Scotland diesel...

[Rockter]

An oil producing nation is Scotland, part of the UK.
Today in Shetland, the cost of diesel reached a staggering $10.55 per US gal.
More than half of it is tax.
This is the most expensive diesel in the civilised world, and the islanders, closet to the North Sea reserves, have to pay it.
A lot of the North Sea oil is exported to those with very much cheaper diesel.
As of Nov 1, 2008, we will have to use the same stuff in out sailboat tanks, for heating and propulsion.

It will cost $1.31 to move my ship one mile in flat calm on the motor.

I hope the wind blows.

It will at election time, methinks.

[sailingdog]

Rockter-

I think that same wind will be blowing here come November as well.

[tommyt]

I know this is not off topic forum, but...
I listened to our wonderful elected officials grill the oil guys last week The oil guys made sense (hey, they are paid a lot of money to be smart) and our congressmen/ladies just talked to the camera. The wonderful congresswoman from California, probably the dimmest bulb in Congress, said that the government would take the companies over. She actually used the Socialize word! Why do you Californians elect these people. Of course, I have a few problems with Michigans long term members as well...but

Now, imagine our congress running the energy sector. $20.00 a US Gallon will seem like a deal in 12 months. Fill the tank now, it may be the only way the boat can appreciate in the near term.

[JohnRPollard]

Rockter,

That's a heavy price to pay, to be sure. I guess you can be thankful that you have that efficient little diesel car and a sailboat. Imagine if you owned an express cruiser with twin 454s!! 15-20 GPH per engine at cruise!!

On an off-topic note, it seems ironic that here in the States the folks making the most noise about "global warming" are the same ones complaining the loudest about the rising cost of fuel. Including certain prominent members of our own Congress.

Fortunately most of us realize we can't have it both ways.

[Rockter]

At 20 GPH, say 16.6 USgal per hour, that will be $175 per hour.... close to $1000 every 6 hr.
Yesterday the truckers took their fuel protest to London streets.
The election is two years away though, but for this, and other reasons...mainly brutal taxes... this New labour government is very unpopular, and becoming more so.

[Idiens]

According to a German TV documentary last night, 25% of the fuel cost is due to financial institutions trading activities. However, the government has ensured that gas prices have increased faster than crude prices over the last 20 years.

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by Idiens

According to a German TV documentary last night, 25% of the fuel cost is due to financial institutions trading activities.

Idiens,

Interesting observation. There has been some debate over here as well as to whether the price of crude is being pushed by a "speculative bubble" as much as by normal supply/demand pressures. Time will tell, and I confess I won't shed any tears if the bubble bursts while a few dozen tankers are enroute with their over-priced cargo.

[Valiente]

The only upside to this (I don't own a car but my boat carries 140 gallons of diesel...) is that the cost of ship transport from China is erasing the savings from manufacturing there. There is talk of reopening some North American and European factories because paying "the locals" Western wages and then transporting it a short distance may soon be cheaper than having stuff made in a Chinese sweatshop only to ship it 12,000 NM.

Well, that would be ironic, wouldn't it? The only problem is the huge shortage of tool and die and trades people in the West after 15 years of "outsourcing" to Asia.