I've never known a surveyor who claimed ABYC was mandatory and use the following statement in all my reports ....
STANDARDS USED
Canada Shipping Act (CSA2001) and all regulations under the Act including “Small Vessel Regulations, "Construction Standards for Small Vessels" – TP1332E and "International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 with CanadianModifications" are mandatory.
TP1332E is mandatory to the date of manufacture and states "existing pleasure craft shall comply with this standard insofar as it is reasonable and practicable to do so". TP1332E frequently refers to and is in the process of being harmonized with ABYC® Standards.
American Boat and Yacht Council® – ABYC® "Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft" are generally voluntary and accepted throughout the marine pleasure craft industry as “the” standard. Some ABYC® standards are mandatory as required by Transport Canada “Construction Standards for Small Vessels, TP1332E “.
National Fire Protection Association - NFPA302 "Fire Protection Standard for Pleasure and Commercial Motor Craft" are generally a voluntary with some of its standards mandated by TP1332E.
US Code of Federal Regulations – For vessels to be USCG Documented or state registered, United States Code of Federal Regulations Title 33 and 46 requirements will be applied.
So no, ABYC standards are not mandatory but are routinely accepted in US and Canadian courts as "The Industry Standard". Given that the US has more lawyers than every other country in the world combined and if you keep producing lawyers at the current rate, in 20 years every person in the US will be a lawyer ..... well I thought you'd pay more attention to the "standards" .
STANDARDS USED
Canada Shipping Act (CSA2001) and all regulations under the Act including “Small Vessel Regulations, "Construction Standards for Small Vessels" – TP1332E and "International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 with CanadianModifications" are mandatory.
TP1332E is mandatory to the date of manufacture and states "existing pleasure craft shall comply with this standard insofar as it is reasonable and practicable to do so". TP1332E frequently refers to and is in the process of being harmonized with ABYC® Standards.
American Boat and Yacht Council® – ABYC® "Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft" are generally voluntary and accepted throughout the marine pleasure craft industry as “the” standard. Some ABYC® standards are mandatory as required by Transport Canada “Construction Standards for Small Vessels, TP1332E “.
National Fire Protection Association - NFPA302 "Fire Protection Standard for Pleasure and Commercial Motor Craft" are generally a voluntary with some of its standards mandated by TP1332E.
US Code of Federal Regulations – For vessels to be USCG Documented or state registered, United States Code of Federal Regulations Title 33 and 46 requirements will be applied.
So no, ABYC standards are not mandatory but are routinely accepted in US and Canadian courts as "The Industry Standard". Given that the US has more lawyers than every other country in the world combined and if you keep producing lawyers at the current rate, in 20 years every person in the US will be a lawyer ..... well I thought you'd pay more attention to the "standards" .