Whats all this nonsense....

Although I do note that the scuttlebuteurope thing seems to be derived from the first blog. You'll have to excuse my sceptisism when it comes to journalists' abilities to report things properly, rather than re-hashing something they heard and getting it wrong. It's probably due to me being a grumpy old git and not having been sailing for too long. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I'm sure they are right really, but, thank goodness, my boat is too old to have an rcd code, or a vat receipt, or any of the other hassles of modern life.
 
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my boat is too old to have an rcd code, or a vat receipt, or any of the other hassles of modern life.

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I was just thinking the same, smugness returns to MAB owners /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

On a serious point, if this has been reported correctly, then this could lead to the creation of a 'qualified boat bodger' who, like a a corgi gasfitter, is certified to carry out changes in accordance with the RCD....
 
The trouble is of course that there are so many idiotic rulings that come from the Euro asylum that it becomes impossible to differentiate between real edicts and comedy ones.

Except that the more eccentric are propably the real ones
 
I'm afraid this report is true. I have the Megawat report on my desk. It is a fairly dense paper with lots of metallurgy and stress diagrams but the bottom line is that an autopilot arm was retrofitted incorrectly in such a way that a notch was created which lead to failure.

The report includes a letter from the European Commission which includes this statement:

' A product which has been subject to important changes that aim to modify its original perormance, purpose or type after it has been put into service, may be considered a new product'

The steering system is an 'essential requirement' of RCD certification. Since the stock, after modification, no longer met RCD standards, it is deemed the yacht's certifate was no longer valid. There is logic in this but in my view it is putting a responsibility on the RCD it was never intended to bear.

The RCD is a builder's standard and indicates that, 'at the time of being placed on the market' it was fit for a certain purpose. What happens to a yacht subsequently is not the concern of the directive. It is a murky area but the implication of the ruling is that any boat that comes up for resale should re recertificated to take into consideration any modifications during the current ownership. I am not convinced this is what the Lords Commissioners of the EU intended.

A second part of the Megawat report is equally important. It contains a searing indictment of the servicing of the yacht's liferaft (which failed to inflate) and again jumps to an important conclusion with financial implications for all of us. It directs that 'The Maritime Safety Directorate should publish a Marine Notice recommending non-SOLAS/MED liferaft to be serviced only by authorised agents appointed by the manufacturer.

There will be more on both topics in the forthcoming issues of the yachting titles, I'm sure.
 
My bananas are of the correct length, and the radial shape conforms to the Euro standard.

My boat will not conform to anything that the Europrats decree, I will therefore deregister and become a pirate.
I have been unable to find any Euro directives regarding proscribing rules on 'Piracy on the High Seas'.
 
What about registering the boat with that old fort off the East Coast (Sea island ?) They are not part of the EU, are they ?

Praps even get them to fill you up with duty free red diesel !
 
Last I heard the place was for sale. Not often you get the opportunity to buy a country, even a quite small one.
 
Extend this to your car. If you fit a handsfree device, it ought to undergo re homologation and certification testing for electrical safety. Or changing tyres, fit non approved makes or size. Oil to be correctly certified type/brand approved combination?

Bring it back to the boat. Change the sails?
The running rigging?
The standing rigging?
A non authorised light bulb?
A screw to hold the fire extinguisher to the bulkhead requires the bulkhead to be restressed?
Guard Wires?

Mandatory eveerything anyone?


bunchanobbas.
 
[ QUOTE ]
My bananas are of the correct length, and the radial shape conforms to the Euro standard.

My boat will not conform to anything that the Europrats decree, I will therefore deregister and become a pirate.
I have been unable to find any Euro directives regarding proscribing rules on 'Piracy on the High Seas'.

[/ QUOTE ]

This will solve global warming - read the open letter at http://www.venganza.org/ and believe.
 
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