Therefore, the onus is on boat builders and boat yards to follow voluntary standards, which include those established by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC). With the exception of those governing navigation lights, fire extinguishers and a few others, recreational, diesel-powered vessels are exempt from these requirements. Where construction details are concerned, specifically electrical, fuel and ventilation systems, only gasoline-powered vessels are required to meet a set of guidelines, laws if you will, set forth in the US Code of Federal Regulations. What were the standards when it was built?” In a world where so much is governed by standards, automobiles, aviation, building construction and commercial shipping, my response no doubt came as a surprise to him, as it does to so many boat owners, “There were no standards in effect when the vessel was built, and there are none today, at least none that US boat builders, and repair yards, are required to follow by law”. In a discussion with a client recently, regarding an inspection I carried out aboard his four year old vessel, he said, “I’m surprised at the number of electrical faults, nearly all of which seem to have been there from the start. Doing so reminded me of the importance of this subject, and just how much misunderstanding surrounds it. A few days ago I completed an article for a boating magazine, in which I offered advice for those attending upcoming boat shows, covering, among other things, the standards to which boats are built.
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