The Dreaded BSS

[Guest]

Currently going through the BSS on a Sealine 365 which has done sterling service outside of the BSS jurisdiction for ten years.
I now have to spend hundreds of pounds getting perfectly good fuel lines, vents, etc replaced to satisfy someone who has done a two week course on 'Boat Safety'.
If my boat is acceptable for use everywhere in the world apart from few bureaucrat driven places, what is the legallity of BSS considering the river Thames is a Queen's Highway and should be open to all who wish to use it?
What is the RYA doing about this legalised wallet lightening?
Is there a contact for legal advice or even a second opinion on necessary 'repairs'?
Why do we never see statistics regarding the number and type of boating accidents before and after BSS ?
This will be my last year based on the upper Thames.
After eighteen years the jobsworths have driven me out !!
Anyone else in the same mood ??!!

 

[Guest]

I had the same problem when I sailed up the Severn
for the winter.
Stick a piece of wood between the water and fuel
caps cos then there on different decks??
Yes and all the rest including.Make big holes
all over the boat.
I just sailed back out again in the spring,
with boat intacked.

 

[Guest]

The BSS is a load of old tat. Much of it is nonsense and applies to petrol engines. As regards your fuel lines, it depends who the Inspector is. Some read it as "when a fuel line needs replacing it must be replaced with one that conforms with the new spec"
The BSS has driven more boats off the Thames than ENVAG will admit to. I can't speak for other rivers but I assume they too have lost punters to seaports.

 

[Guest]

Me to...I am based up at Marlow. I am facing a bill for a few thousands so when push comes to shove I will be leaving. I wouldn't mind if it was common sense stuff or even if I thought the recommendations would continue to be enforced for more than a couple of years. But they aren't and i don't, hence my questions about good places to go on the lower thames on a previous posting.

 

[Guest]

Jeeze! Martin! I wish Envag were reading your message. The really cannot understand why they are losing so many registrations. I guess they will be happy when there's no one left but their Patrol Launches.

 

[Guest]

don't panic . i thought that the bss was under review with 80% of what was compulsory now becoming optional.

i had my boat tested in feb this year , the examiner insisted that i cut six 6" holes in the roof and remove so much of the doors they would look like saloon bar doors. my reply was colourful to say the least and i protested in the strongest terms direct to the bss department. there reply was "don't worry you won't have to do that now the rules have changed".

so i was lucky but just think what a state my boat would be in if i had followed the instructions of the bss examiner .

 

[Guest]

Believe me I have explained this to them in fairly basic language!

There is a brand new Princess of the same type moored just 100 yards away.. same boat, same design, same risks...just a few years away from the same bill and the same reaction. If everyone got the bill at the same time the mass reaction would be easily seen. This way we all just disappear a few at a time.