Narrowboat Boat Safety Certificate - Tips for BSS

[@NarrowboatNogginTheNog]

Thanks for this. Ours is due next year so I will save this to my favourites.

[@NarrowboatSuperB]

Thanks, hope it helps, just need to replace the glass on the log burner before booking mine in.

[@stevewilliams2158]

Good morning again. Just a point on fire extinguisher/boat length. Boats under 7 mtrs require 2 extinguishers. Boats between 7 and 11 metres require 2 extinguishers. Boats over 11 mtrs require 3 extinguishers. The important thing is the A & B classification numbers 7 mtrs long need to equal 10A/68B when added. 7 to 11 mtrs long need to equal 13A/89B when added. Over 11 mtrs long need to equal 21A/144B when added. Hope that helps. Steve Williams BSS Examiner

[@makinganarrowboatwithnannyandg]

Excellent vlog, Really well explained and nice to see you back 👍

[@NarrowboatSuperB]

Thanks, it's nice to get back into the swing of things.

[@KayakDreadgirl]

This has been so helpful so thank you! Just subscribed and looking forward to catching up with your vids 💯☮️

[@NarrowboatSuperB]

Thank you.

[@dashw900i]

Thank you, very informative

[@NarrowboatSuperB]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevewilliams2158]

Good morning. During a BSS Examination the examiner will not need to see your engine running. It is not a requirement for BSS examination certificates. Hope that helps. Steve Williams. BSS Examiner.

[@NarrowboatSuperB]

Good point Steve, mine just wanted it running to check the exhaust.

[@stevewilliams2158]

One last thing. Change of ownership does not demand new BSS certificates but it is a good recommendation. Also. Only the examiner that failed your boat can retest to his failure list within 3 months. Another examiner is not permitted to. Any more than 3 months beyond the initial examination date will necessitate a full examination again. Hope that helps. Steve Williams, BSS Examiner. IWABSS Limited

[@SCCFORUM]

Is there a charge for a re exam?

[@stevewilliams2158]

@@SCCFORUM that depends on the examiner. The BSS Office leave it to examiner discretion. There is only a ‘mandatory’ fee payable if after initially failing that the repairs are not completed within 3 months. I never charge retest fees. More importantly, it’s not actually a re-test! It is only a check in the items that failed the initial examination. Ask the examiner when booking with them. A lot will charge for coming out to check failure points. Others also charge if you want a certificate. Finally, ask the examiner how long they have been doing examinations. There are a lot of ‘inexperienced’ examiners now and reports of telling people they MUST have leak detectors to pass. That is a lie and is only brought up by unscrupulous boatyards and examiners who are not Gas Safe Registered to incite gas work.

[@SCCFORUM]

@@stevewilliams2158 Hi Steve. Thank you for that reply mate, much appreciated. Do you test in the Shepperton area by any chance? Regards, Paul.

[@NarrowboatSuperB]

I think you get a time period to put things right, a few weeks without a recharge.

[@stevewilliams2158]

@@NarrowboatSuperB Hi. The BSS Mandated rule to examiners is that a retest (check on the initial failure points only) is only permitted up to 3 calendar months from the date of the initial examination. If you go even 1 day over that 3 calendar month period then there has to be a full retest which comes with a full fee, which means you may pass what was initially found but the examiner could fail your boat on something new. That is a BSS Rule imposed on examiners. We have no choice in it. As for retest fees within the 3 month period (which as I said is only checking the initial failure points) the BSS does not require examiners to charge anything and leaves the option to charge to individual examiners. I do it for nothing. My fee includes everything, including a revisit if necessary. I know examiners who charge for everything. There is even a guy offering examinations for a starting price of £59.00 but beware, when he gets there he will do the exam and then add on his extras, like our fee from BSS (£55.00 +VAT) diesel, system registration etc. For info, once an examiner completes an examination, he has no choice other than to record it and issue you with a pdf file from the BSS database which is either your pass certificate or a detailed failure certificate listing each ECP failure point and telling you what is required to make good. If an Examiner only gives you a written list or Form E, demand your Examination Record form and if necessary call the BSS office to complain. Hope that helps. Steve W

[@chow24]

Some boats I have seen on vlogers channels look like there about to sink....and never had bss .So whats going on there

[@NarrowboatSuperB]

The BSS only covers gas, batteries, engine, and not the actual structural integrity of the boat, but you are correct, some do look as if they need a lick of paint.

[@gillcooper108]

Why every four years and not three or five?

[@NarrowboatSuperB]

It's just how it is, maybe 4 years is about the time when things could need replace/repair.

[@stevewilliams2158]

Good evening. Just a little insider knowledge. CRT and EA are exploring changing the frequency to every two years according to out local waterways chaplain. I was talking with him at Barbridge yesterday and he said the chaplains are struggling as it is with helping people out. I don’t think it is manageable. There are insufficient Gas Safe Registered examiners for the in-scope boats as it is without doubling the frequency. Of course everyone thinks that an Alde leak detector is the answer when in most cases, they introduce immediately dangerous situations into a gas system. More GOOD examiners are what is needed. Quantity does not make quality!

[@dominicgodfrey8015]

£180 For half a day's work (Old Boys club)