Visitors Licence & Boat Safety Certificate

Greg2

Greg2

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Thinking of going up the Thames for our summer cruise but we don't have a Boat Safety Certificate. Boat pretty much complies with the requirements of BSC and according to the EA website visitors have to sign to say the boat complies. Lock keeper at Teddington says you actually have to have a BSC albeit I think he may have misconstrued what I was saying.

The question is, from experience, can anyone tell me if I actually need a BSC and if not do they conduct an inspection?

Thanks in advance.
 
No you don't need one if you are on a temporary licence, but you do have to certify that your boat complies.

Sounds like you confused the Teddington Lock keeper.
 
From the back of the SPR application form ...

Boat Safety Scheme

I confirm that i have read the Boat Safety Scheme Essential Guide for non hire craft or 2002 Guide for Hire Craft ( available as described below ). I certify that it complies in every respect with the safety standard requirements set out in that guide or the Recreational Craft Directive ( for launches first placed on the market since 16 Spetember 1996 ). I will not navigate this launch on the River Thames unless these conditions are complied with. I understand that the Environment Agency may require me to provde information confirming compliance with these conditions or to require my launch to be inspected.

So you sign to say that you comply , not that you actually have a BSC.

Hope that helps. :)
 
"The question is, from experience, can anyone tell me if I actually need a BSC and if not do they conduct an inspection? "

Having visted a few times can confirm that you will not be subjected to a stem to stern inspection or intimate full body search when you attempt to gain access to the hallowed waters of the Thames.
Just turn up with all the other visitors who regularly go through the lock everyday.
You will be locked in and probably asked to moor up just up above on the right and walk back when you have recovered from your ordeal to pay your fees and scribble on their bit of paper.The lockies are very busy and can then get back to playing cards or ogling porn sites or whatever.
Enjoy your visit,first place to stop is Hampton Court,but wherever you moor do it early,cos the parking spots always fill up early with tin slugs and Pedros.
 
Last edited:
Brayman said:
No you don't need one if you are on a temporary licence, but you do have to certify that your boat complies.

Sounds like you confused the Teddington Lock keeper.
Click to expand...

Muts have been a Summer Assistant....

Correction: There are no SA's; they don't exist, well they definitely don't in this neck of the woods.

For the record I'm currently moored in the offline bit above Culham Lock (and very nice and quiet it is too). Not wanting to waste 30mins: of valuable cruising time (OOPPSS in operation at 18:45), I wound back to this place in order to stick pins into efigies of all levels of Thames management....
 
What's up, Doc?

Little book says Culham should have summer assistance in July/August. Ask lockie tomorrow and let us know what he has to say.

Dont get too carried away with the sticking pins in effigies - anyways, where did you manage to find effigies? Not been doing the Blue Peter thingy, have you ......oh, come to think of it very suitable - TrueBlue does Blue Peter .....:D
 
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