Boat Owner Manual and RCD

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RebeccaPheiffer

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Hi boaters!

I am looking into moving away next year and I will need to sell my much loved live aboard :-(
I have been reading and because my boat was manufactured under 5 years ago, it seems I need to issue an RCD and Owner's manual for the future owners. I don't have these documents because I bought the boat as sail away (and apparently the boat builder didn't have the responsibility of producing these?). I have read a lot about the RCD and found the standards given by the RYA; however, I don't have a clue of how an owner's manual looks like and it seems a little implausible I could produce one? I would highly appreciate for another DIY builders to give me any guidance on how to do both, the RCD and the Boat owners manual or share their experience with me. Also, if someone could show me some examples that would be absolutely marvellous!

Many thanks for taking your time!
Becky
 
If a boat is classed as a home build then you do not have to comply with the RCD or provide an owners manual if you sell it after 5 years from its launch date. One of the reasons why home building of boats of any size using part complete boats has collapsed is the difficulty of providing a CE mark (compliance with RCD) when the builder is not responsible for the complete boat. The builder should have explained all this to you when you bought the sailaway, and if he is still in business may be able to help you.

It is quite possible to get a post construction cerificate, particularly if the boat was built exactly the same as a factory version that does have a CE mark. However, unless the boat is complex and high value, doubt the lack of a CE mark would seriously deter a buyer once the boat is 5 years old, although you may find the value lower than a factory built boat. Suggest you talk to the RYA explaining your problem. If all the design calculations are available then it is mostly a papeerwork exercise and the RYA has guidance on what is required.
 
The owners manual tells you how the stuff works in simple terms but sufficiently cryptic to require some abstract thinking to work it out. Photocopy it about a thousand times until the text is faded and squinty and the whole document is nearly illegible. If you want it to be really authentic then dictate it to a Polish person who must translate the English into Polish and then get a French person to translate the Polish back to English. Voila! A bona fide CE owners manual.

or

Just sell it to a British person, we never read instruction books anyway.

:rolleyes:
 
Thanks for your help guys!

I like your cheeky approach BlowingOldBoots! hehe However, would that work? I mean, aren't there any guidelines that must be followed? I can't just photocopy Hamlet again and again to until illegible, I'm guessing? We just rather be safe than sorry so would like to prepare all the paperwork as it should. Apart from the actual manual, what about the technical file? are these legally required to be supplied if you are selling within 5 years of manufacture?

The boat builder was Collingwood who are a nightmare to deal with. I did receive an RCD for a partly completed boat (although it was really completed in 90%; I have only done the fitted out). I want to do prepare it all according to the regulation and I know I can't count on the manufacturer unfortunately. Oh, also, no CE mark was provided either!

Any views? Thanks all!
 
Lie about how old it is. As there is no documentation and the boat was not a complete boat you can say you have been finishing it off for 6 years.

(or wait until it is 5 years old)
 
RebeccaPheiffer said:
Hi boaters!

I am looking into moving away next year and I will need to sell my much loved live aboard :-(
I have been reading and because my boat was manufactured under 5 years ago, it seems I need to issue an RCD and Owner's manual for the future owners. I don't have these documents because I bought the boat as sail away (and apparently the boat builder didn't have the responsibility of producing these?). I have read a lot about the RCD and found the standards given by the RYA; however, I don't have a clue of how an owner's manual looks like and it seems a little implausible I could produce one? I would highly appreciate for another DIY builders to give me any guidance on how to do both, the RCD and the Boat owners manual or share their experience with me. Also, if someone could show me some examples that would be absolutely marvellous!

Many thanks for taking your time!
Becky
Click to expand...

One easy way to tar up the Owners manual is to obtain the manuals for the equipment and include them in the manual suitably indexed. Most of these can be found on the web. Other than that include some basic details of electrics plumbing etc
 
RebeccaPheiffer said:
Thanks for your help guys!

I like your cheeky approach BlowingOldBoots! hehe However, would that work? I mean, aren't there any guidelines that must be followed? I can't just photocopy Hamlet again and again to until illegible, I'm guessing? We just rather be safe than sorry so would like to prepare all the paperwork as it should. Apart from the actual manual, what about the technical file? are these legally required to be supplied if you are selling within 5 years of manufacture?

The boat builder was Collingwood who are a nightmare to deal with. I did receive an RCD for a partly completed boat (although it was really completed in 90%; I have only done the fitted out). I want to do prepare it all according to the regulation and I know I can't count on the manufacturer unfortunately. Oh, also, no CE mark was provided either!

Any views? Thanks all!
Click to expand...

You really should speak to the RYA or CE Proof as there are comprehensive guidelines about preparing the manual and the technical file, so you don't have to guess.

You say you have received an "RCD" - don't know what you mean by that as there is no such thing as an RCD certificate. The RCD is a standard and the CE mark is the manufacturer's declaration that the product (boat) complies with the standard. Normally the manufacturer would keep a record of the necessary technical information concerning the design and build of the boat, and the certification consists of a list of the standards used and a declaration. The owner receives a pack with a manual describing the main features of the boat and its operation, usually bound together with the declaration plus all the suppliers' manuals for the equipment fitted to the boat.

Suggest you ntake all the documents you have to the RYA and ask them what you need to do to get a post construction certificate.
 
Well, you are partway there as what you have will cover the parts that the builder provided including the design data and hull construction. You have to put together details of what you have added to complete the boat. Just to give you an idea, my boat came with a manual that described the basic systems and operation of the boat including a wiring diagram and a schematic of the plumbing and pumping system plus a file of all the instruction manuals from the manufacturers - engine, mast/rigging, elctronics, windlass, pumps and so on.

You really do need to talk to the experts as they will have to do the final certification, so will tell you what you need to do to get that.
 
It seems like the RYA have just got out of that particuler market. And not before time.....

See here


I'd be wary of producing my very own Declaration of Conformity, for concern that I was leaving myself wide-open to litigation. Why not just describe the vessel in any ads as a 'racing prototype', which does not require to conform to the RCD regulations?

Think 'French'.... ;)
 
RebeccaPheiffer said:
Sorry, what I received with the boat is a DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Annexe IIIa for Partly Completed Craft
Click to expand...

Then you are a long way there, especially if the engine is included.

The contents of the manual are prescribed in ISO/EN 10240.

See here: Link

Don't over think it - the builder is responsible for the accuracy / technical file for everything included on the declaration of conformity you already have.

Andy
 
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