Boyancy

[MICHELE]

Hi i am in South Africa and there have just been new laws passed for
> water crafts. I have a Checkmate Enchanter (1985 model) and one of the
> laws pertaining to small water crafts are that they need to have
> boyancy put in them in the form of polyurethane foam. There is a plate
> on my boat stating that the vessel is US coast gaurd approved. My
> question is do i have to have boyancy put into the boat or was the
> boat manufactured with the correct amount of boyancy and if so how
> could i get a certificate to that affect. also if boyancy was put in
> the boat at the time of manufacture would it still have the correct
> amout of boyancy after all these years
>
> Regards
> Michele

 

[cooperider]

Do these laws have to do with new boats or do they pertain to all boats meaning older boats? Several older boats don't meet newer regulations, but that doesn't mean they have to be retrofitted to make them comply with new regs. Also the enchanter is over 20ft long, do these regulations mention a size? Here new boats under 20ft long need to have level flotation. Over 20ft, don't require it.
I'm sure there is some flotation foam under the floor of your boat, unless it has been redone and been removed. The foam under the floor will tend to collect water and hold it, even soaked it will still float but it will make the boat heavier.
If you do have to add foam, then the Enchanter is a big enough boat that you will have lots of room to add it, and not really lose cabin space, just storage space.
That capacity plate certifies that the boat was built to meet the floatation rules of the time 1985. It can't anticipate future regulation.
Do you have a copy of these regulations that you could post?