buying a narrowboat that ISN'T RCR compliant - bad idea?

[magpie patrick]

1 hour ago, Tonka said:

You are now an entrepaneer

 

1 hour ago, MtB said:

Yes I've always liked Indian food.

 

I will admit my thoughts were that MtB was now a starter made from cheese! 

 

36 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Well, why did he buy a brand new boat without getting a BSC, how can it be insured and licenced assuming it is on CRT waters?

 

As far as I'm aware new boats don't have a BSC as they are supposed to be RCR complaint - it's a bit like the MOT on a car. I've never been able to afford a new boat though so I'm not sure on this

[Alan de Enfield]

41 minutes ago, MrsM said:

As far as we could tell (hubby designs submarines so is pretty clued up on boaty things). It was also CE and HIN stamped on the hull but I guess one can never be 100% sure. 

 

 

If it is compliant, that is one of the requirements.

Edited February 4, 2025 by Alan de Enfield

[SoggyBottom]

I heard they’re going to scrap RCR altogether.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

3 minutes ago, SoggyBottom said:

I heard they’re going to scrap RCR altogether.

Welcome to the forum. Where have you heard this? An official consultation, or towpath rumour?

[LadyG]

As long as someone can make a few quid by signing off something, it will never be dropped..., unless replaced with something more profitable.

[Phoenix_V]

Apart from asking the original builder if still around or the authorised rcr issuer if used there does not seem to be any way of proving a certificate genuine. There is however this which may be of use to some - I tried my HIN on it and it worked for me, giving name of builder and date of assesment.

 

https://www.boatfax.com/index.php?option=com_shared_hin_validator

 

[MrsM]

1 hour ago, Tonka said:

Submarines sink and float

Boats shouldn't sink 

FTFY 😁

[ditchcrawler]

2 hours ago, LadyG said:

  

Well, why did he buy a brand new boat without getting a BSC, how can it be insured and licenced assuming it is on CRT waters?

Anyway, one would think most boats can be Certified without undue expence.

A new boat with RCR certification does not require a BSS inspection until its 4 years old. Would you expect a MOT on a brand new car?

[LadyG]

4 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

A new boat with RCR certification does not require a BSS inspection until its 4 years old. Would you expect a MOT on a brand new car?

A BSC is not required on most new boats , but is required if it is later put on a UK inland waterway.

Edited February 4, 2025 by LadyG

[MrsM]

4 minutes ago, LadyG said:

A BSC is not required on most new boats , but is required if it is put on a UK inland waterway.

From the CRT website:

 

[Alan de Enfield]

14 minutes ago, LadyG said:

A BSC is not required on most new boats , but is required if it is put on a UK inland waterway.

 

You don't have a clue - do you !

Edited February 4, 2025 by Alan de Enfield

[Tonka]

10 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

You don't have a clue - do you !

Your a bit slow, Alan.

If your not careful, she will put you on ignore like she has done to me

[LadyG]

Hes been on ignore for a few years.

[Tonka]

8 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Hes been on ignore for a few years.

How did you see that?

[blackrose]

Who here has a fully RCR compliant narrow boat? Just wondered...

[Alan de Enfield]

23 minutes ago, blackrose said:

Who here has a fully RCR compliant narrow boat? Just wondered...

 

Due to the ability for commercial NB builders to self certify, I'm sure there are dozens of NBs that have a certificate saying they comply, whether they actually do is another question, and, if a number of recent posts regarding 'boarding', 'strong points', boot-lace ferrules termination of cables, etc etc can be believed it may suggest that few actually are.

 

Remember that the boat does not have to be built to the various ISO specifications, but, if it is not, then independent evidence can be requested to show that 'your' method gives at least equal, or better performance, than that required in the relevant ISO.

Edited February 4, 2025 by Alan de Enfield

[Paul C]

A boatbuilder who makes their living from building boats would hold more sway than the average forum poster, though. So, broadly, you'd have to take the fact that they've put their name to it and says it complies, at face value.

[Beats88]

Well, went to the survey today and don’t think rcr is the main issue right now anyway! Inspection hatch at stern showed couple of inches of rusty coloured water! Surveyor kept pretty quiet after seeing it, but did confirm it wasn’t oily. Will have to see what the report says but not sounding good right?!? 

[matty40s]

1 hour ago, blackrose said:

Who here has a fully RCR compliant narrow boat? Just wondered...

Not me, absolutely not. Perish the thought.

Hull built  and boat fitted out 1990, change of engine 1996.

[LadyG]

56 minutes ago, Beats88 said:

Well, went to the survey today and don’t think rcr is the main issue right now anyway! Inspection hatch at stern showed couple of inches of rusty coloured water! Surveyor kept pretty quiet after seeing it, but did confirm it wasn’t oily. Will have to see what the report says but not sounding good right?!? 

I'm not sure where this is, it could  mean the bilges are full of rusty water, or is it the engine bay which has taken in rainwater and not been dried out so its gone rusty. 

Boats can vary a lot in design and construction. What I would be interested in is the thickness of the hull., sides and baseplate.

These boats are constructed of steel plates of different thicknesses which are welded together. 

Generally they are coated in order to prevent corrosion. 

The steel hull may have pits, which means the steel is not as thick as it was, when the pits are eg 3mm in a 6mm steel, then it is a worry,  This is the sort of thing which the surveyor should pick up.

If a boat has been unattended for a while some rusty water may or may not be a concern! 

The propellor shaft usually goes through the hull inside a tube, and this can allow water in to the engine bay. When moving the boat a greaser is occasionally turned manually to counteract this source of water. Other designs are used.

Edited February 4, 2025 by LadyG

[Alan de Enfield]

10 minutes ago, Beats88 said:

Inspection hatch at stern showed couple of inches of rusty coloured water!

 

It wasn't the weed-hatch was it ?

[Tonka]

10 minutes ago, Beats88 said:

Well, went to the survey today and don’t think rcr is the main issue right now anyway! Inspection hatch at stern showed couple of inches of rusty coloured water! Surveyor kept pretty quiet after seeing it, but did confirm it wasn’t oily. Will have to see what the report says but not sounding good right?!? 

Did he not speak to you about it at the time

[Beats88]

Yea Hull all good, and was the cabin bilge inspection hatch in the bedroom (standard layout - semi trad). No he didn’t think it was from engine bay, and checked it for oil. Though it did look exactly like the water from the engine bay. Could that get through the bulkhead?!? 

[LadyG]

15 minutes ago, Beats88 said:

Yea Hull all good, and was the cabin bilge inspection hatch in the bedroom (standard layout - semi trad). No he didn’t think it was from engine bay, and checked it for oil. Though it did look exactly like the water from the engine bay. Could that get through the bulkhead?!? 

Lol, your best to ask the surveyor. I believe some [older] boats are "wet bilge" by design. 

Some of the older boats [25+years] which are not insulated with foam could drip with condensation which ends up in the bilges, not by design!

There are so many different design considerations, construction standards, and lifetime maintenance that there is no one answer.

PS I'm only discussing stuff I've picked up on from my own boat and forum comments over the last five years. I'm sure some folks will have other ideas.

PPS There are some who add negative emojies on every comment I make. Even if it is completely uncontroversial

 

Edited February 4, 2025 by LadyG

[robtheplod]

I've been following this thread with interest... realising I dont have any 'certificate' for our boat as such but do have a PDF 'declaration'....... does this count in the scheme of things? 

 

Edited February 5, 2025 by robtheplod