Paperwork for cross channel

[chris-s]

If I were to consider sailing across the channel for a few days, apart from the whole customs/immigration aspect, it appears I need some paperwork.

The only ‘paperwork’ I have are radio licence, insurance certificates, RYA dinghy certificates and a RYA yacht master coastal theory. We also have the rya sail number paperwork which was issued last year for a new sail number. The previous rorc registration had expired many years ago.

The boat was ssr part 1 registered many years ago, at least before the previous owners had her, probably back in the eighties looking at the number which is still on the hull.

Our boat is a mid-eighties 23 foot sailboat, we bought her in 2019 for a few grand in cash from the previous owners. We did print off and fill in the form the rya site to use as a receipt/bill of sale or whatever they call it, but I have no idea where it is now.

So where do we stand on paperwork, in particular registration/ownership paperwork?

 

[Tranona]

Key document for the boat is the registration certificate. As the Part 1 has expired register it on Part 3 Small Ships Register (SSR). Easy to do on line. That is the only thing the authorities will want, although thee insurance3 certificate, VHF licence and your operators certificate are useful to keep on board. Nobody will be interested in your qualifications unless you go into the inland waterways. The Bill of Sale used to be useful when we were in the EU in case there were any queries about VAT to show the boat was bought in the UK, but now we are out, nobody will be interested.

 

[chris-s]

Thanks. I had a look at the part 3 registration and it suggested I needed to own the boat for five years. I’ll have another look to see if I misread it.

 

[Topcat47]

No the boat can be registered at any time. It's most common for a new owner to do it on purchase to keep the SRR No but there's no limit on how long you've owned a boat.

 

[Tranona]

It is valid for 5 years. Part 1 is also valid for 5 years but you need to show a minimum of 5 years ownership history - not yours but ownership prior to you buying it, and also a survey is required. This is because it is a register of title whereas Part 3 is just show it is a British ship to satisfy International Maritime Law when you go outside UK territorial waters.

 

[Poignard]

It is valid for 5 years. Part 1 is also valid for 5 years but you need to show a minimum of 5 years ownership history - not yours but ownership prior to you buying it, and also a survey is required. This is because it is a register of title whereas Part 3 is just show it is a British ship to satisfy International Maritime Law when you go outside UK territorial waters.

I think I am correct in saying that the survey for Part 1 only need be a tonnage survey and not a condition survey.

 

[Tranona]

I think I am correct in saying that the survey for Part 1 only need be a tonnage survey and not a condition survey.

That is correct. Just measurement to calculate the "tonnage" and confirm the vessel exists. If buying a boat and intending to have it registered it makes sense to have an MCA approved surveyor to do the condition survey and tonnage at the same time to avoid 2 sets of travel costs.

 

[Slowboat35]

PUHLEESE!
Stop calling it a "sail" boat.

It is a 'sailing boat.'

 

[Black Sheep]

PUHLEESE!
Stop taking useful threads off-topic with incorrect anglo-centric linguistic faux pedantry.

The sailboat/sailing boat thing has been done to death. Either is acceptable.

Back on topic, Tranona's post is spot on . In addition, is the paperwork involved in the fact that you're going foreign - passport, C1331 and pre-avis or whatever your destination country requires. Plenty of threads on that, as a lot of us feel our way in the new environment.

 

[PlanB]

Also, the Belgians always used to want a crew list.
The insurance cert is usually a must if using marinas

 

[chris-s]

Thanks for the replies. I had another look at the ssr registration site and realised that the ‘register here’ button actually takes you to part 1 registration and that part 3 needs a form downloaded/completed and sent back,

 

[Black Sheep]

Not sure what's going on there. When I go to UK Ship Register and sign on, the option "Register a vessel" takes me through some questions, one of which is "Are you registering a small ship?". If you answer "yes", then it takes you through to online registering under Part 3 (SSR). Are you the sole owner of the sailboat? I wonder if maybe it doesn't like it if there are multiple owners?