WELCOME to my website.  A portal for persons getting into the boat building/manufacturing business of recreational boats.  It explains Federal regulations and industry standards in plain english.  Regulations are laws that a boat builder/manufacturer must comply with, but often written in legal terms.  The general public does not talk in legalese.  I have tried to cut through the fog and make it understandable.  None of the information on this site has been generated by A.I.  It is all the result of years of education and experience, by me and others in the boatbuilding industry. The photographs were taken by me, unless I credit them to another photographer.

The U.S. Coast Guard enforces the Federal Regulations for building recreational boats.  They cover Hull Identification Numbers, Manufacturer Identification Codes, Safety Labels, how many people the boat can carry (persons capacity), how heavy a load is safe (maximu weight capacity),  built-in flotation, outboard horsepower, electrical systems and ventilation of fuel/engine compartments.  There are more. There is a Chart of these regulations here; chart of the regulations.

Industries do not like regulations. They form standards associations made up of industry representatives, the general public, and anyone who takes an interest in the product that industry produces.  Examples of this are the Society of Automotive Engineers.  (SAE), The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the National Electrical Code (NEC). The American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) is the association for the boat building industry. Committees of volunteers formulate safety standards. Standards are not laws, but they are a mutally agreed consensus of best practices. Occasionally these standards are adopted by Federal, State and local governments as laws. Boat builders should be acquainted with the standards for the boats they are building.  I try to explain some of these standards.  ABYC standards cover many things the US Coast Guard does not regulate. I include standards that relate to the Federal Regulations or are important for the builder to know.

This is also a useful tool for boat owners.  Many boat owners want to know what horsepower outboard they can put on their boat.  They want to rewire the electrical system. (see "14 Steps to Wiring Your Boat".) Some want to build their own boat.  This is a useful guide to that.   "Ike's List" provides links to just about everything boat building, including a separate page for electrical links.  Thi site works with all devices, PCs, Tablets, and mobile devices. If you have any issues or comments  Contact Me Here. Updated 07/04/2025.  See More.....

Notice: 08/21/2025: 

ABYC and U.S. Coast Guard Launch Recreational Boat Regulations Certification

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Aug. 21, 2025) – The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch, has announced the launch of the USCG Recreational Boat Regulations Certification course. This program equips marine industry professionals with the knowledge to meet federal requirements for new recreational boats manufactured or imported for sale in the United States.

“Compliance with federal regulations is essential for safety, and we are pleased to announce the availability of this new course,” said Jeff Ludwig, chief of the Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch at the U.S. Coast Guard. “Anyone involved in the manufacture of recreational boats should strongly consider taking it to ensure that they have the knowledge to build boats that are compliant with US Coast Guard requirements.”

The course guides participants through a typical USCG inspection at a boat manufacturer or dealer, providing practical guidance for compliance. Topics include certification labeling, hull identification numbers, capacity and loading requirements, flotation, electrical and ventilation systems, marine sanitation devices, engine cut-off switches, start-in-gear protection, navigation lights, and backfire flame arrestors.

Upon passing the certification exam, candidates earn the Regulatory Specialist designation, demonstrating their expertise in federal recreational boating regulations.

“The launch of this course marks more than a year and a half of development,” said Tim Murphy, ABYC education director. “In December 2023 we gathered subject-matter experts—boatbuilders, compliance inspectors, standards developers, and US Coast Guard staff—to lay out the competencies required to certify a Recreational Boat Regulatory Specialist. This collaboration ensures the certification reflects both regulatory requirements and the real-world challenges faced by manufacturers.”

For more information or to register, visit https://abycinc.org/USCGcert.