Warnings went out urgently today to RYA Powerboat Instructors. Hubby being one of them received an email to counsel against being confident that CE markings on a powerboat actually meant that the craft was safe!!!
This is ironic given our own situation. The warning refers to an accident suffered by a powerboat instructor who was taking a client on 'own boat tuition' - which means teaching someone on their own craft rather than an instructor or school's craft.
Own boat tuition is often a good idea for new power boat owners if they haven't any previous experience or if they just want to ensure their skills are up to scratch for the level of craft they have purchased.
In the case being warned about by theRoyal Yachting Association, a brand new powerboat complete with full Recreational Directive Markings (the CE mark which is supposed to guarantee compliance with EC safety directives) bluntly, fell apart while they were underway!!!
I quote from the email sent out by the RYA
"On the second day of a recent Powerboat Level Two course an instructor and owner were both thrown from a RIB when the centre console and helm position became detached from the deck. This happened during a gentle turn to starboard at approximately 20 – 25 knots. Fortunately, neither the owner nor the instructor were injured. Upon further inspection it was discovered that the console had only four short self tapping screws securing it to the deck. The boat was brand new and displayed an RCD mark. This incident highlights that it is not always prudent to put ones faith totally in CE markings as a guarantee of satisfactory manufacture and assembly.
Full details of the incident and the ensuing MAIB investigation will be in the next edition of Wavelength. "
(MAIB = Marine Accident Investigation Board.)
It occurs to me that if I personally have experienced buying a brand new powerboat that does not comply with EC markings AND this incident has also happened recently, then something is badly wrong with the powerboat building industry.
My particular boat - A Powercat 525 Evolution was not a cheap purchase at over £37,000. The builders - Powercats of Redruth Cornwall are winners of the Marine Awards 2006 Innovative Boat of the Year, they state they have supplied boats to the Environment Agency and their website emphasizes safety as a 'hallmark' of the Powercat 525. It is heavily marketed towards families.
Yet that didn't mean that our RCD CE marked boat was even fit for purpose or safe to use.
Powercats self certificate their 525 Powercats as they are a Class C craft and under 12 metres long.
I wonder whether it is really wise to allow builders to self certificate ANY class of craft?
Given that people's lives depend on the safety of the vessels in which they put their trust, is it reasonable to believe that boat builders are the right people to decide if they are keeping to the standards required?
Running a business is a tough job. There are people to manage, budgets to keep to, and deadlines to achieve. Is it fair to expect a business to also be its own policeman? Is it safe to do so?
If the CE marks are not to be properly policed by independent third parties, then are they really worth anything at all? Isn't it a confidence trick by the authorities not to make it clear that certain classes of vessels have been certified by the builders themselves?
Until things change I suggest every potential new boat owner should insist on getting a discount on the craft they are buying in order to spend it on a pre delivery full marine survey - just to be safe. If a builder is confident of the quality of their craft then there shouldn't be a problem.
