This surely is missing completely the point of the argument. Yes our road fuel taxes are high, much too high but I cannot see that justifies the non taxation of fuel for marine leisure purposes. If I buy an off road vehicle for leisure purposes then I pay my taxes. Fundamentally I believe the red tax exemption on leisure fuel is a historical anomoly which should be phased out, both on the grounds of equity and environmental protection.
I get pissed off when I fill up my diesel car, which I use to get to work, costing me Ł50 and a leisure boater can get 5 times the volume of fuel for that. Not only that but I've got to have a catalytic convertor on my exhaust system with the emissions tested at MOT, its about time that happened to marine engines!

It really is not fair and impossible to justify logically.