BSS compliance for a small yacht

JumbleDuck

JumbleDuck

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 Aug 2013
Messages
24,165
Location
SW Scotland
Visit site
I'm thinking about basing my boat (Victoria 26) in the Crinan Canal. That would mean meeting the BSS requirements. Of course I can and will read them, but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has had that done to find out how tricky it was. I have a proper gas locker, draining overboard, and a cooker with flame failure devices.
 
Fire extinguishers and a fire blanket required, CO alarm as well now. Regulations regarding labelling of fuel and gas shut off , also electric cut out switch. One thing that caught me out was the requirement for the fuel filler to be labeled with the type of fuel . Sorted that by engraving on the filler cap itself.
 
Easticks28 said:
Fire extinguishers and a fire blanket required, CO alarm as well now. Regulations regarding labelling of fuel and gas shut off , also electric cut out switch. One thing that caught me out was the requirement for the fuel filler to be labeled with the type of fuel . Sorted that by engraving on the filler cap itself.
Click to expand...

The BSS is an absolute minefield of regulations, many of which are open to "interpretation" by the examiner who issues a BSS certificate. Your post does, I think, illustrate that, as I can't see any requirement in the BSS regulations to have a CO alarm. Also, fuel/gas/electric shutoffs only need to be labelled if they're not in open view.
 
pvb said:
The BSS is an absolute minefield of regulations, many of which are open to "interpretation" by the examiner who issues a BSS certificate. Your post does, I think, illustrate that, as I can't see any requirement in the BSS regulations to have a CO alarm. Also, fuel/gas/electric shutoffs only need to be labelled if they're not in open view.
Click to expand...
Is a fuel shutoff actually needed? I don't think my boat has one ...
 
If you can, find an examiner who will agree to carry out an inspection and advise you what work is required and will come back to sign off everything. Somebody who is local to the boat should be willing at not too much extra cost - my guy came back for free.
 
pvb said:
As I said, it's a minefield! If a CO alarm has been required since 2019, how come the BSS regulations haven't been updated yet?
Click to expand...
I have no idea . But well spotted.
You would have to ask the BSS about that.
The Canal and River Trust which owns the BSS , you might understand, is and under funded and consequently fairly useless organisation.
 
JumbleDuck said:
I'm thinking about basing my boat (Victoria 26) in the Crinan Canal. That would mean meeting the BSS requirements. Of course I can and will read them, but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has had that done to find out how tricky it was. I have a proper gas locker, draining overboard, and a cooker with flame failure devices.
Click to expand...
Whilst the BSS is a mainly paper tick box exercise, it is not too onerous once you tick off the main things which are gas system, electrical system, fuel system and ventilation.I ve had about 4 or 5 with 4 different examines each with their own take but good ones will be flexible in some interpretations and the practicalities of applying inland liveaboard boat regs to seagoing sailing yachts. There are some ‘daft’ jobs worth regs but other than moving a fuel filter, replacing a gas and a diesel pipe for the heater and some labels that come out once every 4 years, that’s it really.

Happy to have a chat by phone or pm if you want..

PS is your boat shiny and posh as we don’t want the tone of her canal being dragged down... unles you stay at the cheap east end of the canal... ?
 
Allegedly: If something like a stove can't pass, removing it, and hiding it in the bushes for the test, prevents it causing you to fail. So I'm told.
 
JumbleDuck said:
I'm thinking about basing my boat (Victoria 26) in the Crinan Canal. That would mean meeting the BSS requirements. Of course I can and will read them, but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has had that done to find out how tricky it was. I have a proper gas locker, draining overboard, and a cooker with flame failure devices.
Click to expand...

I suggest you work through the BSS requirements one at a time and carry out any obvious work like adding a CO alarm and extinguishers .

If the contents of the engine oil sump cannot be contained without reaching a bilge pump you will need a filter to trap oil that may be pumped overboard.
The flexible fuel lines have to be marked with the relevant BS.
Any shore power system must be correctly installed with a consumer unit.
I am sure there could be other things .

The surveyor may be prepared to accept photographic evidence of the remedy of any failure points (depending on the fault) if the remedial work is completed promptly.
.
 
Gary Fox said:
Allegedly: If something like a stove can't pass, removing it, and hiding it in the bushes for the test, prevents it causing you to fail. So I'm told.
Click to expand...
If it's not fitted, it'll not be part of the test.

I dare say the difficulty of the test will be directly proportional to the ability of the tester to be flexible.

I've had two for my boats on the Broads and the chap was great. He looked around on the first one, found a couple of things not up to scratch (main being the earth cable between the battery & the main isolator switch was too small).
I bought a new one from him the next day (cheap as anywhere else ), along with a couple of other items I wanted (not actually needed) for the boat and he gave me the certificate on my promise I was going to fit them.

I dare say that unless you get a really officious goon, he'll take one look at you boat, figure you're the sea-going type and not look very hard, especially if your boat is clearly in an overall good, well-kept condition.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top