CE marking for boats
The Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) outlines the legal safety standards your vessel must comply with to be sold in Europe. This includes sales in the UK.
It is very similar to the Recreational Craft Regulations (RCR). The RCR can be used to demonstrate compliance for boats sold only in the UK.
Helping you to quickly and confidently comply with CE regulations
As an accredited EU Notified Body, we issue certificates for vessels covered by the EU Recreational Craft Directive (RCD).
An RCD certificate allows you to display CE marks, demonstrating that your vessel meets the requirements. You can use the CE mark on boats sold across Europe, including the UK. The RCD also enjoys recognition in many global markets, such as Australia, Mauritius, and Hong Kong.
What is the EU Recreational Craft Directive?
Official Reference: 2013/53/EU
Directive 2013/53/EU (known as RCD II) replaced RCD I which carried the references 94/25/EC and as amended by 2003/44/EC.
Scope of the EU Recreational Craft Directive
The Recreational Craft Directive covers the design and manufacture of recreational boats and personal watercraft, but it does not regulate their operation. It applies to craft with hull lengths from 2.5 m to 24 m (8 ft 2 in to 78 ft 8 in).
The Directive applies to:
All new craft
Second-hand craft imported into the EU, regardless of age
Craft that has undergone a Major Craft Conversion
Recreational craft previously used as commercial vessels
Manufacturers must assign a design category to each boat. This category sets targets for the craft’s assessment. The Directive also identifies five groups of components that must receive CE marking before entering the market.
Certification for boat components
We also provide CE certification for components. These are:
- Ignition-protected equipment for use in petrol engine and tank spaces.
- Start-in-gear protection devices for outboard engines.
- Steering wheels, steering mechanisms and cable assemblies.
- Fuel tanks intended for fixed installations and fuel hoses.
- Prefabricated hatches and portlights.
Do I need to comply with the RCD or RCR?
RCD covers Europe and the UK. The RCR covers only the UK. The CE mark is the equivalent to the UKCA mark. It is possible to display both CE and UKAS marks if wanted. As an Accredited Notified Body for the EU and an Approved Body for the UK, we can issue both. This saves you duplication and costs.
Exclusions to the RCD
Several exclusions remove the requirement to comply with the RCD. These include craft with unconventional modes of operation, such as hydrofoils. In these cases, we provide risk assessments to help you reduce liability and meet your insurance and funder requirements.
One of the most common questions we receive asks, “Are commercial boats exempt from the EU Recreational Craft Directive?” The answer depends on the situation. For more details, read our FAQ: When is a commercial craft exempt from CE marking under the RCD?
Vessels used exclusively for racing also fall under an exclusion, provided they are clearly labelled as such. If a craft primarily serves racing purposes but occasionally cruises, it does not qualify for the exclusion.
The following shall be excluded from the scope of the Directive:
Excluded from scope
(i) watercraft intended solely for racing, including rowing racing boats and training rowing boats, labelled as such by the manufacturer;
(ii) canoes and kayaks designed to be propelled solely by human power, gondolas and pedalos;
(iii) surfboards designed solely to be propelled by wind and to be operated by a person or persons standing;
(iv) surfboards;
(v) original historical watercraft and individual replicas thereof designed before 1950, built predominantly with the original materials and labelled as such by the manufacturer;
(vi) experimental watercraft, provided that they are not placed on the Union market;
(vii) watercraft built for own use, provided that they are not subsequently placed on the Union market during a period of five years from the putting into service of the watercraft;
(viii) watercraft specifically intended to be crewed and to carry passengers for commercial purposes, without prejudice to paragraph 3, regardless of the number of passengers;
(ix) submersibles;
(x) air cushion vehicles;
(xi) hydrofoils;
(xii) external combustion steam powered watercraft, fueled by coal, coke, wood, oil or gas;
(xiii) amphibious vehicles, i.e. wheeled or track-laying motor vehicles, which are able to operate both on water and on solid land.
Products are either in scope and must be CE marked or they are outside the scope and cannot be CE marked. CE marking is not a matter of choice!
As there is no legal means whereby an excluded product can be CE marked. We will let you know if you do not need RCD certification.
Take a look at the EU website on CE marking.
What are Harmonised Standards?
Harmonised Standards define the technical requirements for the design, materials, production, and testing of recreational craft. Following these standards ensures your craft meets the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) and achieves CE marking compliance.
Although applying Harmonised Standards is not mandatory, you can use an alternative standard or solution if it provides equivalent safety. Demonstrating equivalent safety can be challenging, so we recommend applying Harmonised Standards whenever possible.
HPiVS can advise on alternative methods and guide you through the RCD compliance process, helping your craft achieve CE certification efficiently and safely.
Click here to visit the EU Commission’s website for an up-to-date list of Harmonised Standards for RCD as these are regularly revised.
Online Access to the latest compliance standards
We’ve created Rulefinder to give marine industry professionals comprehensive access and unique insights into compliance. It provides the information you need to design, manufacture or assess products against EU and UK legislation including EN and ISO standards.
With specialist insights from our team and live cross-referencing, Rulefinder is a powerful, time-saving tool.
We offer a flexible range of cost-effective subscription packages to meet your individual needs. Find out more.
Can I self–certify or do I need to use a Notified Body like HPiVS?
The Directive provides a range of Conformity Assessment Modules that define the required documentation and the level of involvement from a Notified Body. HPiVS helps you choose the right module based on your vessel’s risk level and design category to ensure full RCD compliance.
Even if your vessel does not legally require assessment by a Notified Body, you can choose this option to gain extra peace of mind and demonstrate reliability to potential buyers.
For vessels opting for self-certification, our CEproof software streamlines the process. CEproof guides you through submitting your CE marking applications in the correct format, saving time and helping your craft meet Recreational Craft Directive requirements efficiently.
CE marking questions
Does my CE compliant vessel or component need to comply with UKAS RCR?
Since 1 January 2025, CE certification can be used to place a product on the UK market as well as Europe. This is because the RCD and RCR are virtually identical and the UK government has agreed that CE certification is evidence of conformity to UK RCR standards. UKCA marking can still be arranged and is valid for placing products on the market in the UK only.
For more information, see the UK Government’s website and download their guidance document.
Can a CE marked product already on the market, subsequently be UKCA marked?
A product already on the market, marked with a CE marking, cannot subsequently be UKCA marked, unless it has undergone full conformity assessment by a UK Approved Body and meets all the essential requirements.
Can a product be dual marked CE and UKCA?
Yes, but only, and before placing on market:
- a) where an EU Notified Body has completed conformity assessment procedures for CE marking, and
- b) where a UK Approved Body has completed conformity assessment procedures for UKCA marking, and it meets all the essential safety requirements
OR from 1 October 2024:
- c) where an EU Notified Body has completed conformity assessment procedures for CE marking and it meets all the essential safety requirements, the product can also be UKCA marked, or
- d) where an EU Notified Body has begun conformity assessment procedures for CE marking, and these have then been completed by a UK Approved Body for UKCA marking and it meets all the essential safety requirements, the product can be UKCA marked.
Read the UK Government’s website and download their guidance document.