Twenty-two New Zealand trailer power boatbuilders have signed on to a national certification programme that subjects their construction standards to annual independent audit.
The CPC (Compliance Plate Certification) programme, endorsed by Coastguard NZ and NZ Marine, covers fibreglass and aluminium boats plus RIBs. It assesses not only design but workmanship — a point of difference from many compliance schemes, according to the organisations behind it.
"NZ Marine set a very high standard of quality for boat construction, and Coastguard New Zealand's job is to make sure people are safe on the water," says NZ Marine executive director Callum Gillespie. "This programme sees those two organisations come together to ensure boats are high quality even before they are launched."
The audit covers materials and structural design, fuel and electrical systems, bilge pumps and on-water performance. All manufacturers building to the CPC standard are also members of NZ Marine. The programme also carries a two-year structural guarantee.
Participating builders include Stabicraft, Rayglass, Haines Hunter, Extreme Boats, McLay Boats, Tristram Boats, Fi-Glass, DNA Boats and Machina Peritia.
For buyers, the practical takeaway is simple: look for the CPC compliance plate when inspecting a new boat, and check the manufacturer against the published list at cpcstandard.com before signing anything.
