CE Compliance ?

[GSL]

As far as I am aware, you might get away with a non cert boat in the UK, but if you take it over the channel, you have a very high probability of the locals asking for the CE mark when they are checking your customs/VAT/anything else docs. They are far more parochial about protecting their local industries than the UK!

Trading Stds are supposed to police this reg in the UK, but will probably complain that they are not properly funded. Hence they visit shows and trade fairs as you can hit many suppliers in a short time.

CEProof can do the hull and fittings bit of the CE marking, but I am not sure if they can do the exhaust emissions and pass by noise bits. You might get lucky if the engine manufacturer already has the approval docs, but it is a risk, and very expensive to do. circa £10-£20 k for the emissions, if you can get the engine out and into a emissions lab, and probably £1k ish for the pass-by noise, if you can get a dry and windfree day.

CE Proof did the pass by noise tests on my boat along with other "handling" tests, the emmisions were covered by documents they already had on file as the engines I had (Cat 350TA) had already been tested and found compliant. I had checked prior to buying the boat that the engines would be OK.

Graham

 

[andyc]

I got my 2001 42ft maxum import ce marked just before I brought it.
Had to put stop cocks on the through hull fittings such as bilge pumps.Most of the rest was compliant.
It is classed cat c rather than cat b as I didnt want to spend out on stability testing.
I tested that myself one windy day in the Channel and certainly passed my test.

Not sure what the implication would be re the catc when I sell.There again It cost about 35-40% cheaper than a cat B european equivalent. so its all relative.

Mine has transformers for the 110volt appliances and im replacing them with 240V as they break.

The annoying thing about it is the buzz from the transformers drives me mad at night so I turn them off.

I now need to fit a few more 240 V sockets and get the genny adapted to produce 240v as well as 110V.Havnt looked into that one yet.

The average 24 ft sports cruiser buyer tends to buy like they are buying a banger,give the cash and off you drive......,Newer and larger boat purchasers tend to buy boats like they are buying a House, so when selling a larger boat,the purchaser will get a survey and delv a bit .They would run a mile from an non ce marked boat.

 

[kingfisher]

We have been asked by the authorites for proof of CE approval on new boats at Boat Shows..........someone has not got much else to do I think!.......... so they do check from time to time.

Art. 4(4) of the RCD allow non-CE marked boats on trade fairs, so any market surveillance authority walking around on the boat show floor is wasting his/her time. Tell them to get lost and learn their job! Preferably from an independent expert who has been training market surveillance authorities all over central and eastern europe. I think I know one *kof*.

Comments on the RCD: "Boats or components exhibited at boat shows do not necessarily have to comply with the requirements of the directive, even after 16 June 1998. The display of a boat or component at a boat show, whether a trade or retail show, does not constitute ‘placing on the market’. However, if the boat or component is not in full conformity with the provisions of the directive, this fact must be clearly advertised next to the boat or component being exhibited."

 

[kingfisher]

The offical "RECREATIONAL CRAFT DIRECTIVE AND COMMENTS TO THE DIRECTIVE COMBINED" has a chapter on owner-certification.

The cheapest way is to declare it a Category D-boat. This will get you certified in the lowest class.
Disadvantages
- might put off future buyer
- insurance company might wonder what you were doing mid-channel with a Inland waters-classed boat
- currently authorities do not link classification to access to water in the UK. In France they do: to be able to go out on the high seas, French boats need a certain amount of eqpt. I see the a future where only cat. A &B boats will be allowed to go out. It would only take an accident with five dead kids, a slow news season and some hysterical legislators to put that in place.

 

[Imperial One]

Coding

Art. 4(4) of the RCD allow non-CE marked boats on trade fairs, so any market surveillance authority walking around on the boat show floor is wasting his/her time. Tell them to get lost and learn their job! Preferably from an independent expert who has been training market surveillance authorities all over central and eastern europe. I think I know one *kof*.

Yes, we knew that and took some delight in explaining so to him, their chap seemed surprised when we told him.

Odd thing was that the boat was a Cat A and plated as such for all to see but he wanted to see the actual certificate.
I had all manner of paperwork on board the only missing bit was the actual certificate from the Dutch Certification company.....whom I suspect you might know!

Don't you just love a good 'jobsworth'?

 

[kingfisher]

I can understand that DTS staff can make a mistake on the finer points of specific directives, you can't expect people to know every piece of legislation by heart. But this is such a general clause in all the CE-directives that they should have known about it.
Maybe they just wanted to test your knowledge of the directive :grin: