..... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Of course a few ml's of our winterising agent will be added to combat the -30C temps out here while she stands ready for spring-launch .....
 
Becky, My understanding is that a UK registered yacht may visit France with "red" diesel remaining from its main fuel tanks from the last UK fill up. However, you are not allowed to carry "red" diesel in cans. Until the derrogation is removed it would be unreasonable, in the extreme, for UK yachts to be free of "red" fuel.

BTW I always keep the tank full over winter to revent condensation.

I would say that it is Becky 2 : Hwmbo 0!
 
Re: Fullers earth ....... (basic cat litter !!)

Hi

Effective or not tonnes of smelly (diesel smelly) fullers earth is deposited in fields around here every year - fly tipped.

As for the I ama Bristish Reg Boat and can carry red stance the RYA report that mainland EU customs dont take any of that into consideration when fining and impounding.

I have been boarded by Belgum customs many times in Ostend but they have not inspected my tanks but recent stories in the "respected press" do make you wonder what is going on and how you would cope with it.

Exactly what would you do? They impound your boat for flouting their fuel rules You say bogg off I am british?

If the legal system there moves at the same speed as it does here two or three years down the road the best you could expect is the return of your now rotten with mildew boat.

These real life dramas have been acted out many times over the past 7 or 8 years in Dover (customs have impounded vessels for "varios" reasons not fuel ralated but the outcome is the same) - no-one wins as such but the Crown "exherts its authority" simply because it can.

The result in boating terms is however always the same, a once "proud" fully operational seaworthy craft is reduced to a hulk.
 
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