Red Diesel - Is it a rip off?

[marisca]

No, I don't want to go to Belgium! I took the precaution of filling my tank + spares 'cos it's just possible the wind may not blow when I want it. Port Edgar, where I performed this transaction, have 3 prices for diesel - 79p for commercial; 88p for non-propulsion; and a wheen more for propulsion. I enquired why the 9p difference between the fully rebated fuels to be met with shifty shrugs. Any ideas how they could justify this?

[DaveS]

Well, it's Port Edgar ... I don't suppose it's changed much in the 20 odd years since I kept a boat there. "Punter friendly" was never a very appropriate description.

Apart, however, from the odd difference between commercial & leisure prices, it sounds like you're paying less than I am at Craobh.

[Arghiro]

It's justified if you choose to pay it.

[Fingal]

It's justified if you choose to pay it.

As in choose between paying the price demanded, and running out of fuel somewhere between (say) Aberdeen and Peterhead, you mean?

[Nick]

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Friendly farmers . . . . just make sure you filter it.

[ubergeekian]

No, I don't want to go to Belgium! I took the precaution of filling my tank + spares 'cos it's just possible the wind may not blow when I want it. Port Edgar, where I performed this transaction, have 3 prices for diesel - 79p for commercial; 88p for non-propulsion; and a wheen more for propulsion. I enquired why the 9p difference between the fully rebated fuels to be met with shifty shrugs. Any ideas how they could justify this?

The 88p wasn't for 60:40 mixed use, was it?

[marisca]

The 88p wasn't for 60:40 mixed use, was it?

I wish! No, it was definitely for full rebated fuel oil, the stuff I use to light the lights, drive my myriad of electronic gizmos, charge the batteries, heat the water, and add to the entropy of the universe. But please don't tell PE it's cheap - it's probably just left over from before the Suez crisis.
Must be nice to have a choice of suppliers and be able to shop around.

[aquaplane]

The one fuel jetty on Windermere sells petrol at £1.70/l and red diesel at £1.32/l + tax, it's much cheaper to use white.

[Arghiro]

Are there no garages selling agricultural red around you anywhere? What do the hill farmers do for fuel? What about the fishermen? How far are you from any canals?

I can buy agricultural at a garage or 60/40 from a canal chandler nearby. The garage near the boat charges far more even before the tax & marinas are just plain silly. I carry a couple of 25l cans aboard from time to time to keep SR topped up, but I reckon I use less than 100l pa anyway. "Hwlio am byth!" as the locals say.

[marisca]

You're missing the point. I'm not complaining about the price per se, just wondering what the justification can be for 2 different prices for full rebated fuel.

Nearest canal is a mere 10nm or so, just need to lower the mast and choose the tide to get there but the diesel is several locks away; then there's the Caledonian, a mere 208 miles away which is why I need the diesel anyway; using agricultural diesel would be naughty and, no, the local garages don't have "red" pumps, probably because the nearest hill farm is nowhere near and the local farmers get direct deliveries.

[Arghiro]

Take Mohammed to the mountain rather than the other way round. My boat is 110 miles from where I can buy my fuel, so I put it in plastic containers as described. But I think you were actually being deliberatey obtuse.

As I said in my first post, they can offer it at any price they like, if you agree to the price they have a sale. As long as they pay the relevant taxes no-one official will complain. It is many years since retail prices were fixed by suppliers.

[Fingal]

Boys, boys, this is not at all in the spirit of the place. This is beginning to look alarmingly like the kind of pissing contest we see so often in TOP. When it comes to pissing contests of course Marisca is bound to win.

[aquaplane]

Oh I don't know, I can piss quite well, I don't know if it's competition standard but it works for me, unlike some forumites seemingly.

[marisca]

Thank you, Green Boat, my flow rate has indeed improved greatly. I, at least, know not to aim it into the wind!

[Booby Trapper]

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Friendly farmers . . . . just make sure you filter it.

Or find out where the friendly farmers buy it.