The new recreational craft directive, 2013/53/EU known as RCD II has become mandatory as of 18th of January 2017.
The directive states that boats of hull length from 2.5 to 24m, personal watercraft, their components and engines, must bear the CE marking symbol that demonstrates compliance with the requirements of the directive.
Since the enforcement of the RCD II, the old RCD I ceased to exist and manufacturers should not issue Declarations of Conformity to RCD I dated after January 17th, 2017.
Application
- The following products are within the scope of the European Recreational Craft Directive (RCD):
- recreational craft and partly completed recreational craft;
- personal watercraft (PWC) and partly completed personal watercraft;
- propulsion engines which are installed or specifically intended for installation on or in watercraft;
- propulsion engines installed on or in watercraft that are subject to a major engine modification;
- watercraft that are subject to major craft conversion.
- In addition to craft, the following products (if prefabricated), fitted on European recreational craft, are also within the scope:
- Ignition-protected equipment for inboard and stern drive petrol engines and petrol tank spaces;
- Start-in-gear protection devices for outboard engines;
- Steering wheels, steering mechanisms and cable assemblies;
- Fuel tanks intended for fixed installations and fuel hoses;
- Prefabricated hatches, and port lights.
Exclusions
- A boat does not need to comply with the RCD if it was/is:
- built in the EEA prior to 16 June 1998; or
- in use in the EEA prior to 16 June 1998; or
- only visiting the EEA for reasons of tourism or in transit (time scales are undefined); or
- an exemption listed below.
- A craft is exempted from the RCD if is one of the following:
- watercraft intended solely for racing, including rowing racing boats and training rowing boats labelled as such by the manufacturer; or
- canoe and kayak, gondola or pedalo designed to be propelled solely by human power; or
- surfboards designed solely to be propelled by wind and to be operated by a person or persons standing; or
- surfboards;
- original, and individual replica of a historical craft designed before 1950, built predominantly with the original materials and labelled as such by the manufacturer; or
- experimental watercraft, provided it is not subsequently placed on the Community market; or
- watercraft built for own use, provided it is not subsequently placed on the Community market during a period of five years; or
- submersible; or
- air cushion vehicle; or
- hydrofoil; or
- external combustion steam powered watercraft, fuelled by coal, coke, wood, oil or gas; or
- amphibious vehicle, i.e. wheeled or track-laying motor vehicle, which is able to operate both on water and on solid land.