T&T: ABYC Standards

[BillEGates at aol.com]

> >Unfortunately, while many of the ABYC standards come from good
> engineering practices, many standards also originated from
> manufacturers that would benefit from the implementation of that
> standard. Not that ABYC is the only organization that is
> afflicted by this problem.  Many regulations and laws in the US
> also originated that way.
>
> Fortunately, in the commercial marine market, you don't see
> these problems quite as often as in ABYC (but they are there).
>
> Dave Legrow<
>
> --------
Also;
> It  would be a lot easier to comply if ABYC didn't charge over $3,000 for
their  recommendations!  I'm not defending those that don't use best 
practices.  With enough digging you can get excerpts of what you  need.  Its
just rubs
me the wrong way to think these recommendations are  worth $3,000.  Compare
this to the National Electric Code that's available  from Amazon for $67.50
and
it becomes increasingly difficult to justify the cost  of the ABYC
recommendations.     (sorry I don't remember who posted this)<

--------


Dave you are both right and wrong. The ABYC technical committees are made up
of representatives of the marine manufacturing industry. I can speak on the
ABYC electrical projects technical committee of which I am one of its 42
members. We do the infamous E-11, AC and DC wiring on boats document. There
are
representatives of component manufacturers, engine manufacturers, the USCG,
boat
builders, surveyors, and the NMMA. The ABYC diversifies their committee
membership to get the technical and practical expertise needed to write and
keep the
standard current to the boat builder, surveyor and user. I represent the
everyday boater on the committee, but have a background in electrical
generation and
control electronics. In fact the ABYC committees are much like this forum,
which joins the expertise of extremely knowledgeable individuals into a common
"forum" in which we can assertion the best and most appropriate truth in and
somewhat fluid industry.
I tell you frankly that 70% of our time is spent in getting the wording of
the ABYC standard just right. To cover as many situations a practicable, from
a
14' boat, to a sixty footer. And we also take into account other US and
international standards when we do so, so we do not conflict with them.

Bob Austin is right, the ABYC membership is about $245 a year, and you can
buy the US Rules and Regulations for Recreational Boats, (the CFR's) for
$24.95,
(this is what the USGC goes by).
But I feel the pain of spending $245. I have brought up and will continue to
bring up that the boater needs limited access to these standards to follow the
practices the ABYC dictates to manufactures and surveyors at a nominal cost.
And that $245 is unreasonable for that access.

To Dave Legrow again, Dave when a circuit breaker manufacturer sits down as a
member of the ABYC electrical committee, they do so disregarding personal
interest. I guarantee you that this is the case. They supply extremely
valuable
information in regard to what is available, and what is practical in regard to
specifications and manufacturing. They are not self serving. Truly this group
would never allow it. I have never seen a hint of it, ever.

I cannot speak on the Lloyds standards, but I have worked with VDC, CSA, UL,
as well a the NEFC.

The ABYC produces the "Standard and Technical information Reports for Small
Craft."
It is the boat builders bible of sorts, and depending on the form you use, it
is from 2" (its newest softcover incarnation) to 4" thick in the original
binder, or available on a searchable CD rom. That is to say, a massive amount
of
current and continuously updating information to digest on boats.


Captain James Clausen
Orlando Fl       billegates at aol.com



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