Builders certificate for an OLD Avon dinghy

[Tricia]

Well, we've had fun. We are in Hong Kong, all checked in with immigration, customs and Marine Dept. We've got our temporary membership at Hebe Haven YC and now, 1 month later, we are having problems with the Marine Dept.

According to them, someone at the YC has been complaining about us not being legal. On the third visit by the Marine Dept, we were told we needed to register our dinghy and get a licence to use the dinghy to run ashore. At the Marine Dept local office in Sai Kong, they said they cannot issue us with this registration or licence to operate as we are a foreign flagged vessel and on tourist visas. However we need an exemption certificate. Fair enough, but they say apparently they need the original invoice and a certified copy of the original builders certificate for the dinghy which includes length, beam, material, number of passengers, engine power and serial number. The invoice is non existent as we were given the dinghy by someone upgrading and I can't find anyway of contacting Avon on their web site. Alternatively, we could get a survey from a locally authorised surveyor saying the same.

It's a grey, 3m Avon inflatable FFS, with a 5hp Yamaha outboard neither of which are probably less than twenty years old (or at least 10).

AND THEN WE HAVE TO INSURE IT 3RD PARTY!

Can anyone help with any ideas? I have this photograph, which I'm hoping will do but Hong Kong is the land of bureaucracy.



Tricia

 

[Tricia]

Update!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, just spoke with the Marine Dept in Central District, we can use the dinghy as long as we don't use the outboard, which would be fine except for the distance we have to row and the absence of rowlocks.

The contact also said he had never encountered this problem before and he said as far as the Marine Dept is concerned the YC has to provide transport for us.

And the YC say since we are temp members we cannot use the sampan service.

Ho hum

Tricia

 

[basic]

[QUOTE=Tricia; someone at the YC has been complaining about us not being legal.

That is not very nice. Seems you have enemies!

 

[NormanS]

Computer, printer, and some artistic flair, or up-sticks and go somewhere more welcoming.

 

[GrahamM376]

I've never heard of a tender having to be insured for third party in its own right, is it not covered under the boat insurance if noted as part of the equipment on the schedule?

 

[Stemar]

Computer, printer, and some artistic flair, or up-sticks and go somewhere more welcoming.

:encouragement:

 

[Tranona]

Pre 1998 there was no such thing as a builders certificate, only the serial number which you have. After that the information would have been provided on the Certificate of Conformity to get its CE mark.

Not helpful but that is the reality.

 

[dave_gibsea]

Hasn't anyone on this forum got a bill of sale or invoice tfor a simiar Avon they could scan and e-mail?

Alternative is leave and go somewhere were you be made more welcome!

 

[Tricia]

Thanks for the suggestions, we are going to be leaving very soon so the invoice and builders cert don't matter anymore. We were told that Hong Kong is amazing, brilliant and fab, but it hasn't quite lived up to expectations, although the locals in the markets etc are really kind and friendly. The weather has been pretty awful too with unseasonal heavy fog every day.



Tricia

 

[Tranona]

You seem to have hit it at a bad time. There is (or has been recently) considerable civil unrest among the local population against the government's reluctance to keep the level of local government as promised in the handover. Agree though that bad weather takes the shine away.

Your experience does not chime in with mine as a regular visitor ther for over 15 years.

 

[jwilson]

Thanks for the suggestions, we are going to be leaving very soon so the invoice and builders cert don't matter anymore. We were told that Hong Kong is amazing, brilliant and fab, but it hasn't quite lived up to expectations, although the locals in the markets etc are really kind and friendly. The weather has been pretty awful too with unseasonal heavy fog every day.
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Tricia

No, fog (and smog) pretty common at this time of year. HK Marine Dept rules have always been a bit nanny-statish: at least being a non-resident you didn't need a Local Masters and Local Engineers licence to use your boat or dinghy.