Boat builder wants to end red diesel!

Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

Henry
I suppose you would class me as a leading school boy bully ... but then that is your way of avoiding the question is it not?

Let me make this clear, I find your stance both ignorant and arrogant - so there that is where I am coming from and I am happy to explain why.

1. You Hide Behind Environment Issues
Having withdrawn the unthinking statements about red being subsidised - an error pointed out by others to you, you then hide behind your support of ending derogation by hiding behind environmental issues. But this was exposed in your own words early on in this thread by you stating clearly that you are supporting it for the benefit of your company. Now in your last post you clad yourself in the environmental flag again! have you forgotten that you have already admitted this:-
“I am campaigning against it to make buyers consider catamarans more favourably, which will be of benefit to catamaran builders, namely, Ecocats”

2. Arrogance
“I was perfectly happy to have a bit of abuse initially because it takes people time to get used to a new idea, however valid, especially when they know that their position does not really make sense”

You really do take the cake – may I remind you that you were the one who initially had to actually alter you web site because a statement you made that was not correct was pointed out by a member of this forum. There has been no great dispute about the fuel economy of cats on this thread and I have even stated that I think they will increasingly find more favour in the future – the dispute has been about your support of ending the derogation and you have actually hardly defended that position at all other than to make stupid and untrue statements like claiming big mono hulls are "incredibly cheap to run".

Being shouted Down
“Whatever attempts I make to debate my position are shouted down with more abusive postings.”
Well I was simply asking very precise questions that you simply did not answer. When you answered those questions I had follow up questions ….. I was going to prove to you how illogical your position was and you simply ignored my questions then prattled on about the rights of free speech which nobody was disputing.
Look at the thread, you were not shouted down at all – you evaded the questions and frankly when you did your bye bye post I simply lost all respect for you. Even now you give a huge smoke screen but avoid answering questions.

Advertsing Standards
“Well, go for it and I will whip up a coalition of campaign groups to debate my comments that the polluter boat industry and their fellow-travellers will regret. As I say, let's have a debate in public. Let's let some sunshine in.”

There you are again with the arrogance to threaten the whole boat industry of which you are a part. You have made advertising claims. The law states that you should be able to prove those claims as truthful – what do you have to fear that warrants a response to threaten the whole boat industry? You really do take the cake yet again.

Face to face
“You abuse me from behind your keyboards. I am happy to meet each of you face to face. You can then type up your comments on our meeting on a discussion board to your heart's content - if you feel like it.”
I will meet you face to face and take a video of the interview which I will then publish on DVD – nothing could be fairer than that. The footage could not be edited without both parties approval. How about that?
It would of course be easier to debate the issue of why you are supporting the ending of derogation against the direct interest of your own customers but if that is what it takes a video it will be.

Self Interest
“I am accused of acting out of self-interest because I have invested in green boat building”
Do not forget you have already clearly stated that you are supporting the ending of derogation in order to further the interests of your own company … that seems to be a good starting position for a video for distribution to the boating public does it not? So what is anyone here accusing you of that you have not already admitted in writing on this thread as a fact?

Low Tax on Leisure Diesel
“The current tax rate on leisure diesel needs to be adjusted to a sensible level to bring this about. I believe the current tax level is too low. Yes, I do.”

Why not commercial diesel? What is the difference?

My Question
“I am asked whether I accept that putting up the tax on diesel for leisure boats will raise costs for leisure cat users who use diesel. This is a childish question as it is self-proving.
A favourite trick of show trial prosecutors. The answer is that I do accept that and believe it is fair enough. It will only go to the same level paid by the user of an off-road ATV. What a silly question. Next?”

Well then that means that if your company has any ideas of selling to the lesure market your company is actively engaged in acting against the interests of its own customers …. Yes?

I would argue the answer to that is self evident so I will answer it for you – yes you are!

It also means that where people could enter boating and use cats because of their fuel efficiency they would now be priced out of the market because if you have your way the costs would increase to the level of mon0 – hulls today …answer; Yes …. another self evident answer.

Does your self interest go so deep that you need to grow by acting against the interests of your own customers as well as your industry?

Let me tell you something almost 99& of commercial use is actually a service serving optional leisure purchases in western economies. A boat using red to transport ship loads of DVD’s, play stations or for that matter motor cars is no different than choosing to use fuel to take a cruise down the coast.

What is clear is that you have not even thought the issues you campaign on through and past your own self declared self interest.

Now why not answer the questions posed and discuss the actual issue on why you are supporting the end of derogation …. If you do this in an open honest debate you will lose and that is because you have not even begun to think the subject through. Your own declared self interest blinds you.
 
Re: Playground bullies, Adam Smith not applicable

[ QUOTE ]
Now, back to that playground. Supposing you proposed a new school rule for school milk (i'm going back a bit) must ONLY to be shared amonsgt people called "henry". That would benefit you, at the expense of others, in pretty much the same way. Can you imagine the reaction of other schoolkids if this happened? Or perhaps you know? Does this ring a bell? Do you think that you might know a little les about playground bullies if were a little less selfish?

PS

[/ QUOTE ]

I am not supporting Henry but isn't standing against unfairness - diesel is taxed less than petrol and so there is a benefit for diesel users?

ps I am a diesel boater.
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

Firstly, Henry congratulations for putting your head above the parapet again but you really need to go back to school on your Adam Smith economics. Adam Smith proposed that taxation inhibited free market activity and damaged wealth. You are citing Smith to support your argument for massively increasing taxation on one part of the economy. Old Adam would be turning in his grave. Increasing taxation on the boating industry (for thats what it would be) would damage the industry as a whole and damage your customers' ability to buy your boats as well which is why your statement is bollox
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

[ QUOTE ]
I am accused of acting out of self-interest because I have invested in green boat building. I actually think the whole of the UK market can be successful in developing and marketing the designs and technology behind new, fast, green, boats with a "feel-good factor". The current tax rate on leisure diesel needs to be adjusted to a sensible level to bring this about.

[/ QUOTE ]

You asked for the question to be better defined - it is here

Why is the above statement true? or to put it another way - what has the price of diesel got to do with selling eco friendly boats?

I am trying to understand whether you really have a problem with all big boats as eco monsters ie small is beautifull and small cats can be fun and even more economical than small monohulls..........
 
Re: Playground bullies, Adam Smith not applicable

[ QUOTE ]

I am not supporting Henry but isn't standing against unfairness - diesel is taxed less than petrol and so there is a benefit for diesel users?


[/ QUOTE ]

No it is not unfair for anything not to be taxed, it may be unfair for something to be taxed too much though. So you may argue that petrol is too highly taxed. But you cannot logically argue that diesel is too lowly taxed any nore than you can argue that income tax on all those called Henry should be 10% higher than anyone else.
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

OK.

I am glad I got that off my chest and am glad that, as usual, standing up for something is worthwhile. I will happily debate along reasonable lines in an atmosphere of mutual respect(ish). Can we do without the abuse and swearing that still remains though? It is a little bit boring and makes users look a little bit weak.

On the videoed face to face meeting. Let's get it on. I am even prepared to have a booing crowd participate if any reader wants to sign up. I can do any time up to 8PM on Monday 6th Feb at your choice of location in Central London. I hope that will be convenient. If not, state your date which I will try to accommodate.

On fuel tax, I thought I had made my points, namely that there is little justification for taxing leisure use of ATVs or cars or anything else any more highly than boats, and that the industry needs a nudge to be a bit more environmentally friendly both in terms of fuel consumption, materials use and wash generation. On road tax being necessary to pay for roads, which is a point that was made much earlier, I believe that the tax goes into general government expenditure and greatly exceeds that spent on road-related issues.

On Adam Smith, I am delighted by the response of readers. Good stuff. I am against excessive taxes myself. I just happen to believe that leisure diesel for boats should not get a tax break compared to everything else. I think I have explained why.

On the arrogance and ignorance, sorry!

Er..Is there anything else?

HM
 
fair taxes

No. Henry makes it quite clear that he is actingh out of what he likes to call "enlightened self interest" and quotes adam smith. But adam smith wasn't about "fairness" so much as he was about fair competition, free market economics and specifically against the background of taxes of the type raised by the brits against the american colonies in the 1770's - and raised to undreamt of levels in the late 20th century.

Adam smith was about about fair starting point for all. Fairness in the sense that you pay for your boat and i'll pay for mine. Boat prices might be high or low, whatever they can get away with - the enlightened self interest. But there musn't be cartels (price-fixing) and there mustn't be monopolies and there mustn't be monster taxes. The taxes adam smith was against and which the bosrton teaparty was about was only a few percent. Not 80% or whatever like it is for fuel these days for crissakes
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

Well, I've always thought that the definition of a boat -almost regardless of shape, size, fuel etc, was "A hole in the water into which we pour money". Or to quote another cliche -The quickest way I know to make a small fortune is to take a large fortune and buy a boat. Again, I dont think anyone has ever quantified boat type!?

Gord
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

Henry
[ QUOTE ]

On the videoed face to face meeting. Let's get it on. I am even prepared to have a booing crowd participate if any reader wants to sign up. I can do any time up to 8PM on Monday 6th Feb at your choice of location in Central London. I hope that will be convenient. If not, state your date which I will try to accommodate.


[/ QUOTE ]

I will email you on this - I would prefer a place other than central London but I am sure we can agree a location/time by email. There will be no booing crowds 0 just a straight interview which cannot be edited without your permission.

[ QUOTE ]

On fuel tax, I thought I had made my points, namely that there is little justification for taxing leisure use of ATVs or cars or anything else any more highly than boats, and that the industry needs a nudge to be a bit more environmentally friendly both in terms of fuel consumption, materials use and wash generation.


[/ QUOTE ]

This does not make sense to me.
If you wanted the industry to be nudged into a more environmentally position why distuinguish between commercial and lesiure use?

Nearly all commercial activity is to do with what we choose to spend money on rather than what we have to spend money on. So there is no difference between using a heap of fuel bringing a ship here full of playstations or going for a cruise - agreed?
In fact lets take passnager boats that you supply - do you agree that that these should also not be able to use red diesel because the competiton in buses etc have to pay full price road diesel?
Do you want to point out the difference to me for lets say a passenger boat taking people seal watching and me taking ny boat out for pleasure?

I maintain there is no difference and therfore if I was concerned about making the industry more eco-friendly I would hardly want to concern myself with the less than 1% of the fuel use (leisure) but would want to tax like hell the commercial user because under your way of thinking that would be fair ......... please answer these points. in particular your current customers who carry passengers using 'cheap fuel' when the road passenger comeptition has to pay full tax road fund tax rates.

[ QUOTE ]

I just happen to believe that leisure diesel for boats should not get a tax break compared to everything else. I think I have explained why.


[/ QUOTE ]

Do you accept that you are campaigning against the interests of your own boating potential customers because you are increasing the price of boating so much that it would preclude many entering boating?

Sio there are some opening questions I would like you to answer.
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

Henry , I respect you for coming back to continue the debate.



Your idea to remove red diesel so your company can prosper is short sighted.


How long do you think it would take other successful builders to design and mass produce multi hulls ( assuming there is a market for such designs).

Most the large builders started off with small outboard boats and returning to their roots would not take long leaving your company as a pioneering has been.

Brooms started with o/b speed boats and devote a whole lot of research into wash which will include multi hull designs.

Falcon started with a petrol o/b model, strange that as the companies became successful they moved to larger diesel models ( as you have with your 2006 range ).

Surly if you are part of the marine industry you need the whole industry to prosper. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

Paul,

You don't think this thread has slightly run its course and we should just go for a pint do you (obviously once you have videoed me) ?

My other thought is that a proper environmental campaigning organisation should take over making the eco points from now on. As many have pointed out, I am no expert. The present system just strikes me as unfair and I am happy to argue for a level playing field. I don't think it sensible that powerful motoryacht owners should blatt about on 5p tax a litre diesel - and no, I am not envious. I have every material object I could possibly want I think. I suppose I should feel sorry for the poorer small boat man but small diesels chugging along at displacement speed in nice old boats don't use a lot of diesel so tax adjustment shouldn't be too much of a problem. Sorry if that is arrogant. Everything is a compromise, and they have had a good run.

Would anyone mind if I log off until tomorrow? I have got the economy to rebuild as usual (take it easy!) and am out on the lash tonight.

Henry
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

Henry
I have to admit that you are a rare animal ... never really met many with your style of avoiding simple direct questions.

I have put straight questions to you and yet again you totally avoid answering them. I was not rude - just simple and direct.

What I have of course pointed out is that your short sighted approach coupled with your lack of thought on this subject means that your argument breaks down as soon as it is examined at even the most superficial manner.

In effect you have, according to your own logic, based a business to date of supplying commercial passenger boats which you wish to maintain the red diesel for!!!!!! Yet these boats have competition from other forms of transport that have to pay the high road tax fuel rates - so if a level playing field was wanted you should be campaigning for commercial passenger boats to pay the full road duty rate for diesel ... BUT you simply avoid the point again and ask about having a blinkin pint in a pub!!!!!

You want us leisure users to face double to treble the fuel bill even though we account for far less than 1% of the total fuel usage!!!! You claim this is on environmental grounds but totally ignore your own back yard and the much bigger commercial user!!!!! You admit at one point you are doing it so that your company can gain but still revert to wearing the eco cloth - you agree to answer simple points put without any malice and then simply escape again totally refusing to answer my questions ........... totally *****y amazing!!!

Please do not expect to earn any respect for you or your company by these answer avoiding tactics.
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

I need to come back on another point in the interest of dropping my blood pressure:-

"My other thought is that a proper environmental campaigning organisation should take over making the eco points from now on. As many have pointed out, I am no expert."
Then you should not campaign on issues that you do not understand.

"The present system just strikes me as unfair and I am happy to argue for a level playing field."
great then you will no doubt support my campaign for diesel powered passenger boats to pay the same road fuel tax rate as buses, taxis etc ... all in the interest of a level playing field of course?

There ... now I feel better!
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

Well Paul, I have answered your other questions and now this is a new one that is quite complex. Do you need to upset yourself so much with your regular denunciations? I worry.

At the moment there is a simple problem with leisure diesel. Let's sort that out by equalising it with petrol then worry about whether the commercial market is overtaxed, undertaxed, whatever. I agree you are being perfectly polite, but would suggest that you are changing the argument and debate just as much if not more so than you accuse me of doing. It is hard to keep up and you are trying (perhaps unwittingly) to take me away from my own standpoint.

What is the problem with meeting for a pint by the way? Seems to upset you.

PS. Well done for limiting yourself to 'blinkin' and '*****y', whatever that stands for, in your last post. Impressive personal development for which I really must charge. (just a litttle tease to amuse any readers).

Henry
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

Henry
Please stop trying to box clever and answer the questions.

My questions go to the heart of the matter because I am pointing out that there is no logical difference between commercial and private use. I am also pointing out that with your interest in the level playing field you should support the end of red for your boats that you supply today.

You are the one who is campaigning to increase our fuel costs 2 to 3 fold and it seems you consider my simple questions too complex to answer!!!!

Please answer my simple questions for they are dealing with the very foundation of your proposed selection of leisure users to increase the tax on.

It seems to me that you are not able to defend yourself and so up go the smoke screens ... be honest you jumpued on what appeared to be a nice bandwagon and have never really given the subject much thought .... that is very obvious.
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

[ QUOTE ]
I have every material object I could possibly want I think. I suppose I should feel sorry for the poorer small boat man but small diesels chugging along at displacement speed in nice old boats don't use a lot of diesel so tax adjustment shouldn't be too much of a problem. Sorry if that is arrogant. Everything is a compromise, and they have had a good run.


[/ QUOTE ]

Well thanks a bunch, Henry.

Please excuse me if I log off now as I have a living to make.
 
Henry\'s Readers

I'm afraid they've seen through you. You first tried to support your viewpoint using the argument of "taxpayers". Then "freedom of speech". Then, when these other crutches fell apart you advised reading of Adam Smith, which you have evidently not read yourself, or completely and utterly failed to understand. When caught out, you said "good stuff".

I don't much need to have Gludy use his time and money interviewing Henry as though we have an important and influential industry commentator in our midst. We don't.

Henry is a nicely eductaed yet smallthinking businesman of the familar unpleasant type that doubles the price of hotel rooms on the day of the London bombings. Or that hires all the nurses in a particular area to force up the hourly price of an agency nurse to the local NHS hospital.

Despite his best efforts, Henry has so far failed to emulate and join this rapacious group who think that the primary role of an entrepreneur is greedily take the shortest route to maximum profit at every opportuinity and to look after oneself first, second and always. It isn't.

Whatever - i wd be very cautious of anyone buying an Ecocat. They're lightly built , it says in the website. Is this to improve speed and economy? Unlikely. The primary aim of the MD to act in his own best interests. It6 says something like it in Adam Smith's Wealth of nations, you know. So he'll be quite pleased if the boat sinks - it means another sale and no expensive warranty work. Of course, I am not implying that he wishes any misfortunes on his customers. Otherwise, see, they wouldn't be around to collect the insurance and perhaps buy another one, and there aren't too many mugs around these days...
 
Re: 25 knots at a third the fuel

Henry
I forgot to answer one of your questions:-

"What is the problem with meeting for a pint by the way? Seems to upset you. "

What gets me going Henry is you coming up with such fog screens instead of answering simple questions that are directly concerned with level playing fields a term you used.

“I suppose I should feel sorry for the poorer small boat man but small diesels chugging along at displacement speed in nice old boats don't use a lot of diesel so tax adjustment shouldn't be too much of a problem. Sorry if that is arrogant. Everything is a compromise, and they have had a good run.”

I also find the image of conjure up in the above paragraph to be arrogant and condescending in the extreme! You seem to have elected to want to put other peoples taxes up, totally ignore the very un-level playing field that you now enjoy because of red and seem to be only capable of acting in your own self interest ……… I do not even think that you can see how you are coming over yourself!!!
 
Re: Henry\'s Readers

TCM
I am afraid I have to agree with every point you have made.

I had hoped that we could have a reasonable debate. All I can say is that I am very pleased that none of my resources are invested in his business. besides the public relations disaster of this thread, I now know that the basic ingredients needed for sustained success are not there.
 
Re: Henry\'s Readers

sorry to hear you have to agree with me. But there will be other times, i expect!

It would be fine to interview someone with clout etc but not this guy, really. He hasn't thought through what he says. He's sold a few boats and has writtn to a government bod, and stuck the letter on his website. A journo rings up and he changes the letter, duh. His primary customers are governemnt types who don't care about the appearance of the boat, need the stability of a cat etc and who might quite like to hear he thinks taxes are too low. Although in fact they probly don't much care.

Henry praps feels he will stand a better chance of breaking into the leisure boat market if private fuel is more expensive. I'm not so sure. In the med the fuel is not detaxed and there are loads of big boats and very few cats.

If a private boater truly latches on to the catamaran thing then they are already into the practicalities of range range etc but know they can't carry tons of fuel - hence buy a sailing cat, not motor.

Anyway, I'd save your effort for others. But your choice of course.
 
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