Vol. 3 No.2 May 1999

NMMA ENGINEERING STANDARDS

COMPLIANCE BULLETIN

Tom Marhevko
Director, Engineering Standards 		Editor: David DeHorn
Manager, Engineering Standards
This bulletin is an unofficial newsletter of the Certification and Technical Services Staffs of NMMA. In it we will relay helpful information for and about the Certification Program. Input comes from the answers to many questions that we receive daily and from information that we want to pass on to all our members. This bulletin will not only publish information from Gwen, Jay, Ray, and me, but also anything that you feel may directly help the certification program and the boat building industry.

Technical Issues

  1. To determine the maximum HP for a pontoon boat, multiply the cubic feet of flotation in the pontoons times the longest pontoon length and divide that number by the pontoon diameter (inches).
  2. A pontoon boat is not an "open boat" and is therefore subject to the requirements of ABYC H-41, Reboarding Means, Ladders, Handholds, Rails, and Lifelines. (Old A-18)

Certification Issues/Reminders

  1. On boats with accommodation compartments there shall be no ventilation system openings in aft facing surfaces at the stern. ABYC H-2.6.5.1.
  2. An accommodation compartment adjacent to, or above, a compartment that contains a gasoline powered engine shall be sealed from the machinery space, such that the interconnecting openings are less than 0.01% of the area between the compartments. ABYC H-2.6.2.3.
  3. Grounded liquid level transmitters (senders) mounted on fuel tanks or tank plates shall have the transmitter negative return conductor connected directly to the DC main negative bus, the engine negative terminal, or for outboard boats, the battery negative terminal or its bus. Remember, no other device shall be connected to this conductor. ABYC E-9.14.4

Other News:

  1. ABYC is the U.S. technical advisory group (TAG) administrator for ISO TC 188. Under that umbrella, ABYC is the sole distributor of ISO standards.

Notes from Jay's Desk:

  1. It pays to advertise that your product is "NMMA Certified." Get your boss, marketing people, company 'prez', to reflect your engineering certification efforts in making a first class product. NMMA can provide you with suitable logos and literature.
  2. Do you know about the Master Certification correspondence course from Westlawn Institute? This is a proactive step beyond the annual Nashville Tech Compliance Seminar. Enhance the advantage of your training, promote your dedication to your boss, open the doors to potential advancement and salary increases. Put more value into your resume/portfolio. For more information contact Westlawn direct at 203-359-0500.
  3. To cover both CE and US requirements in the HIN, boat manufacturers can put a "US-" in front of the HIN, but separate the "US-" with a border. Then the boats can remain stateside or go to Europe. If going to Europe only, the border is not required IAW the ISO standard. Reference: U.S. Coast Guard Boating Standards Manual, COMDTINST M16761.2B
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