Gas Safety Testing/Certification

[vyv_cox]

My boat is now 26 years old, in my ownership for the past 16 years, throughout which I have been insured with Haven Knox Johnstone. They have never asked for a survey of any kind, not even when I first bought the boat. No demands whatsoever for standing rigging changes, gas hose replacement, or anything else. I have never claimed from them but I have no reason to suppose that they would be reluctant to pay, based on others' experience.

 

[pvb]

Same story here, 21 year old boat which I've owned for 16 years. Never been asked for a survey. My current insurers say they'll want a survey when the boat's 25 years old.

The concept of gas certification is complex. Would they demand compliance with BSS rules?

 

[Chrissie]

The requirement to have gas safe certificates for coded boats and inland waterways boats does not extend to personal use boats, and as a surveyor I do not make a routine recommendation that a boat gets a gas safe certificate. It is not compulsory for private owners to do so. What is important is that they employ only gas safe registered gas fitters to do any work required.
I do always check the gas system thoroughly and if there were any problems I would make the appropriate recommendation.

I believe that surveyors who put the gas safe certificate requirement into a survey recommendation are doing so because it is their personal belief that it is necessary and perhaps they dont do their own gas checks.

I expect compulsory certification will filter down soon enough and more and more people are doing the training to give the certificates.

 

[Simondjuk]

Thank you everyone for the excellent advice and pointers.

 

[catalac08]

Yes get a different surveyor-as has been said once a surveyor has made a recommendation this will be a millstone around your neck forever. This is just a cop out by the surveyor-the 3 that I have dealt with have all looked at the gas installation and either passed the system as compliant with boat safety RECOMMENDATIONS or have suggested improvements e.g. replace hoses, fit bubble leak detector etc. which you can do yourself as long as you follow the recommended procedure. My last survey checked flame failure on all burners, pipe going through bulkheads with correct fittings, isolation valve at cooker, flex pipe dates, isolation solenoid valve, draining locker etc, checked bubble leak test function,gas heater and all ok. Very thorough but sensible and realistic.