PCAs Are Useful But Not Always Needed

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American rower Taryn Smith was the first solo woman to finish the 2025 World’s Toughest Row. She is also the first American woman to row solo across the Atlantic. She finished the journey from La Gomera to Antigua in an astonishing 46 days, 3 hours and 37 minutes. BZ

Adam Russell was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 2 years, after driving his speedboat over a 15 year old kayaker. The incident took place in August 2024 on the River Cleddau. Russell was charged with failing to maintain a proper lookout under the Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023. He was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and pay costs totalling nearly £5,000. The teenage kayaker suffered minor injuries but has yet to return to the water.

Full story in PBO.co.uk

Buying your first boat is a BIG THING. There are a whole raft of things you need to think about and for the inexperienced first time buyer that can be pretty daunting. Being able to take a knowledgeable boaty friend along with you on the journey makes sense, but not everyone has one. That’s where 'How To Buy Your First Boat' comes in.

This free 45 page booklet will take you through the key steps you will probably encounter in a typical boat purchase. It will do this in a logical order and with suggestions, tips and advice along the way. It will equip you with enough knowledge to help you go from the first tentative steps of working out what you want, to looking at adverts, to how to view and then buy your first boat, taking the keys for the first time and preparing to head off into the sunset. You will gain the knowledge and confidence you need to make sensible decisions, choose the right boat for you and navigate the buying process from start to finish.

The Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) was introduced back in 1998, a European Union initiative which sets out minimum technical, safety and environmental standards for boats and components.  It applies to all boats between 2.5 and 24m and many marine components built since 1998.  It ensures their suitability for sale and use in the European Economic Area.

The RCD is centred around the requirements to meet operational demands in defined sea state categories and wind strengths. It applies as much to narrowboats as it does to ocean crossing yachts.

The day to day implications of buying a used boat in the UK that was built after the introduction of the RCD are pretty minimal compared to the implications when buying new.  Once a vessel has entered private service there is no requirement for it to stay in specification and comply with the RCD but this may become an issue when the yacht is sold on again or exported to another EU country.

The main thing to check for on any post 1998 yacht is the RCD builders plate which should state what Design Category the boat was built to and what are the maximum people and stores loadings for that category.  Here is an example:

However, there is a very specific RCD problem which applies to narrowboats that have professionally built hulls but were fitted out internally by the buyer, so called home completed or sail-away boats.

These boats cannot be fully CE certified because the works carried out by the buyer fall outside the RCD criteria. There is a caveat within the RCD that says as long as the vessel isn’t sold on within 5 years, there is no requirement to meet the RCD. This is the ‘5 year rule’ as it is known. If the vessel is sold within 5 years a PCA is needed to certify the vessel meets the RCD requirements. Only a Certified Body can do this and issue the appropriate paperwork.

In recent years some brokers have advised sellers of home fitted sail-aways that as their craft lack CE marking they are not legitimate for sale even after 5 years service. This has forced many boats to undergo the PCA process to obtain CE marking.

Some self-builders have stated that meeting this demand has cost them up to £10,000 to satisfy a set of requirements that didn’t apply to their craft. Hampshire Trading Standards have taken the lead on this issue and recently re-issued their original 2010 guidance which clearly defines the 5 year rule and its applicability to home completed craft.

Watercraft Identification Numbers are much like the unique chassis number on your car. Before the RCD was introduced boat builders would use their own numbering systems. Boats built since 1998 should have a standardised 14 character alphanumeric number stamped at least one, preferably twice, on the vessel (one obvious, one discreet).

Here is how to read the East West Marine builder’s plate in the picture above:

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The older I get, the longer it seems to take.

When I started marine surveying I would expect to do a pre-purchase survey of a typical 36’ yacht in about 4 or 5 hours. Now nearly 18 years later, 36 foot is the cut off between a one day or a two day survey. The larger or more complex the vessel, the more likely I am to book it over two days. It’s not because I’ve got slower with age, it’s because I’ve learnt more. Years of ‘Every Day Is A School Day’ has taken its toll and my survey check list has grown from 12 to 19 pages.

On a recent survey of a Cat A 39’ sailing yacht I had the privilege of reading the last two survey reports written in 2025 and 2021. Both done by surveyors with less time under their hammer and both of them cracked it in a day. They both did a fair job but are probably unaware of what they missed or didn’t check. It’s a key learning message I try and pass on to all new surveyors.

When I started surveying I thought I was great; now I know different.

Boat Chat continues to grow well and now has nearly 1000 subscribers across all platforms. It’s all about:

‘Helping People Understand Boats Better’

The White Hat Marine Surveying channel now has over 2,500 subscribers and is growing well. A recent video found some boat anodes that had gone wandering...

With the boating world now getting ready for better weather, why not treat yourself to some new gear for the boat owners or marine surveyors in your life or as a treat for your boat. I have put together several collections on Kit.Co which are all personally recommended items and most of which I own.

From boat safety equipment to books about sailing and the tools and books a marine surveyor needs; there really is something for everyone!

Fitting Out - The period after a ship is launched during which the remaining (mostly interior) construction is completed.

Q. What do you call a sail with only two corners?

A. I haven’t got a clew

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