Operation of any watercraft, whether inflatable PVC boat A solid boat requires not only management skills, but also strict compliance with the law. GIME The inspection, or, as it is officially called, the state technical inspection, is a mandatory procedure for admitting a vessel to navigation.
Many owners mistakenly believe that small inflatable boats with low-power engines do not require attention from the supervisory authorities, but changes in the legislation of recent years clearly regulate which vessels are subject to registration and mandatory technical condition checks. small-boat It's a parking lot, which will ruin any rest.
In this article, we will discuss in detail who needs to undergo a checkup, how to prepare the boat for the inspector's visit, and what documents you need to carry with you. Understanding these nuances will allow you to feel confident on the water and avoid unpleasant conversations with authorities. Let's understand what lies behind bureaucratic terms and how to get through this procedure as quickly as possible.
Which boats are subject to mandatory registration and inspection
The first thing to start with is determining the status of your boat, and according to current regulations, small vessels used for non-commercial purposes, whose weight without load does not exceed 200 kilograms, and the power of the installed engine does not exceed 30.68 horsepower (or 22.5 kW), are subject to state registration.
Inflatable boat owners often wonder if they should be registered with their inflatables. If the total weight of the boat in running order (with engine, tank, battery and equipment) exceeds 200 kg, registration is mandatory. GIME.
- 🚤 Any vessel weighing more than 200 kg is subject to mandatory registration in the register.
- ⚓ Motors over 10 hp require licenses and registration of the vessel, even if the boat itself is light.
- 📜 The absence of registration numbers on board is equivalent to the absence of registration.
It is worth noting that sports sailing vessels are subject to registration regardless of the weight and power of the engine. If you plan to use the boat for commercial activities (rental, transportation of passengers for a fee), the requirements for inspection become even stricter, and the regularity of inspections increases. For private use, it is enough to undergo an inspection at the initial check-in and then after the expiry of the diagnostic card, if it is installed for your type of vessel.
Preparation of the boat for technical inspection
The success of the inspection depends on how well you prepare your vessel. The inspector will check not only the documents, but also the real condition of the hull, transom and security systems. boat hull: it must not have punctures, cracks or traces of poor-quality repairs that can compromise the integrity of the structure.
Pay special attention to the transom, the motor's mounting position, which must be rigid, without backlashes or signs of rotting (for plywood) or corrosion (for metal). If you use a hinged transom on an inflatable boat, make sure that the mounts are securely fixed and can withstand the weight of the engine. The inspector may ask you to demonstrate the stability of the structure, so it is better to check all bolts and screws in advance.
⚠️ Warning: Even a small hole in a PVC cylinder or a crack in a metal case is grounds for refusing a diagnostic card. Don't try to seal the holes with colored tape - this is immediately obvious.
Also check the availability and readability of factory plates. Each certified vessel must have a model, manufacturer, year of manufacture and maximum performance marking. If the plate is lost or erased, you will have to contact the manufacturer for a duplicate or undergo a complex identification procedure, which can delay the process.
☑️ Checklist for hull preparation
Required rescue and signalling equipment
Safety on the water is not an empty phrase, and GIMS requires a certain set of equipment on board. The lack of mandatory equipment is one of the most common reasons for issuing a remediation order. safety-pack It depends on the type of boat and the area of navigation, but the basic set is the same for all.
First of all, the number of people on board should be provided with life jackets, it is important that they are certified, have a serviceable fastex and correspond to the weight of passengers, the use of homemade vests or vests for sports (for example, wakeboards), which do not have the marking of compliance with GOST or TR CU is unacceptable.
- 🆘 Rescue tenants by the number of people on board (required to be marked).
- 🔦 A lamp that can operate autonomously for at least 6 hours.
- 🪢 An anchor with a line of sufficient length to stop the boat.
- 🚤 cerpak (for inflatable boats) or pump for pumping water.
Motor boats will also require a fire extinguisher if the vessel is designed to have closed compartments or a stationary engine. At night or in limited visibility, signal lights or a light signalling device are required. The inspector can check the lantern's performance, so make sure it has fresh batteries.
Do I need a scoop on a motorized boat?
Yes, even if you have a powerful pump, and according to the rules, every small boat should have a water scoop, the pump can fail, and the scoop is an emergency tool that will not fail.
Documents for passing the inspection in GIMS
The bureaucratic machine is not a failure, so the package of papers should be perfect. The main document is the application for registration, which can be submitted in person or through the portal of public services, accompanied by the passport of the owner and the documents confirming the ownership of the boat and the engine.
If you bought a new boat, you need a sales contract and a technical data sheet with factory numbers. If you bought it from hand, you need a deal agreement and a previous boat's role or an extract from the registry. It is important that all the numbers on the documents match the numbers on the boat and engine hull. Any discrepancy will lead to a refusal to accept documents.
| Document | Original/Copy | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Passport of a Russian citizen | Original + copy | To identify the owner |
| Contract of sale | Original + copy | Proof of ownership |
| technical data sheet | Original | With factory numbers of units |
| Receipt for payment of state duty | Original | Payable before application is submitted |
Don't forget to pay the state fee for the issuance of the boat's ticket and registration plates. It is better to save the receipt of payment electronically and have a paper copy. Payment details can be found on the website of the regional office of GIMS or obtained directly from the office. Payment through the State Services often gives a discount, but check the relevance of such offers.
Make color photocopies of all documents in advance and fold them in a separate folder, which will save you and the inspector time, create the impression of a prepared owner and speed up the process of receiving documents.
Procedure for inspection and receipt of a boat registration certificate
At the appointed time, you arrive at the GIMS base or the inspection point, where you visually check the numbers on the units with the data in the documents, the inspector checks for all the necessary equipment, which was mentioned above, if the boat is inflatable, it is usually required to pump it to make sure that there are no etching valves and hidden defects.
After the physical check, the inspector enters the data into the technical status report, and if everything is in order, you get a positive conclusion. boat registration certificateThis is the basic document that must always be on board, along with the rights to control.
⚠️ Note: boat's ticket is a document of strict accountability, in case of loss, you must immediately report it to the GIMS to obtain a duplicate.
Once you have received a boat's ticket, you must put the registration numbers on the boat's boards, they must be contrasted, readable from a distance of 50 meters and located at a distance of 1/4 of the length of the hull from the forehead. The format and font of the numbers are strictly regulated, so it is better not to fantasize, but to follow the sample that you will be given or shown.
Getting a boat's ticket completes the legalization process, and from now on, you have the right to go out to the water, but you must comply with the rules of navigation and carry the documents with you.
Duration and re-passing of the inspection
Many owners forget that registration and inspection have their own expiration date; for small craft used for personal purposes, the boat's ticket is issued indefinitely, but this does not relieve the need to keep the boat in good condition.
Re-inspection is required when changing owner (even if donating or inheriting), changing the design of the vessel, changing the engine or changing the owner's data (for example, changing the residence permit), and the inspection has the right to order an unscheduled inspection if there is information about a malfunction of the vessel or if it has been in a serious accident.
- 🔄 When selling a boat, the new owner is obliged to re-register it within 10 days.
- 🛠 Any modernization (installation of sonar, navigation, change of design) requires changes in documents.
- 📅 The scheduled inspection for commercial vessels is carried out annually, for private ones - as necessary, the change of owner.
Regular updates to the GIMS registry help not only the state, but you too. In the event of a theft or emergency, having up-to-date data speeds up search and rescue efforts. Don't neglect the obligation to report changes so that your stay on the water is not only pleasant, but also legal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need to pass a technical inspection for a PVC boat with a 5 hp engine?
Not if the weight of the boat without a load is less than 200 kg. According to current legislation, boats weighing up to 200 kg and engine power up to 10 hp (inclusive) are not subject to mandatory registration with the GIMS and, accordingly, inspection.
What to do if your technical data sheet for the boat is lost?
You need to contact the boat manufacturer or the official dealer to issue a duplicate passport or certificate of specifications of the vessel. Without a document confirming the factory specifications and number, registration with GIMS is impossible.
Can I register a boat assembled myself?
Yes, but the procedure is more complicated. You'll need to go through a survey with a specialized organization that will issue a certificate of compliance with the safety requirements, and you can contact the GIMS for registration.
Where exactly is the registration number for the boat?
The number shall be applied on both sides at a distance of 1/4 of the length of the hull from the forehead (nose) and 150 mm above the upper line of the side. the height of letters and numbers shall be not less than 150 mm, the width of the line - 15-20 mm. the Colour shall contrast with the color of the side.