Alan de Enfield

And in the UK :- Running out of fuel on UK roads directly triggers strict legal and financial penalties. Under Rule 97 of The Highway Code, motorists must confirm they have sufficient petrol or diesel before beginning any journey. Failing to do so classifies an empty tank as a completely avoidable breakdown. Police officers routinely issue fixed penalty notices for £100 and endorse three penalty points on driving licences for drivers causing obstructions. This specific motoring offence scales into severe careless driving charges, limitless fines, and immediate driving disqualifications, triggering severe financial strain through unlimited traffic fines if a dry tank precipitates a serious collision.

You are correct - it was "an inconvenience" and the "primarily a cottage industry" that is the UK canal boat builders, and the likes of the RYA (who were responsible for administering the RCD), decided to misinterpret the DIY rules. The rest of the countries affected by the RCD seem to have applied the DIY rule as intended. The Trading Standards had 'bigger fish to fry' so few cases were bought to court, howver, since the legal decision in 2024 many brokers are now demanding that if there is no RCD/RCR paperwork that a PCA must be undertaken at a cost of something around £3000-£5000 A fit out of a sailaway boat is 'major work' and should require a PCA (for stability on the finished boat, if nothing else) ‘Major Craft Conversion’ would be applicable to the fit out of the majority of sailaway boats, and needs to be factored in when planning your fit out. Once you have completed the fit out of your sailway boat, the boat would require a Post Construction Assessment and the documentation, builders plate and CE markings all need to be updated. Although a self assessment is possible, it is not recommended as the fitter would resume all responsibility as the manufacturer and it is also a lengthy and involved process. In the worse case scenario, it could mean you are held criminally responsible if the boat sank and there was loss of life. It is recommended that you appoint a professional to complete the post construction assessment, this would be at of cost of around £3000-£5000 One example of the 'correct' rules being applied ..........

But. as as clarified many years ago by the RCD, and subsequently a legal review in 2024, the 5 year exemption was only for boats built by the owner - NOT just a "fit out" It is only a DIY boat if both the hull and the fit out are done by the owner. Brokers have started to include this in their Q&A's Here is ABNB's explanation ............. ABNB Brokers statement : Statement re Self builds and sailaways. RCD compliance The exception to the above, is for a vessel that has been self-built in its entirety (including the shell) by a DIY boatbuilder for their own personal use. However, if the vessel is placed on the market within 5 years, it must be CE marked to satisfy the requirements of the RCR (RCD). The vessel does not have to be complete for the 5 year period to start, but does have to have been used as a boat (e.g. cruised on a waterway). The '5-year rule' does not apply to a private boatbuilder who is building a boat for their own use from a shell or sailaway that has been purchased from a professional builder. These vessels have to be assessed under Post Construction Assessment by an Approved Body when put into service. In the Inland Waterways, the industry as a whole believed that a self-fitted out boat fell under the 5-year rule, ie. as long as the boat owner kept the boat for 5 years, it did not need to comply with the RCD and could be sold legally. However, a recent Independent legal review and clarification from Trading Standards in early 2024 has highlighted that this is not the case.

Au Pair ?

Unfortunately a common problem found on Trad/Semi trad sterns, its certainly one of the benefits of a cruiser stern where you can get into the engine 'ole and readily be 'on top of' the weed hatch and even a 'short armed' person can reach right down to the shaft, and, even the bottom of the prop. If you cannot reach down enough to get to the shaft you are going to have big problems when you need to start cutting off rope, wire, matresses and other assorted detritus.

You can get 10% in Asia - but no protection if the bank goes 'bump'.

I think it is more likely to be a Tilt-Lock to hold it permanently 'up' when on a trailer. The reverse lock is normally automatic (well it was on my Yammy's, and other makes)

LadyG seems to disagree .................

But manual trim and tilt is commom - the problem with the photo is it does not show the location of the 'butttons' so there is no context for their possible function. Judging by the pictogram - they appear to lock and unlock something - it may be the lock for transporting to stop it banging up and down on a trailer ?

The Gubbermint already pays boaters moorings & licence (and in some cases insurance) if the boater is getting 'benefits'. I assisted a couple of boaters in 'our marina' to get it paid.

Well not really - it is a private waterway (it was recently sold) It was/ is the River Witham and was canalised by the Romans to allow them access to the River Trent, and, subsequently by the Vikings to get their raiding parties into the midlands'. C&RT do not own the canal/river but the owner allows C&RT licence holders to pass along it.

The difference between rivers and canals is primarily that on canal you can just pull in and moor 'anywhere', whilst on rivers the banks are owned by the land owner and you are not allowed to 'just moor up'. It is not unknown for the land owner to turn up and charge you a mooring fee. You should only moor at the proper, authorised, locations where pontoons or moorings are provided. Secondly - if your pins are bending, then thay are not suitable for the job - get some better. stronger ones - folks do go wizzing past on the canals as well.

But, if the boater cannot afford the mooring the tax payers will provide one for him - "Benefits before bullets !"

That's pretty clever - get the test done years in advance before they change the rules !