It’s Not Your Grandfathers Boat! BE SAFE!

Yesterday we talked about 6 volt lights and making sure you are up to date on luminosity. One other thing, that to be honest about, is the mispercetion that our boats are grandfathered regarding safety rules. WRONG! DEAD WRONG! It’s not like cars and things from the factory or lack there of. Vents? Blowers? Electronics? Lights? All of it.  But all is not lost, you can still make the best of it.

Why do all the bandages fall apart?

So, that vintage first aid kit with 1948 bandages? Ya, that’s not gonna pass a coast guard inspection. That’s of course obvious. But standards like luminosity, or venting, or things that affect safety of you and others need to be updated. This of course can be where the fun starts. One can be creative, Maybe vintageize your stuff. LED lights can look just like old bulbs..ish, you could paint a bilge pump to look old even though its new, you can fake look a 6 volt system. The new wiring you can get these days is Marine wring that is covered in a way to look original.

New old looking wire – thanks Katzs Marina

Update your battery switch off. Hide it. Install a phone charger, under the dash.  Put life jacks, new ones in a vintage bag, and yes, use a vintage first aid kit but update the contents yearly. Maybe have a vintage whistle and have am bag with all the modern stuff, flairs and other stuff you carry onboard.

Well, may look good as a prop, but would be miserable if something bad happened

Fire extinguishers.- This is one of those things that is frustrating from an appearance thing. One thing that would be cool to make, and just nuts to do, would be to make a brass sleeve you could fit your fire extinguisher in. Or possibly paint your brand new one in a metal finish or wrap, and have printed labels to fut on to match your year.

Years ago we created these fun bottles to replicate a vintage fire extinguisher

Our boats are more art than boats, so the appearance of them is part of the spirit of them. But when ship happens, they quickly become boats, that explode, sink and can hurt you. Paintings don’t do that, boats do. So be creative, be artistic, and be safe. After all, we all love our grandfathers, but in a fire, I want a 25 year old that works out like a nut to save me!  Sorry Grandfather. Now if you will excuse me, I need to take my morning nap!

The YNOT guys have perfected this process of modern safety stylishly done. LOVE IT! There is an ipad burred in there. Different engine and trans. I would take this boat across the Atlantic.

The YNOT Silver Arrow is a masterpiece of style and nod to history. These guys are the Singer Porsche of our world.

So get out there this summer. Just leave your Grandfather on the mantel.

DISCLAIMER! I am not exactly sure of any of this, but based on Gary’s info, and based on some searching, HERE IS GARY’s COMMENT YESTERDAY.

“I went looking thru the CFR’s, specifically 33-CFR where “most” of the motorboat regs reside and 46 CFR. I could not find any indication of grandfathering for the current regs. If some else has insomnia and they can point me to it, I would love to hear from them where they found it. I have a feeling Matt might cover some more of this issue, so not to take away story topics from Matt I will not spill the beans on future topics. BTW, what you will find in the regs for some critical items is mandatory compliance dates. With new regs they will typically provide a grace period for compliance.”

I did find a reference in the coast guard regs where it states that boats made after the mid 70’s require a more robust ventilation system. Not sure if this is a Grandfather thing,

If you have any more info, please comment. If you are a reader, READ THE COMMENTS., If you are a lawyer, this is the internet. SO? If you are someones grandfather and not in an urn, what do you think?

14 replies
  1. Dan T
    Dan T says:

    It IS the grandfathers boat and most of the guys driving them are grandfathers are old enough to be. Heck, I’ll be a Great grandfather in April. My bulb is still burning brightly!

  2. Matt
    Matt says:

    HA! Very true! I suppose if YOU are a Grandfather you can claim any rules. You can try that defense.

  3. Bilge Rat
    Bilge Rat says:

    Grandfather here too. Old man, old boat but we both still operate with some modern necessities/modifications (some not factory original) and are running strong.

  4. Dennis Mykols
    Dennis Mykols says:

    Grandfather here also, 5 times over, the pride of my life. As the Bilge Rat stated…” with some modern necessities/modifications”.

    I had to upgrade to play with all those new-fangled gadgets, like backing up my trailers with the turn of a knob. And technology that allows a V-6 to pull 17000 lbs!!!

  5. Dennis Mykols
    Dennis Mykols says:

    By the way, all booked for the ACBS Sunnyland Festival on Lake Dora. I need a boat ride on Friday to the picnic, and to Palm Gardens. Anyone got an open seat??? Hint, Hint.

      • Dennis Mykols
        Dennis Mykols says:

        Wilson, I am Not taking a boat down, that is why I am asking for a ride in someone’s boat on Friday.

  6. Gary Van Tassel
    Gary Van Tassel says:

    Well, a little disappointing with the comments this AM. I am also a grandfather, but I want everyone to be safe. This issue with classics started to concern me as I walked around classic boat shows and admired everyone’s, pro and amateur, skills and attention to detail. For the record, I am a licensed mariner, Naval Architect/Marine Engineer , Boat Designer and past boat builder (in remission, but not cured!).

    Go to eCFR on-line and search title 33, specifically Part 183. that is where the motor boat regs live, Read the actual regs not the helpful pamphlets that various agencies produce to simplify things. They are not complex and they are written in plain English.

    Pay particular attention to:

    Subpart I – Electrical Systems
    Subpart J – Fuel Systems; Take a close look at 33 CFR 183.512(a) “A fuel tank must be constructed from terneplate.” Terneplate is sheet steel tank plated with a mixture of lead and tin, it looks like galvanizing. There have obviously been issues in the past. I wonder how many “old” tanks are misidentified as galvanized steel. Also look at 33 CFR 183.568 Anti-siphon protection.
    Subpart K – Ventilation
    Subpart M – Navigation Lights – 33 CFR 183.810 requires lights to be labeled that they are in compliance, even small lights.

    There are a lot of other regs that will be very difficult if not impossible to comply with (level flotation, etc.) Keep in mind the regs are put in place after significant number of instances have occurred, Just be informed and make conscious choices and decisions.

    My Kavalk 19 is a 1992 boat so it should be in compliance. For the most part it is (I doubt it would pass level floatation, but I am not going to sink it to find out!). The stern light on the flag staff is not 1 meter above the red/green bow lights and not labeled, being a classic style glass globe light that looks great and is very bright. A 1 meter high staff will look ridiculous. I am looking into getting a 1 meter staff made (recommendations for source of custom mahogany stern staff would be appreciated) to be used if I am out after dark. It will not be some s/s pole! The other area is the blower label near the ignition switch. I am not going to stick some gaudy label on the beautiful mahogany and leather dash! I suspect I will get nailed for it at some point.

    So off my soap box. Thanks to Matt for putting some further attention on a larger scale than just our local chapter.

  7. Greg W
    Greg W says:

    Don’t go spraying foam up under your gunnels just yet. Pretty sure the regs being sited are for current new construction (manufacturing) requirements. As long as your boat meets the requirement in effect at the time of manufacturer you are OK. Updating for safety sake where practical is ,imho, desirable. Keep in mind that “loose gear” requirements such as pfd’s and fire extinguishers have to be observed as current.

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