BSS compliance for a small yacht

pvb said:
Apparently it is, unless all the fuel lines are above the level of the top of the tank.
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Hmm. I'm sure it's possible, but it might be tricky. Any idea how near the tank they want the cutoff? Mine is under the cockpit sole,

ctva said:
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..
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Thanks. I may well take you up on that depending on the deal they offer ...

PS is your boat shiny and posh as we don’t want the tone of her canal being dragged down... unless you stay at the cheap east end of the canal... ?
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... which is for a pontoon at Bellanoch. Any idea how filthy my cream topsides are likely to get?

MartynG said:
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 .
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Got both!

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.
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There is a separate oil-catching sump under the engine, so that should be OK.

The flexible fuel lines have to be marked with the relevant BS.
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They were replaced a couple of years ago when a new engine went in, so I hope they are OK.

Any shore power system must be correctly installed with a consumer unit.
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Just a double socket with RCD at the moment. Easy enough to strip out if necessary.

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.
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Thanks. The people at Crinan tell me there is a local surveyor, so with luck it's someone who appreciates the particular requirements of sailing yachts.
 
Dodgy place Bellanoch but very clean.

TBH, with what you’ve said and a chat with the inspector before hand should see all ok. If the boat is clean and tidy, goes a long way. I’m always present for the inspection (I know a lot are not) and find it makes life easy for both as helps them to locate items and discuss any issues which can usually be sorted on the spot.
For the gas, some I’ve heard ask for a ‘marine’ regulator and bubble tester but these expensive items are not needed. I use a hand tightening propane regulator and a nipple tester at the cooker. Make sure the gas locker is to spec and the pipe work is mostly visible and supported especially at the gas box and joint to the short flex pipe to the cooker. I made the gas locker from ply and lined with fibreglass to a short height above the regulator.
 
BSS isn't hard. I do all my own work. Only things that have caught me out are age of flexible gas pipe and thickness of a cable from battery isolator to battery ( despite the same tester passing it on prevous test )
 
"Any shore power system must be correctly installed with a consumer unit. "

In extremis you could have an unfused system with bare wires everywhere and it's probablably only worth an 'advisory' !
It has long been discussed about bringing mains voltage systems into the scheme, but there remains the obstacle that the inspectors ( who are all independent contractors ) would all need the same qualifications and regularly updated certification as someone employed to rewire an entire house . Since not every craft has shore power this was not considered viable....
 
Regarding your point about the boat getting dirty in the canal. I was based in the canal, at A&R Way’s yard, Cairnbaan. The hull did not get particularly dirty in the fresh water nor the decks from any dust or mold. The biggest source of dirt was the foam in the locks which got to spectacular volumes at one point. But that washed off easily enough with a green meanie and detergent.

When in the canal, works took longer than expected and the canal wanted BSS. I convinced them that the gas system and engine was decommissioned, which they were and I had no automatic bilge pump. They allowed me to stay without a BSS survey, Autumn to Spring, which was reasonable in my view, as they could have put their foot down. Pleasant people do deal with, listening, querying and understanding, in my experience.
 
MartynG said:
Sounds like you have little to do.
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I hope so, but ...

ctva said:
Dodgy place Bellanoch but very clean.
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In what way "dodgy"?

RumPunch said:
BSS isn't hard. I do all my own work. Only things that have caught me out are age of flexible gas pipe and thickness of a cable from battery isolator to battery ( despite the same tester passing it on prevous test )
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As far as can remember, my earth is 50 mm2 and the supplies are 50 mm^2 to the engine and 35 mm^2 for the house.

Halo said:
Why do you want to base your yacht in the canal ?
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I want to keep her further west than the Clyde and the canal is just one possibility. I am also looking at Crinan Boats, Kilmelford and maybe Craobh or Kerrera, though they are big money by my standards. My last boat lived on a Crinan Boats mooring in the summer and on the canal in the winter and that worked well for me.

BlowingOldBoots said:
Regarding your point about the boat getting dirty in the canal. I was based in the canal, at A&R Way’s yard, Cairnbaan. The hull did not get particularly dirty in the fresh water nor the decks from any dust or mold.
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Thanks. Every time I transit the hull comes out filthy. That's mostly foam and slime in the locks, but the basins seem pretty grubby too. My last boat was dark blue so nothing much showed.
 
I kept the Dehler in Lochinver for a couple of seasons if you are looking for a new location. I loved getting there - the drive from Ullapool to Lochinver is fab (would fly over to Inverness, bus to Ullapool and then into an elderly Honda Jazz). Might be more interesting than the canal.
 
Go onto the Thames forum.
There are about 8000 boats on The Thames most subject to BSS regulations.
What ever your question somebody will have been down that road before.
 
What I had to do the last time,
2018, inspector was Jas. Hale. (unfortunately Mike Murray at Crinan has stopped doing it) The other is something like 'Clyde Safety '
Change the nylon drain plug on the metal fuel fiter bowl from plastic to metal (cos it was in the engine bay)
Change the fuel lines in the engine bay to flexible fire resisting . (There is a B.S. or ISO standard number stamped along the hose))
Usual labels --Gas shut off, fuel shut off, ventilate when using cooker, main electrical switches.
I have a copy of BSS 'The Essential Guide' which you can borrow though it is a few years old or I could scan and email a copy of an inspectors check list.
You will be given time if you do come in, some of the boats in Bellanoch were more than a year overdue last summer.
 
dgadee said:
I kept the Dehler in Lochinver for a couple of seasons if you are looking for a new location. I loved getting there - the drive from Ullapool to Lochinver is fab (would fly over to Inverness, bus to Ullapool and then into an elderly Honda Jazz). Might be more interesting than the canal.
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I'm sure she'll stray further afield (I plan a season in Milford Haven) but for now the Crinan/Oban area is about as far as I can sensibly do. I live in the deep south-west (Galloway) and an after-school trip to Bellanoch would get me there about 7.30 pm as it is.

oldgit said:
Go onto the Thames forum.
There are about 8000 boats on The Thames most subject to BSS regulations.
What ever your question somebody will have been down that road before.
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Thanks - good idea. I can't recall ever seeing a sailing yacht on the Isis, which is the only bit of the Thames I know well, but I suppose there must be some.

Quandary said:
What I had to do the last time,
2018, inspector was Jas. Hale. (unfortunately Mike Murray at Crinan has stopped doing it) The other is something like 'Clyde Safety '
Change the nylon drain plug on the metal fuel fiter bowl from plastic to metal (cos it was in the engine bay)
Change the fuel lines in the engine bay to flexible fire resisting . (There is a B.S. or ISO standard number stamped along the hose))
Usual labels --Gas shut off, fuel shut off, ventilate when using cooker, main electrical switches.
I have a copy of BSS 'The Essential Guide' which you can borrow though it is a few years old or I could scan and email a copy of an inspectors check list.
You will be given time if you do come in, some of the boats in Bellanoch were more than a year overdue last summer.
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I've just sent you a PM before seeing this, asking for your words of wisdom.

I have just had a chat with the boy Hale, who seems pragmatic and sensible. Sounds as if the only major things I'll have to do are install a proper fuel cut-off valve (lifting the step and then reaching across the top of the engine to a tiny valve under the tank is not really satisfactory) and a gas test point, then stick labels everywhere.

I'm feeling quite tempted.
 
JumbleDuck said:
I'm sure she'll stray further afield (I plan a season in Milford Haven) but for now the Crinan/Oban area is about as far as I can sensibly do. I live in the deep south-west (Galloway) and an after-school trip to Bellanoch would get me there about 7.30 pm as it is.
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Ah, the working man. Since I retired I seem to think the rest of the world has too. Or maybe it's just that you meet more of them mooching about boat yards.
 
Is a cheap, but realiable, CO alarm acceptable? Will this do? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fireangel-CO-9D-Digital-Sealed-Monoxide/dp/B00441S9GS/ref=sxin_13

The gas bottle is not connected - the old 'hole' was a badly done amateur job and leaked water, and has now been sealed up. I'm about to sell and will leave it to the next owner to get a proper gas plumber in to fit it properly. But the BSS inspector might decide that the cooker and gas bottle being there at all requires an alarm, so do I have to get one, and will the above do..?

Thanks! ;)

p.s . Anyone got a handy link to the BSS requirements? I've got a 10m cruiser - there's a pic in my avatar.
 
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ChasB said:
Is a cheap, but realiable, CO alarm acceptable? Will this do? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fireangel-CO-9D-Digital-Sealed-Monoxide/dp/B00441S9GS/ref=sxin_13

The gas bottle is not connected - the old 'hole' was a badly done amateur job and leaked water, and has now been sealed up. I'm about to sell and will leave it to the next owner to get a proper gas plumber in to fit it properly. But the BSS inspector might decide that the cooker and gas bottle being there at all requires an alarm, so do I have to get one, and will the above do..?

Thanks! ;)

p.s . Anyone got a handy link to the BSS requirements? I've got a 10m cruiser - there's a pic in my avatar.
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Boat examination and certification | Boat Safety Scheme | Go Boating - Stay Safe
 
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