| 1) |
Book the Examination.
It's always
a good idea to book a Boat Safety Scheme Examination a couple of months before
it's due, since if your boat does fail for any reason, you'll still have
a reasonable amount of time to put things right. Remember that re-examinations must be carried out within 3 months of the initial examination.
If you do pass first time around, the expiry date of your new
certificate can be extended (up to 2 months only) so that you don't lose out on the full four years
validity of your Certificate.
|
| 2) |
Residential boats and the gas system.
If your boat is someone's main residence, and the gas system has
a test point rather than a bubble tester for determining that the system
is free from leaks, then the gas soundness test MUST be carried out by a
registered Gas Safe (formerly CORGI) fitter. either I or you will need to arrange for a Gas Safe
registered fitter to carry out the gas soundness test AT THE TIME OF THE
EXAMINATION. In such cases I recommend the fitting of a bubble tester in advance of the Examination. This will enable you to check your own gas system for leaks and will make the Examination cheaper. |
| 3) |
Prepare
your boat.
Much useful information about the requirements of the Scheme is available
on the Boat Safety Scheme website: http://www.boatsafetyscheme.com.
If you are unclear about anything, contact me, I will be happy
to advise you.
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| 4) |
Before
the Examination.
Collect together all relevant paperwork, it will help if your last Boat Safety Certificate and Appliance Record sheet are available. You may also
have documents demonstrating compliance of equipment on board. Make sure
that everything is in working order. I will want to see all burners on the
gas appliances working, including water heater(s), so you must ensure that
you have sufficient battery capacity, water and gas on board. It will speed
the Examination if the boat is presented in a clean and tidy condition,
remember that I will need to be able to check visible wiring, all fuses, gas
pipe joints, batteries, fuel pipes etc, so make sure that these are all accesible. It will not
be necessary to run the engine during the examination, but if the engine
is boxed in or enclosed, make sure that covers are removed so that it can
be properly examined.
|
| 5) |
On the
day.
It will be helpful if you can attend whilst the Examination is in progress.
Remember that Examiners are not permitted to use tools to gain access to
anything that needs to be examined, so if you are present you can attend
to this. Also, should any item fail to meet the requirements of the Scheme,
I can explain the reason, and offer advice on rectification.
|
| 6) |
The paperwork
After the examination I will give you a copy of the BSS Examination
Report, this is a three page list of all the checks carried out,
any items that do not meet the requirements of the Schme will be marked
on the Report. If the boat has met all the mandatory requirements of the
Boat Safety Scheme you will of course receive the Certificate. You will
also get an Appliance Record which details the results of the gas tests
carried out, lists all of the appliances on board, gives details of the
fire extinguishers and describes the fixed ventilation.
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| 7) |
If it fails
In addition to the Examination Report I will provide a separate sheet describing the points which have not met the Scheme's requirements. I will of course be happy to discuss ways of achieving compliance for these items. It is Boat Safety Scheme policy that only those items which did not meet the requirements at the time of the initial examination need to be checked during a re-examination, provided that the re-examination is within 3 months of the original examination. Re-examinations carried out after 3 calendar months or more are required to be full examinations.
See the BSS Re-examination Policy sheet for full details. |
Does the boat need to be out of the water?.
No, the BSS Examination is not a survey of the condition of the boat, it is simply a check to determine whether the systems on board comply with the requirements of the Scheme, so the boat can be examined either in or out of the water. |
Will you need to run the engine?
No, it is not a requirement that the engine needs to run. |
My water system is drained down for the winter, does that matter?
It depends, all gas appliances must be in running order for the examination so if there is an instantaneous water heater, such as a Paloma, fitted you wil need to refill the water system so that it can be checked. |
What if I live on my boat or rent it to someone, do I have to use a Gas Safe registered examiner?
No, the requirement is that if the boat is someone's main residence, and the gas system has
a test point rather than a bubble tester for determining that the system
is free from leaks, then the gas soundness test must be carried out by a
registered Gas Safe (formerly CORGI) fitter. Either the examiner himself must be registered or a registered fitter can carry out the test at the time of the examination. If a bubble tester is fitted in the gas cylinder locker, any examiner can carry out the test and does not need to be Gas Safe registered. The advantage of a bubble tester is that it enables you to check your own gas system for leaks and will make the Examination cheaper. |
Bubble tester |
Are there some common problems that I can check for?
Yes, most failures are due to lack of maintenance, or alterations that have not been carried out properly. You can check that there are no leaks in the fuel system, that batteries are properly secured and have their terminal covered, that electrical wiring, gas pipes and fuel pipes are properly secured, that fuel tanks and gas lockers are not corroded, that gas cylinders are secured and that there are no heavy items such as anchor, mooring pins, hammer, etc stored in the gas locker. |
I'm sure it will pass, it was OK last time!
The BSS requirement are revised from time to time to help improve safety, so it is possible that, in the 4 years since the last examination a few requirements may have changed. There may have been some deterioration in the condition of items which will necessitate their replacement. Examiners are human, it is always possible that a non-compliant item may have been overlooked last time! |
