Has anybody tried to go through the CE certification by himself?
I plan to buy a Mac Gregor this year and will probably want to take it with me when I go back to Europe some 3 years from now.
I know that you have to make some modifications to comply with EU standards but I am not sure if you can do those mods by yourself and then have it certified.
I found some dealers who do the certification with new boats for the EU market but couldnt find anybody providing such services for "private endusers".
would be thankfull for any info and suggestions.
CE certification
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Chip Hindes
- Admiral
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There was a long and heated thread a few years ago about the requirement for CE certification for newer boats sold in the EU. I don't remember what the conclusion was, but I can tell you my company has had a number of products CE certified and I would say it's totally cost prohibitive on a one-shot basis. You will get no help from MacGregor doing your own boat as they have a subsidary, I believe run by Roger's daughter and son-in-law, which handles these things for EU bound boats; they're completley not interested in helping you do it on the cheap.
When we had the original discussion, Macs were selling in Europe for approx 2x what they were selling for here. It's probable a fair chunk of that was For the CE rating. Today the exchange rate is more favorable to the Euro, but still...
It's probable the requirements are specifically designed to prevent people from doing exactly what you're planning to do. I'm not saying not to do it, I'm just saying do all your homework and make sure you're don't get surprised.
When we had the original discussion, Macs were selling in Europe for approx 2x what they were selling for here. It's probable a fair chunk of that was For the CE rating. Today the exchange rate is more favorable to the Euro, but still...
It's probable the requirements are specifically designed to prevent people from doing exactly what you're planning to do. I'm not saying not to do it, I'm just saying do all your homework and make sure you're don't get surprised.
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Morimaro
- Chief Steward
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- Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2004 8:23 am
- Location: Wokingham Berkshire U.K.
RCD EU Certification etc.
Here's an initial extract from info on RCD on the Royal Yachting Association website (www.rya.org.uk)
"Virtually all recreational craft built since 16 June 1998 and intended for sport and leisure use, may only be placed on the EEA market or put into service within the EEA if they meet the essential safety requirements set out in the Recreational Craft Directive – 2003/44/EC." it then has a lot of info regarding the RCD.
What MacGregor do is to modify completed boats at a factory next door to their plant in CA. A couple of the major mods are to replace all the US wiring with RCD approved wiring and to move the battery from inside the cabin to the console in the cockpit.
A second consideration is that all boats (new or second hand) imported to the EU incur a VAT (Value Added Tax) charge usually at point of entry.
Although the above does explain some of the higher cost of Mac's in EU, the main reason is the market still perceives the local price charged as good, so as long as local competion has high prices MacGregor make a nice profit in dollars for boats sold in EU.
"Virtually all recreational craft built since 16 June 1998 and intended for sport and leisure use, may only be placed on the EEA market or put into service within the EEA if they meet the essential safety requirements set out in the Recreational Craft Directive – 2003/44/EC." it then has a lot of info regarding the RCD.
What MacGregor do is to modify completed boats at a factory next door to their plant in CA. A couple of the major mods are to replace all the US wiring with RCD approved wiring and to move the battery from inside the cabin to the console in the cockpit.
A second consideration is that all boats (new or second hand) imported to the EU incur a VAT (Value Added Tax) charge usually at point of entry.
Although the above does explain some of the higher cost of Mac's in EU, the main reason is the market still perceives the local price charged as good, so as long as local competion has high prices MacGregor make a nice profit in dollars for boats sold in EU.
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Chip Hindes
- Admiral
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- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:13 am
- Location: West Sand Lake, NY '01X, "Nextboat" 50HP Tohatsu
If you're really serious and are thinking a new boat, I would check with the factory before you buy. If the price is right, I don't see why Roger Mac wouldn't be interested in selling a new CE certified boat for delivery in the U.S. Don't know if there are any CE mods that would make the boat undeliverable in the U.S., and it might well be easier to modify a CE boat for use in the U.S. than vice versa.
From what Morimaro says, it appears you should be OK if you buy a pre Jun '98 X boat. Four 97s and earlier and two '98s are listed in the classifieds on this website. Most '98s should be pre-June as they start building the new model year in August or so.
From what Morimaro says, it appears you should be OK if you buy a pre Jun '98 X boat. Four 97s and earlier and two '98s are listed in the classifieds on this website. Most '98s should be pre-June as they start building the new model year in August or so.
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mikelinmon
- First Officer
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- Location: Marina Del Rey, CA
I am a dealer, Mike Inmon, and you will need to go through Sharp Industries to get EU registration for your Mac. It must be done before you purchase the boat! Call them @ 949 642-9691. This is their number, not mine so I am not trying to sell you anything, just helping you avoid a mistake of buying before CE instead of after.
Mike Inmon
Mike Inmon
CE certification
first of all, thanks for all the replies and ideas - it is great to have such a forum available.
I did some more research in the meantime and here is what i got:
As to the idea of buying an older boat (pre 98), unfortunately the RCD says that it applies to any boat built after 98 OR put in use in the EU after 98.
As for buying a CE certified boat here - i contacted Sharp inc. unfortunately they cannot sell in US.
I also found another dealer here in US who says he can do (and does) the CE certification (globaltradepartners) but didnt get back from them yet.
As for Mike Inmon's suggestion to have to boat registered before buying. i think that this mostly applies for new boats. With a used (second hand) boat i should still be able to have it certified as Post construction assessment (see Appendix 11 of the RCD). the question is how much would that cost me. It seems that the RYA even provides quotes for these services - I will try to get one soon.
One more question for Chip - you mentioned you had some other products CE certified here in US - how does that work? who is approved to do the certification here?
I did some more research in the meantime and here is what i got:
As to the idea of buying an older boat (pre 98), unfortunately the RCD says that it applies to any boat built after 98 OR put in use in the EU after 98.
As for buying a CE certified boat here - i contacted Sharp inc. unfortunately they cannot sell in US.
I also found another dealer here in US who says he can do (and does) the CE certification (globaltradepartners) but didnt get back from them yet.
As for Mike Inmon's suggestion to have to boat registered before buying. i think that this mostly applies for new boats. With a used (second hand) boat i should still be able to have it certified as Post construction assessment (see Appendix 11 of the RCD). the question is how much would that cost me. It seems that the RYA even provides quotes for these services - I will try to get one soon.
One more question for Chip - you mentioned you had some other products CE certified here in US - how does that work? who is approved to do the certification here?
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Chip Hindes
- Admiral
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- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:13 am
- Location: West Sand Lake, NY '01X, "Nextboat" 50HP Tohatsu
Sounds like a whole boatload of Catch 22s.
Hard to believe there's no exceptions for older, pre-CE '98 boats. Seems like it virtually guarantees no boats of any vintage will ever be imported to the EU. I smell politics. Did the French write this regulation? Can you say Group Beneteau (Beneteau, Jeanneau, Lagoon)?
I wonder if Sharp actually can't sell in the US or just doesn't care to. I assume you inquired as to the possibility of purchasing a US spec boat and then turning it over to them for the required mods and certs.
Much of the heat in the original discussion centered around the claim by one of the participants that the EU was driving the used boat market and had become so world-dominant that the requirement for CE certification in the EU would virtually kill the used boat market in the US. He insisted we should all be buying CE certified boats in order to preserve our resale values. Then as now, the logic behind this claim was pretty bogus; apparenlty it's not even possible, let alone advisable.
Regarding independent CE cert, I never said it was done here, I just said we'd had it done. I didn't have anything to do with it, in fact I believe our stuff was done in England by an outfit which specializes in electronic equipment; we make electronic instruments. I would assume something like a boat would be done by somebody who specializes in boats, etc.
All I can say is good luck.
Hard to believe there's no exceptions for older, pre-CE '98 boats. Seems like it virtually guarantees no boats of any vintage will ever be imported to the EU. I smell politics. Did the French write this regulation? Can you say Group Beneteau (Beneteau, Jeanneau, Lagoon)?
I wonder if Sharp actually can't sell in the US or just doesn't care to. I assume you inquired as to the possibility of purchasing a US spec boat and then turning it over to them for the required mods and certs.
Much of the heat in the original discussion centered around the claim by one of the participants that the EU was driving the used boat market and had become so world-dominant that the requirement for CE certification in the EU would virtually kill the used boat market in the US. He insisted we should all be buying CE certified boats in order to preserve our resale values. Then as now, the logic behind this claim was pretty bogus; apparenlty it's not even possible, let alone advisable.
Regarding independent CE cert, I never said it was done here, I just said we'd had it done. I didn't have anything to do with it, in fact I believe our stuff was done in England by an outfit which specializes in electronic equipment; we make electronic instruments. I would assume something like a boat would be done by somebody who specializes in boats, etc.
All I can say is good luck.