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 Recreational Craft Directive "CE" Marking Recreational Craft Directive 

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The Design Category of a particular craft is dependant on where the vessel is intended to be used. This is a logical, safety orientated aspect of the RCD. The following is intended for guidance (Ref. RSG Guidelines 2003):

Boat Design Categories

A. OCEAN: Designed for extended voyages where conditions may exceed wind force 8 (Beaufort scale) and significant wave heights of 4m and above but excluding abnormal conditions. Vessels are largely self-sufficient.

B. OFFSHORE: Designed for offshore voyages where conditions up to and including, wind force 8 and significant wave heights up to and including 4m may be experienced.

C. INSHORE: Designed for voyages in coastal waters, large bays, estuaries, lakes and rivers where conditions up to and including wind force 6 and significant wave heights up to and including 2m may be experienced.

D. SHELTERED WATERS: Designed for voyages on sheltered coastal waters, small bays, small lakes, rivers and canals when conditions up to and including wind force 4 and significant wave heights up to and including 0.3m may be experienced, with occasional waves of 0.5m maximum height, for example from passing vessels.

 Boats in each Category must be designed and constructed to withstand these parameters in respect of stability, buoyancy, and other relevant essential requirements, and to have good handling characteristics.

NOTE: The Design category parameters are intended to define the physical conditions that might arise in any category for design evaluation, and are not intended for limiting the use of the recreational craft in any geographical areas of operation, after it has been put into service.

The physical conditions shall be determined from the maximum wind strength and wave profiles, where wave profiles are consistent with waves generated by wind blowing at the maximum stated strength for a prolonged period, subject to limits of the implied fetch and the maximum stated wave heights, and excluding abnormal factors such as sudden change in depth or tidal races.

In practice, there are a number of ISO standards that reference the design category, and as to be expected, requirements for items such as stability and buoyancy are more stringent towards categories A and B.

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Dr John Bate.  Vue deLion, Castel, Guernsey. GY5 7HN.
0044 (0) 1481 253053