Practical Boat Owner June 2021

To receive the editor’s monthly email newsletter, go to our website: www.pbo.co.uk Do you know what the Iron Curtain is (or was)? Do you remember when it ceased to exist? Were you aware that Slovenia was never ‘behind’ the iron curtain? It was part of the old Yugoslavia, which was a socialist dictatorship, yet Slovenians were permitted to travel and trade with ‘the West’. Elan was exporting canoes, kayaks and more from 1950, and to this day the country with one of the shortest coastlines in the Med is a surprising marine powerhouse (see page 38). But what practical use is history? We rarely publish stories about steam engines – they are fascinating, but simply less practical than diesels and petrol engines. So at what point do we consign diesel and petrol…

A quick brew turned into a frightening fire aboard a classic wooden boat for PBO contributor Max Liberson. Until mid-March, Max regularly used his portable gas stove, bought for £9.99, to make a cup of tea, “rather than going through the rigmarole of firing up the Taylor’s”. But since his bargain stove sparked a blaze aboard his 1930s gaff cutter Wendy May, Max warns PBO readers not to risk using a camping stove in a confined space: “I know they are common on smaller boats because they are convenient. “I turned mine on to make a brew and it started to burn right next to the cylinder. It’s now in the skip and I am looking for something to replace it with.” Many makes and model of this type of inexpensive camping gas stove…

New biofuel is to be introduced as standard at petrol forecourts this summer. The UK Government has announced that the standard petrol grade in the UK will soon change to become E10. An exact date has yet to be confirmed by the Department for Transport. The introduction of E10 fuel is part of the Government’s plans to meet wider climate change targets. E10 petrol contains up to 10% renewable ethanol biofuel, which is added to reduce CO2 emissions and help tackle climate change. The current standard of unleaded petrol – E5 – contains up to 5% ethanol. The change only applies to petrol engines; diesel will not be affected. Although E10 petrol is said to be compatible with 95% of petrol-powered road vehicles, the Government has acknowledged that some older boats with petrol…

Recreational boat owners in Northern Ireland are facing ‘completely unreasonable’ options, following the HM Treasury decision that they must soon use white diesel instead of lower-tax red diesel – in line with EU counterparts. From 30 June, all non-commercial vessels wishing to refuel in Northern Ireland must do so with white diesel. However, there are no marine white diesel pumps in Northern Ireland, and demand is insufficient for commercial operators to make provision. At a meeting with HMRC, with representation from the Cruising Association (CA), the Royal Yachting Association and British Marine, it became clear yachtsmen will have only three alternatives to the illegal purchase of red diesel in Northern Ireland after June: Sail a minimum of 90 miles to Scotland or the Isle of Man to lawfully purchase red diesel, which can…

Cruising Association members who keep their boats on the rivers and canals of Schengen countries have revealed via a survey that 80% are likely to sell their boats and give up long-term cruising, or move their base to a non-Schengen country. Figures for coastal cruising boat owners are expected to be broadly similar. The CA’s 180-Day Campaign is calling for individual EU states to make long-stay visas available to UK boating visitors: ▪ theca.org.uk/180-day-campaign…

Used boats being traded between the UK and European Union (EU) could be subject to an extra £500-£5,000 in costs following Brexit. Any vessel being traded second-hand between the UK and EU will be required to meet the obligations set out in either the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) in the EU or the Recreational Craft Regulations (RCR) in the UK when placed on either market from now on. This means a boat will require a Post Construction Assessment in line with the RCD and third-party verification. Similar rules will apply when selling vessels into the EU. Estimated costs of Post Construction Assessments and verification are between £500 and £5,000 dependent on the vessel. British Marine and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) are liaising with the European Boating Industry association in order to raise…