Tag: Small Craft Services Ltd

Posted on

Floydtilla BSS Certificate – Passed

Floydtilla’s BSS certificate is due to expire at the end of April 2025, so it was time to book a test, we have added a few new bits and pieces to the boat in the past 4 years including our new solar panels – it is always a worry when you do the planning/install yourself.

As with the last test and survey we booked Tom Keeling from Small Craft Services to do this for us. Two days before the appointed day, I check with Tom that everything was going as planned, and we headed of the next day to the boat, to be ready for his visit.

Tom arrived very promptly at 9am, he first explanied the procedure and then we started at the stern looking in the engine bay, where he carefully explained what he was looking for, checking the fuel tank for rust and damage, the fuel lines, filters etc, before then checking the batteries and our new battery wiring and solar install (he noted the fuses etc) everything seemed OK, except the batteries could slide sideways in there mounting, We already had a ratchet strap over the top of the batteries, but within a few minutes we also had one install around the sides as well.

From the Engine bay we moved inside and checked the Fire Extinguishers, we have three mounted in the boat, and I have three extras for just encase (could not resist the Lidl special offers, they are two lower rating, but better to be safer?).

From what I remember of the discussion each extinguisher has a rating i.e. 8A/50B that you will find on the body label of the extinguisher, you need to add up the number of ‘A’ and the number of ‘B’, combined between you extinguishers they need to exceed 21A and 144B together, this is dependent on the length of the boat, at 61ft we need a minimum of 3 extinguishers in total.

Next we are on to the gas supply and the Gas locker was expected and the pipes inspected for the correct type, we only have a gas cooker connected to the supply and near the kitchen area is a test point to which Tom fitted his Manometer. after a few minutes all seemed to check out OK. Then Tom slid out the cooker to show me and to check the pipework was correct.

It is amazing how quickly and hour and a half went by, Tom is a mine of useful information and advice and I am sure I missed out lots of things he inspected along the way, but I now feel very confident we are safe onboard and also not a danger to others.

BSS Examination Report
BSS Examination Report

The cost of this inspection including VAT was £260 (which includes a £72 charge by the Boat Safety Scheme for the certificate.

Posted on

BSS – Boat Safety Scheme Examination and Certificate

BSS – Boat Safety Scheme

Now the boat is complete with the exception of a few minor cosmetic bit, it was time for the BSS (Boat Safety Scheme) examination, this was organised by Black Prince Holidays and carried out by the same person/company as our pre-purchase inspection Tom Keeling of Small Craft services.

As we expected Floydtilla (Chloe) sailed through, so we are now certified until  25th April 2025.

With this complete and the boat insured, we are now ready to get our CRT licence.

Posted on

The survey and our report

Having not owned a narrow boat before, we did have a small boat on the Thames at Henley, but that is a long time ago and a very different story, we asked Black Prince to recommend a company for our boat survey.

They passed our details on to Tom Keeling at Small Craft Services Ltd who emailed me and we arranged to chat on the phone. I was impressed with how Tom described the survey process, so we ask Tom to proceed with our pre-sale survey.

While Tom was recommended by Black Prince, it is very clear that he is working for us, his reputation is based making sure he finds what needs doing.

Tom arranged with Black Prince to come to Stoke Prior to survey the boat on 3rd February 2021 and we received his report a few days later.

Small Craft Services Survey Report
Small Craft Services Survey Report

The report starts with a boiler plate section that covers the scope of the survey and what we should expect to see on the following pages, it then describes the boats construction and thickness of the steel used as a baseline for the later test results.

The general condition of the metal work is described and explained, followed by the results of the Ultrasonic measurement of the thickness of each part show the range of measurements found.

Area Tested Ultrasonia Results (mm)
Cabin Side 4.0
Bulkheads 4.0
Hull Sides 5.8-5.9
Counter Plate 9.5-9.9
Base Plates 9.1-9.8
Transom 5.8
Swim 5.9
The report finishes with the Conclusion that outlines all the recommendations from the survey:-

“Floydtilla remains in a condition considered usual for a craft of this type, builder, use and year. There are recommendations detailed throughout the report and highlighted below which should be followed, as well as establishing a good programme of on-going maintenance.

It is known that the vendor will correct known faults prior to the completion of sale. If any further guidance is required please do not hesitate to contact the surveyor. Recommendations

  1. The craft should be re-blacked at this time (A)

    Long-term, you are advised to follow the advice given regarding sand-blasting and epoxy coating (or similar) (A)

  2. The transom edge where the rudder makes contact, has minor notching occurring. This should be repaired at this time (A)

  3. The sacrificial wear edge should be reinforced to the aft shoulders where an area of around 1m has reduced profile through wear (A)

  4. There were deeper corrosion pits to the forward aspects of the swim plating, approximately 7 per side that should be welded up at this time (A)

  5. The new aft anodes should be fitted closer to the stern gear to provide better protection with the existing anodes remaining in situ (A)

  6. The propeller is damaged and should be dressed (A)

  7. There was some play apparent in the stern tube bearing at the time of survey; this should be further investigated and the worn or damaged components replaced (P)

  8. Descale and repaint the weedhatch, including the trunk faces and seal faces. Replace the seal (A)

  9. The LPG locker base should be descaled and repainted at this time (A)”

The (A) at the end of each recommendation mean these are advisory and should be monitored or address as part of an on-going maintenance schedule.

We also received a short form of the survey that we could send to Black Prince, all of which they happily agreed would be done.
A couple of days after the report arrived Tom call us to discuss what he had found and made sure we understood, he was very complimentary about our choice of boat.
One of recommendations made in the report that we decided to put off until we understand more and can visit the suppliers, is to have the hull sandblasted and epoxy coated. We think this is a very good idea and in a couple of years when we next need to reblack the hull we will revisit this and look at our options.

The price of this pre-purchase survey was £395 Inc VAT which seemed like great value to us. It does give you a good feeling about your purchase and makes sure there are likely to be less surprises in the near future.

We will be working on a maintance schedule for when we finally take delivery, being an X-Hire boat the engine will have a high hours count, but should have been well maintained.

Back to top