Moose - I think most people tend to spend up to their limit on their boats - so no matter what the of boat you have the same problem will apply. Its a fallacy that just because I choose to have a big boats and spend ŁX on it, I can absorb a 500% fuel price hike.

I know that it would just about destroy the middle boat market of the 25 to 40 footers - instead of a trip costing say Ł100 it would cost Ł400 or Ł500 and most cannot afford that - this is why some i know sepndt 5 months installing their deisel engines into their boats.

It would also destroy the price of most power boats - so many would suffer serious equity losses.

It has been argued that with such a massive increase in tax rate boaters more tax would be bound to be raised - I think not - it would, at a stroke, destroy the UK power boat market, the drop in consumption would be huge - I would have no choice but to export all I spend abroad.

How do the different political parties stand on this issue?

Paul