After nearly twelve years of negotiation the end is now in sight for an international agreement on categorising recreational craft stability. This will allow boat buyers to make informed decisions based on a boat’s stability characteristics between different manufacturers from around the world.

The RYA’s Technical Manager, who led the British delegation, commented “This agreement goes a long way to giving confidence and credibility to the important issue of stability standards internationally, and this must be a benefit to anyone trying to make the right choice on buying a craft for a particular use. My thanks go to Andrew Blyth who, as the standards convener, played a key role in reaching this important international agreement. “

The RYA recognises the support received from the European Boating Association (EBA) who made funds available for validation process during the creation of the standards. The RYA is also pleased to have learnt that the new standards have been adopted by the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) as one of the ways they will assess stability on coded vessels.

The first part of the standard covers craft between 6 – 24m. A further standard for vessels under 6m is likely to be available in the next six months. The standards are to be published shortly by the British Standards Institute. For more information please email: technical@rya.org.uk or call a member of the RYA Technical team on 02380 627409.