Boating Inspections - St Francis Bay Residents Association

The following notes are prepared to help people prepare for boating at St Francis Bay. The rules we now have to meet are not new – but they are now being enforced. It came as a shock to me that I had to conform and comply before I could get onto the water, and so I am putting out this very informal summary of my own experiences in the hope that more people can prepare for the holiday season well in advance.

It is now necessary to have a Certificate of Fitness for your boat, and a Certificate of Competence for you as a skipper. ( A simpler restricted certificate is available for river and canal operation.)

For professional and correct information please contact the professionals listed on the Kouga Municipality (EC 108) attachment – or use the same contacts as I used below.

To Obtain a Certificate of Fitness for your boat.

Contact any of the persons listed below “Kouga Municipality (EC108)” and make arrangements for your boat to be inspected.
In my case the inspection for Certificate of Fitness was done by Neil (Shorts) Richardson kromkids@telkomsa.net for a fee of R400 and the following were needed:-

• Another 4 life-jackets in addition to my 2 water-ski life jackets so that my boat could be licensed to carry 6. ( Bought 4x 2nd hands at R250 ea. New = R400 ea)
• A new anchor – the old one was rusted and not working properly. (R150)
• Anchor chain and rope.
• A new 1,5kg dry powder fire extinguisher (must be serviced annually) R200
• I had a rope that was OK as a capsize rope being 1,5 times length of boat
• A paddle or oars – I got 2 paddles from Du Bruyn’s at R150
• Cranked arm to fit onto the engine to steer it if the steering cable broke. (Made it myself. A stainless steel one would cost about R450)
• Tool-kit. ( I had one for the Yamaha)
• Set of spark plugs and engine fuse. (3 plugs cost R45 each) (Spare fuse on engine)
• Valid Certificate of Competency – see Skippers License – Restricted to River.
• “SRE — “ Registration Number to be issued with Certificate of Fitness and obtainable from Brett at 082 575 4868 , 38 Lyme Road – for about R85.
• All safety equipment and the boat trailer to be marked with boat SRE ….. registration No and trailer to be marked with owners phone No.
• Petrol tanks to be standard boat design; towing eye at front and rear of boat; battery and cables secure and safe.
• Buoyancy foam or bottles or ring :- in my case Shaun Bosch took my boat away and foam-filled the bow to give enough buoyancy for 6 persons – R2500. While you have the chance contact your boat manufacturer and ask whether your boat has the required buoyancy and get them to provide you with an Affidavit or Certificate to that effect. (You may also wish to shop around for buoyancy needs)

To Obtain a Skippers License – Restricted to the River & Canals (or for open sea). – called a Certificate of Competence.

Again contact any of the persons on the Kouga list.

• In my case I contacted Shaun Chamberlain 082 324 0460 shaun@jbay.co.za who was great and I had to do the following:-
• Swot the 5 page document he gave me describing the rules and procedures etc which everyone should know who operates a boat on a river or canal or estuary.
• Get a Doctors certificate to say I was ok medically and not suffering from colour blindness. ( I went to Dr Malan in SFB who is SAMSA authorized, and got it same day service for R200) ( SAMSA = SA Maritime Safety Authority)
• Copy of ID doc
• Affidavit witnessed by SAPS stating you have over 50 hours experience of being in charge of a vessel. (Write it yourself and have it stamped by SAPS)
• 3 x ID Pics – try Video/Internet shop up next to Barrons Steakhouse – R20
• R700 to cover documentation + examination + SAMSA Fee + practical.

Note that if you have not had the required 50 hours experience you may still drive a boat so long as there is someone on board who has a certificate of Competence.

Remember that this is a summary of what I went through and what I was told had to be done. It is not official. It is always possible that interpretation of the rules can change.

If I had to do it all again I would use the same folks :- Neil Richardson; Shawn Bosch and Brett. And for the Skipper’s License definitely Shaun Chamberlain.
Their service was immediate and friendly and helpful.

It took about 2 days to get the boat initially assessed and the buoyancy done and all the bits bought and a re-inspection for Neil to be able to issue a certificate.
Then one day to get the Skippers restricted license – after a couple of days trying to swot up the rules. This was in late September 2009.

I tried unsuccessfully to get a copy of my Skippers licence which I obtained in SFB in 1992 but neither SAMSA nor SFB Deep Sea Angling could trace it. It was easier to re-sit the simpler river licence with Shaun Chamberlain.

One can imagine that if everyone leaves this to the December holidays then there will be much frustration and great delays and disappointments.

Good Luck,
Ian Charlton.
30 Sept 2009

KOUGA MUNICIPALITY (EC 109)

THE FOLLOWING PERSONS ARE QUALIFIED TO ASSIST YOU IN COMPLYING WITH SAMSA REQUIREMENTS AS INDICATED.

Cost of COF Boat Inspection:

Jet Skis & River Vessels: R400

Sea Going Vessels: R500
NAME

CONTACT DETAILS

COC SKIPPERS COURSE

COF BOAT INSPECTION
Tracey Meintjies

082 402 9211

Neil (Shorts) Richardson

082 804 7414

Piet van Rooyen

042 294 0191

Charlie Fourie

082 928 4653

Johan Gouws

082 724 7546

Bobby Bush

082 694 7288

Swanie Swanepoel

042 296 1052

Hennie Meyer

041 360 2965

Chris Hattingh

083 310 8120

Shaun Chaimbelons

082 324 0460

De Bruyn Marine 042 294 1930/083 261 5397 & St. Francis Bay Leisure 042 294 1268/072 386 0823