[C320-list] Washboards and regulations

[Tbuilder at aol.com]

Hi Annie - good to hear from you. On our first 320 I could only ever store  2 
washboards beside the engine box - the third one was stored in the cockpit  
locker. Our UK charter regulations require that in the event of a total  
knockdown and roll over - heaven forbid - the washboards must stay in place in  the 
hatchway. I therefore fitted a small bolt on each board with a corresponding  
hole drilled in the companionway frame. The bolts took up too much room to 
allow  storage of the three boards.
 
We have fairly complex regulations in UK to code a boat for charter or  
sailing school use - the current book runs to 182 pages - but I never had any  
serious problems with getting approval. Most of it was fairly minor  bureaucracy 
like not have the forehatch hinged on the aft end - can't do much  about it 
with the trapezoid shape of the hatch so the solution was a wee notice  saying 
"to be kept locked at sea" !!!!! 
 
Other items were fairly basic stuff like gas and smoke alarms,  jack  stays, 
liferaft, numbers of flares, bilgepumps, lifejackets etc etc. A  stability 
calculation was also required 
 
Did your licensing authority come up with any really nasty or  impossible 
requirements? I would be interested to know.
 
FIGMENT III - #1081 - is now due to arrive at Southampton on 28th March and  
then it will take about a week to get her set up for coding by the MCA -  
Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
 
Sitting up really late most nights just now watching the Commonwealth Games  
- delighted that Scotland is doing so well.
 
Cheers         

Alec  Blanc
Lochaber Watersports
Ballachulish
_www.lochaberwatersports.co.uk_ (http://www.lochaberwatersports.co.uk/) 
01855  821391 / 07831 846025