Surveyors comments: Notes regarding ‘Home Built Vessels’ and CE exemptions. The Recreational Craft Directive is a European Union directive which sets out minimum technical, safety and environmental standards for boats, personal watercraft, marine engines and components in Europe. It covers boats built between 2.5 and 24m, personal watercraft, engines and a number of components built since 1998. It ensures their suitability for sale and use in Europe. As in this case with, under the above directive she is recognised as a ‘Home Completed Craft’ and therefore is covered by the ‘five year rule’.
Vessels built prior to July 1998 do not have to adhere to the requirements of the Recreational Craft Directive. To meet the ‘home build exemption’ the boat must have been used exclusively, as a recreation craft, by the builder and not further placed on the market for at least 5 years.
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