Alan de Enfield

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 !

Compliance of "fire fighting equipment" for use on boats with Lithium batteries has been clarified by the RCD technical committee as : So, such as the BMS, high voltage and high temp disconnects. smoke alarms etc are all part of fire fighting equipment Taken from : ISO 26325 referred to above is "Small Craft - Lithium Ion Batteries" and states the following : 7 Fire protection and cell venting 7.1 Fire protection from thermal runaway — Lithium-ion batteries technologies have unique fire characteristics. See Annex A for more information. 7.2 Fire protection from external fires — Consideration should be given to installation of a fire detection system, according to ISO 9094, when batteries are installed in enclosed compartments. When the batteries are installed in spaces susceptible to fire, considerations should be given to installing batteries in containers that provide protection from an external fire. 7.3 Cell venting — Battery installations should be provided with guidance for battery compartment ventilation directly to open air to avoid concentration of gasses if cell venting occurs. Consult with the battery cell manufacturer for ventilation requirements for the battery/battery compartment. When the battery banks are installed in an enclosed habitable space, the battery bank should be installed in a (separate) container allowing for independent ventilation. 

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