Sea based boat going on the Thames

[harvey38]

Evening all (as Dixon would say),

We have purchased an Aquastar Ocean 38 that has spent its life on the coast but are planning to use her on the lower (non-tidal) Thames pointing her bow out on tidal waters locally until we have the knowledge/experience/courage to hopefully base her full time back on the coast in a couple of years.

We have had three boats previously on the Thames and I have prepared all of them and successfully got through the BSS but a 38', twin engined, 1986 offshore vessel with shore power and generator I think I may find a little daunting.

The first hurdle is to get a holding tank and pump out system fitted for both heads!

Does anyone know of someone who may do a 'Pre-BSS' assessment and help me work through the process in the Ramsgate area?

Thanks in advance,

Rob

 

[Elessar]

Evening all (as Dixon would say),

We have purchased an Aquastar Ocean 38 that has spent its life on the coast but are planning to use her on the lower (non-tidal) Thames pointing her bow out on tidal waters locally until we have the knowledge/experience/courage to hopefully base her full time back on the coast in a couple of years.

We have had three boats previously on the Thames and I have prepared all of them and successfully got through the BSS but a 38', twin engined, 1986 offshore vessel with shore power and generator I think I may find a little daunting.

The first hurdle is to get a holding tank and pump out system fitted for both heads!

Does anyone know of someone who may do a 'Pre-BSS' assessment and help me work through the process in the Ramsgate area?

Thanks in advance,

Rob

If you get the BSS book and go through it methodically you can do this yourself.

You’ll have to change fuel and gas pipes probably for marked ones. Maybe cutting access hopes so they are visible. And change the glass fuel bowls for metal.

None of it is rocket science.

 

[Silvercloud]

Have a look at the BSS web site as there is a section on how to prepare for the inspection.

 

[Sneds]

Could you just pay for the inspection?
Then pay a reduced inspection fee to show you have changed the bits he or she picked up on?
Sure I’ve done this in the past with the prior agreement of the surveyor

 

[Momac]

And change the glass fuel bowls for metal.

Glass bowls are permitted if they have the metal heat shields

 

[Elessar]

Glass bowls are permitted if they have the metal heat shields

Fair enough. That’s new. When I did mine they weren’t.
As I said the OP should get the up to date book and go through it methodically.

 

[Mr Googler]

https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/media/268789/ecp-private-boats-ed3_rev2_apr2015_public_final.pdf

i don’t think you have to have a holding tank to pass.....just seacocks on discharge lines.

Obviously you’ll want holding tanks but you don’t have to do it before getting the certificate.....if I’ve read the above link correctly

 

[Elessar]

https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/media/268789/ecp-private-boats-ed3_rev2_apr2015_public_final.pdf

i don’t think you have to have a holding tank to pass.....just seacocks on discharge lines.

Obviously you’ll want holding tanks but you don’t have to do it before getting the certificate.....if I’ve read the above link correctly

Yes correct. It says it must not be operated so a tie wrap and a label on the handle is belt and braces and should definitely satisfy the examiner.
When I did mine I thought a way of stopping it operating was compulsory but that was 15-20 years ago.

 

[Mr Googler]

Or take the handle off ?

then put it back on when they go ?

 

[Robin]

If you have 2 heads, swap one or add a portapuppy(Sp) and have a pee bucket for simple jobs. We lived aboard in USA here they are truly anal about black water discharge. we had combo locks on heads doors and notice saying 'only the captain has the code', just in case we also had cable tie on seacock but it was a removeable one but we passed the CG inspection without that.

 

[ProDave]

Just be aware that at the moment Hamersmith Bridge is shut and likely to be shut for some time, so no passage from tidal to non tital for some time perhaps.

 

[Momac]

Sea boats don't necessarily fail to comply with BSS. I don't think my Sealine had any modifications from the original build , maybe a fire extinguisher or two added and I have added CO detectors which are a relatively new thing but a sensible requirement on any boat.

Often it is things like the fuel pipe for the diesel heater being plastic or absence of means of inspecting fuel tank breathers that lead to BSS failure.

A sea toilet is not a BSS failure if it has a sea cock fitted, which of course they all do . But on the Thames I understand the a holding tank or alternatively a cassette toilet may become essential due to excessively demanding EA requirements.
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