Boat Safety Certificate survey

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Bridgeman

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We have Fairline Squadron 42, 4 year old. We had planned to do a bit of inland trips this season eg broads and believe a Boat Safety Certificate would be needed. The surveyor came down today and could not issue one as he said the Fairlines and a lot of other of similar are too complicated/difficult to survey the fuel pipes,breathers etc etc. and involved removing panelling, drilling for observation ports and fuel pipe covers to remove to check pipe and numbers. Has anyone had a survey done on a Squadron or is it really worth having it done? Thanks for any pointers. Neil
 
I am not 100% sure on the Broads but I know that for visiting boats on the Thames (EA waters) you "self declared" BSS. So on the form for your visitors ticket you sign that you understand the requirements of the boat safety scheme and that, in your own non-expert opinion, your boat complies, job done!
 
mlines is right if you are planning to visit the inland waterways and not stop. I don't know how long a "visitors" self cert will last, but check the Canal and Waterways or Broads Trusts websites, and I'm sure you will find the info. Alternatively try a post on the "Thames Forum", as this covers more detail on the inland waterways. The lower Broads to Beccles, Lowerstoft and Brundall should all be OK for you. You probably know you won't get under the Gt Yarmouth bridges to visit to Norther Broads and rivers.
 
Theres a Fairline 42 for sale up here at Newark Marina . I would be surprised if they had taken it without considering the BSS.
The opinion of BSS surveyors seems to vary considerably so I suggest you try another surveyor.

You only need BSS certifiate if you want to spend more than 56 days in any one year on C&RT waters.
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjo...uying-your-licence/short-term-visitor-licence

I wouldn't know about the rules for EA waters and the broads .
 
Thank you kindly for replies. Apart from the 56 days inland, which I don't think we would exceed, are there any other benefits from having a Boat Safety Certificate? Thanks. Neil
 
You can do a month on the Broads on a visitors licence. Self cert BSS.

One tip.... do not use the self adhesive side of the temp numbers ..... they will NEVER come off!!! I just stuck mine in the windows.
 
Bridgeman said:
Thank you kindly for replies. Apart from the 56 days inland, which I don't think we would exceed, are there any other benefits from having a Boat Safety Certificate? Thanks. Neil
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I need a boat safety certificate as my boat is based on the R Trent. Renewed in November and it is valid 4 years.
Perhaps if selling a boat on inland waters a current boat safety certificate is a tick in a box .
Sounds like it would be no particular advantage to you.
 
mlines said:
PS - as it is a 4 year old British boat I would suspect that all the pipework is to the correct standard anyway.

I would of thought your air draft was a limiting factor
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Totally agree......I would suggest that surveyor is bit of a nob head, why on earth would a major builder use anything other than compliant pipework.

Demonstrates what a nonsense BSS is!
 
It is the simple things that catch you out. On my Sunline, the fuel filters fell foul of the regs due to the wif sensors which screw into the base of the fuel filter. These engines Merc Isuzu diesels have been fitted to hundreds of inland boats, and never an issue. CMD made and fitted some bespoke metal covers for me. Great service, but there will still be hundreds of engines with the same filters, and I have not yet heard of any fires as a consequence.
Only really worth getting a BSC if you plan to sell your boat to someone on the inland waterways.
 
Thanks for all the help. Just out of interest would a Boat Safety Certificate be needed in Holland? No one asked in Belgium last year but we are going a bit further this year. Thanks. Neil
 
Bridgeman said:
Thanks for all the help. Just out of interest would a Boat Safety Certificate be needed in Holland? No one asked in Belgium last year but we are going a bit further this year. Thanks. Neil
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The BSC is a home scheme, and would have no credence overseas. They may well have their own scheme though, but I don't recall seeing any reference in any of the threads on here covering inland cruising in France or Holland.
 
BSS myopia really is just that.

Fairline sold in U.S. as well as other markets therefore their vessels will have had pipework to U.S. A.B&YC standards therefore our jobsworth could simply download the relevant documentation from A.B.&Y.C website and append it to his report and treat it as a simple read across, however you only have to look at the caliber of people who are BSS inspectors to realise what worthless nonsense it is.
 
Rakiki, I guessed that may be the case. Looks like it is no value in having the certificate anyway.
Latestarter 1, I did suggest we get a copy of the documentation but he says he must sight the all pipes etc etc before putting his name to the Safety certificate.

I think we may give the certificate a miss on what as been said and go for self certification.

Thanks again. Neil
 
Bit unfair some of the above. I get to fiddle with a few boats belonging to other people. I see a lot of bodging which could be dangerous and should be picked up by a regular inspection.
The scheme does seem to be flexibly implemented by some examiners.
 
mlines said:
PS - as it is a 4 year old British boat I would suspect that all the pipework is to the correct standard anyway.

I would of thought your air draft was a limiting factor
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It's not only the standard of hose, the BSS suveyor has to have sight of the connections to the fuel tanks and deck fillers.
 
Latestarter1 said:
Totally agree......I would suggest that surveyor is bit of a nob head, why on earth would a major builder use anything other than compliant pipework.

Demonstrates what a nonsense BSS is!
Click to expand...
Its about seeing the connections the tanks and deck fillers !
 
Before anyone mentions it this is a 4 year old thread.

However the boat safety scheme continues and last year introduced a requirement for CO alarms . As with most things on the BSS this is open to interpretation. However I now have three CO alarms on the boat which I am advised will exceed the minimum acceptable standard.

Regarding the inspection of pipework - some surveyors are more picky than others about what they can see and what they can be confident about when they see a well kept boat from a reputable builder. The BSS surveyor I use also did the pre purchase survey for me on my boat . He is a qualified and experienced marine surveyor and therefore well within his comfort zone when inspecting boat. Preparation for the test involves little more than checking the fire extinguishers and making sure the areas to be inspected are accessible and removing anything with petrol inside it. Other than testing the gas system the remainder of the BSS test is a formality

It has always surprised me that the BSS is applied only for boats on the inland waterways in the UK. However I suspect DIY fit outs and alterations are more common on canal boats .
 
Just to add to this resurrected thread...

I am having some issues with my gas locker that is built into the boat as it does not have a drain and is within 1m of the sliding door.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how I could overcome this small hurdle?
 
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