The information below is designed to give you peace of mind that our boats meet all the requirements set by various independent organisations and are safe and legal for you to cruise.

Recreational Craft Directive (RCD)

This is a European Directive and at point-of-build all our boats met all the requirements set out in order to receive a HIN (Hull Identification Number) and CE mark.  Without these, the boat cannot be registered and licensed.

Boat Safety Scheme (BSS)

The BSS is a public safety initiative operated by the Canal & River Trust and Environment Agency.

The test for this is carried out every 4 years, and in summary it is designed to minimise the risk of boat fires, explosions, pollution and to ensure adequate ventilation.  Think of it as an MoT for boats, and without it, a boat cannot be licensed.

Licence and Registration

Assuming all is well with the BSS, a registration number, unique and similar to a car number plate, is issued to the boat.  A registered boat with a BSS certificate in place just needs the licence fee paid each year for the Canal & River Trust to issue the licence.

Gas

Our boats use gas for cooking, and in most cases heating too.  Just like a rented apartment, these installations need to be checked each year by a Gas Safe registered engineer before the necessary certificate is issued.

Carbon Monoxide

Our Carbon Monoxide alarms pass the most robust testing process, making them suitable for boats where conditions can upset the monitoring capability of standard units.