Home finished boat - certification

[captaindagman]

Hi all,

If I buy a " new " boat which is an unfinished project and finish it myself, what do I have to do to get it certified ? What authority should I go to for this ?
All comments gratefully received.

 

[Tranona]

Too complicated to give a simple answer. a home built boat is exempt from certification if it is not sold until after 5 years of completion. However, most people (which actually a very small number) building a substantial higher value boat may well build it to standard and have it certified. A part complete boat certification is the responsibility of the builder up to the point it is sold.

If as I suspect you are thinking of buying an older part complete boat that has been sitting around for years in somebody's back garden then it may well not need certification just like the many old boats that are restored, rebuilt etc. If you do want to find out about the process then talk to the RYA or a specialist in certification such as CE proof.

Or you can post more details here and you might get some more pointers.

 

[LadyInBed]

When I bought my 'HCB' in 2000 the only certification it had was a survey to confirm to the insurer's that it was seaworthy.
This was for a UK built hull and mouldings (Colvic) , the hull was moulded in about 1984 and first launched in 1997 before CE marks I think. I am still sailing her ?

 

[captaindagman]

Thanks for your comments. This is a Hunter moulded in 1998 or 99. There is a lot of paper about statements of completion and applying for certification but I doubt that this is current. What Government agency deals with this ? I could not find anything useful online.

 

[Tranona]

This may help you C:/Users/Stewart/Desktop/RYA%20RCR%20and%20RCD%20GUIDE%20FOR%20BOATS.pdf

whilst it is heavy on the changes post Brexit it does have the details on current certification and the names of the bodies involved.

Compliance is monitored by Trading Standards and while it is rigorous at import or new boats that are sold in the UK it is virtually non existent on existing boats - just the same as nobody comes around checking your TV is certified.

When your boat was built Hunter would have certified it and confirmed the work done by them when they sold it was to the standard. The final certification was only issued once the boat was completed to spec by the owner.

TBH nobody cares about whether a 25 year old boat was certified. If you have all the bits just complete it and use it. The only time Trading Standards might be interested if it was sold to somebody who nit picked and made a complaint and even then doubt TS would bother - much more important things to do.

 

[waynes world]

Just finish it off if its a part built/unfinished project. No need to complicate things.

 

[clyst]

Since we are nothing to do with the EU is the RCD relevant now ?

 

[waynes world]

Since we are nothing to do with the EU is the RCD relevant now ?

knowing this country i reckon it will be. But sod it on this boat as its not new build a and around 12 years old. Just me i wouldnt bother.

 

[Momac]

Since we are nothing to do with the EU is the RCD relevant now ?

Recreational Craft Regulations 2017: Great Britain

 

[Tranona]

Since we are nothing to do with the EU is the RCD relevant now ?

So far only the name has changed but our wonderful "low regulation" government insists on separate paperwork which currently cost around £1000 for an existing RCD compliant new boat. Of course in time builders will do this automatically if they want to sell into the EU, just as UK builders will have to comply with the RCD to sell into the EU.

 

[SaltIre]

This may help you C:/Users/Stewart/Desktop/RYA%20RCR%20and%20RCD%20GUIDE%20FOR%20BOATS.pdf

whilst it is heavy on the changes post Brexit it does have the details on current certification and the names of the bodies involved.

Compliance is monitored by Trading Standards and while it is rigorous at import or new boats that are sold in the UK it is virtually non existent on existing boats - just the same as nobody comes around checking your TV is certified.

When your boat was built Hunter would have certified it and confirmed the work done by them when they sold it was to the standard. The final certification was only issued once the boat was completed to spec by the owner.

TBH nobody cares about whether a 25 year old boat was certified. If you have all the bits just complete it and use it. The only time Trading Standards might be interested if it was sold to somebody who nit picked and made a complaint and even then doubt TS would bother - much more important things to do.

The link seems to be to a file on your computer so doesn't help. You can attach it as long as it isn't too large.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

While I applaud them, I think that anyone taking on a "project" should be certified....

I love the line in one of the St Trinians films. It's the staff room, and there's an argument going on. One teacher says "I think you're all mad! I'm perfectly sane - AND I've got a certificate to prove it!"

There is a post-Brexit UK equivalent of RCD, which I gather is currently exactly the same. But unless you plan on selling within 5 years of completion, you don't need to bother. Frankly, meeting the requirements for an older boat might be very difficult - you'd need to get stability data that almost certainly weren't calculated by the supplier of the mouldings.

 

[Tranona]

The link seems to be to a file on your computer so doesn't help. You can attach it as long as it isn't too large.

Sorry linked rather than attached. This should work