Boat Qualifictions

[GEC]

Could someone point me in the right direction, it is my intention to buy a liveboard in the next few years in order that when I retire from the rat race my wife and I can disappear into the sun. I have seen many vessels that would do the job, an old Royal Navy fleet tender would be ideal and just about in our price range. I have used large boats around the english coast and taken them accross to france, these have been everything from old ocean going tugs to converted trawlers, what I need to know is what qualifications I need to take such a vessel through europes commercial waterways,(as they are all in the 200 - 300 ton region) the final destination would ideally be the med and hopefully beyond.

 

[ccscott49]

Fleet tender would probably be a little high and deep for most inland waterways, apart from possibly, Holland, Rhine etc.
You would have to have a Cevni certificate for the european inland waterways and an Iternational Certificate of competence, minimum. Not sure what the regs are for a vessel of this size, but that would do for a fairly big vessel.

 

[Admiral]

I doubt if a fleet tender would be an ideal boat if it is just you and your wife who are crewing it. If you are talking about the ex "Loyal" class, they are notorious for bad handling in any sort of breeze due to the high superstructure, and mechanical maintainence can be expensive and a nightmare to do. As an ex chief engineer on one, (Mediator), I wouldn`t touch one for any purpose.

 

[GEC]

Cheers admiral I have looked at insect and cleopatra class tenders, both of which had been converted to dive boats and the owners who are commercial skippers have never really reported any problems, but it has to be said that the final choice could be non of the above. I have a love of early (1950-70's) tug boats and any problems engineering wise doesnt worry me as is what I've done all my life, and the engines I play with now weight around 5 tons and cost 3.5 million each (out of my price range!!) not that I want to do that out of my own pocket, I have alot of friends who run commercial tugs around the country who are always finding cheap boats of all classes shapes and sizes, it's just the legal requirements that I need to clear up.

 

[sailorman]

look in Holland 4 ex commercial craft