The USCG has so much money in there budget and decide how much they are going to spend on a contract for testing. If the bids submitted are too high then I guess the USCG will have to pony up more money or drop the program. I don't think I want to build a test pool and all that's involved. The two guys hours were cut to 24 per week or three days. I'm guessing that there is a claus in the contract that lets the USCG modify it based on funding reductions. I have always set up my testing appointments directly with steve.
Tom.
Dwayne, I build 2-3 boats a year. Guys like Tony and myself take pride in building the safest products we can and we assume the responcibility to do so. We're certainly not trying to "get off the hook". That said, I don't have the room or equiptment to test for level floatation nor do I have the capacity to store or handle the 5000 lbs of pig iron used to certify a boat with a 1000 lbs capacity. Now if there were a commercial facility available where I could have my boats tested I would not be opposed to using it. Why? Because I want my boats tested by an impartial entity although I'm not sure that a commercial facility would stay impartial over the long term. There are hundreds of small boat builders out there and what? 20 auto manufactures? No comparison between the two.
Tony, I apologize for speaking in your stead..
Yes we've cut back to one paid visit.
I've been going back and forth reading this. Sometimes laughing, sometimes getting pissed. Most of what is being posted is not accurate. Yes the CG budget is being reduced just like other agencies but the factory visit and testing program is a contract that is already paid for and spent. Yes we've cut back to one paid visit. If you can't figure it out after one boat you probably shouldn't be building them. Sequestration had nothing to do with this. Were still testing boats and still buying boats for testing. If you know of a builder whose boats we should buy, let me know. In fact we will have a auction in a couple months to sale off some of the boats we've purchased this year. Were just trying to do things smarter and put the money where it will do the most good. This year has seen the least amount of builders bringing boats for testing. The numbers have been declining the last three years.
Maybe thats because someone is telling manufacturers that they can only bring 1 boat to be tested and that if they want to bring more they wont be tested. Thats why the staff hours have been reduced not because there isn't money. Its not smart business to keep doing things the same way. There is a lot more going on that I'm not going to comment on at this time. There will be more business changes in the future but not at a risk of safety. If you got concerns or questions send me a private message and I'll answer them if I can.
Interesting discussions. Made me want to do some reading.
One thing I find is that the average guy like me needs clarification on the terms "Testing"/ "Certified"/ "Approved", et al. What do they mean? Are they required? As I read, I came to find that that label on my boat or anyone else's meams a WHOLE lot of different things depending on who is doing the building.
For example, it can merely mean that the builder read the Coast Guard manual and built according to what he felt were the applicable regulations on that type of craft - he then went out and had his capacity (not certification) plates made up and affixed them.
....It could mean that he actually took the boat to a Coast Guard facility and had it tested & inspected - but not necessarily. Nothing illegal about it, either.
On another end of the scale, it might mean that the builder is a paying member of an organization like NAMA (and there are others), and had his boat(s) certified through their inspections (... inspections done by certified engineers trained for boat industry specifics, and also inspections which seem to be recognized by the Coast Guard as exceeding their standards). These types of organizations not only conduct the applicable inspections for the craft being built, but also seem to be are right up to date on what applies & changes year to year. Now, builders who do this can add the info on additional certification like this to their certification plates; but again - it's just the builder telling you what he's done with that particular boat. It also lookes like a process that is going to cost the builder some coin depending on the scale of his operation.
When it comes to the scale & range of the boats we are using to hunt, it sounds like that what it boils down to is that you need to be convinced that the builder you're dealing with knows what he's doing, and is taking every measure to build something that will get you there and back season after season. Essentially, you've got to be the one who evaluate if this is so based on the info provided, doing your homework, looking at the track record of the craft, getting to know the builders and his reputation, asking questions, realistically evaluating your needs & hunting conditions, etc.,etc., etc.
Here's some links that I found interesting. If you take the time to watch the video on the first one, it has some stuff that is food for thought, even though it may seem to apply to large scale operations:
http://newboatbuilders.com/pages/index2.html
http://newboatbuilders.com/pages/certified.html
http://newboatbuilders.com/
Yes we've cut back to one paid visit.
Darren, Can a manufacturer test a second or third design unpaid in a year?
T
I'll get back with you tomorrow.
Darren
This is my last post on this. I hated even posting and moving this back to the top but I said I would get the latest info for you.
To clarify previous policy regarding the Volunteer Boat Test Program the following applies:
The Coast Guard will perform free testing of one boat per manufacturer within a one year time frame and will pay the cost of transporting the boat to and from the test facility and will pay per diem for the manufacturer to observe the testing.
The Coast Guard will perform free testing of any additional boat/s by the same manufacturer within the one year time frame, pending the availability of the test facility, if the manufacturer pays for the cost of transporting the boat/s to and from the test facility and pays his own way if he desires to observe the testing.
Boats submitted to the voluntary testing program must be completed production model boats and not in a prototype stage. They must be representative of boats that are being offered for sale to the public.
Bottom line: The actual testing is free but we will only pay travel expenses for one boat per year. Additional boats can be tested for free but at the builders own travel expenses to Maryland. Scheduling is handled by the test facility.
I won't be responding anymore to this. If you have a question send me a PM and I'll answer when I can.
This is my last post on this. I hated even posting and moving this back to the top but I said I would get the latest info for you.
To clarify previous policy regarding the Volunteer Boat Test Program the following applies:
The Coast Guard will perform free testing of one boat per manufacturer within a one year time frame and will pay the cost of transporting the boat to and from the test facility and will pay per diem for the manufacturer to observe the testing.
The Coast Guard will perform free testing of any additional boat/s by the same manufacturer within the one year time frame, pending the availability of the test facility, if the manufacturer pays for the cost of transporting the boat/s to and from the test facility and pays his own way if he desires to observe the testing.
Boats submitted to the voluntary testing program must be completed production model boats and not in a prototype stage. They must be representative of boats that are being offered for sale to the public.
Bottom line: The actual testing is free but we will only pay travel expenses for one boat per year. Additional boats can be tested for free but at the builders own travel expenses to Maryland. Scheduling is handled by the test facility.
I won't be responding anymore to this. If you have a question send me a PM and I'll answer when I can.