UK inland waterways Boat Safety Certificate

[bray]

Hi

My MF895 is 4 years old and based on the river Thames. It has not been modified since new but still failed the required BSC on 13 basic points. Has anyone else with a MF had experience of a boat safety inspection on their boat, and if so could advise me how they met the requirements, in particular to provide access for the examination of fuel and gas hoses along their entire length especially to provide inspection of the undersides of the fuel filler caps? The original LPG gas hose doesn't meet the UK BS specification which surprised me. Thanks

[merryboater]

I think you might be better off posting this question on the Thames forum on YBW.com as most owners on here won’t likely even know what a BSS is.

I’m sorry I can’t answer your question, but I do feel your pain because I am all for boat safety but a new boat is fine to not to require a BSS for 4 years, but once that 4 years is up then to be told that according to the BSS scheme your boat hasn’t been safe for the past 4 years!  Your boat is safe enough at a marina on the coast where it could be an explosion waiting to happen but it doesn’t require a BSS as it’s not on a river or canal???

A BSS is supposed to be the equivalent of a car MOT, but an MOT will only inspect what the MOT tester can see and my understanding is that the BSS covers the same criteria as it can’t expect a boat owner to strip their boat down so every fuel/gas line and electrical cable/connector can be inspected.

Good luck and apologies for the rant😀

[bray]

Hi

Thanks for taking the trouble to post and you've echoed my thoughts exactly .