Certify It

Stricter NMMA certification guidelines translate into increased consumer safety and benefits.

by Betsy Clayton

January 28, 2008

I f you're in the market for a new boat, you can shop around to find a style and look that suits you. You can read about fuel efficiency and talk to sales representatives about how the boat performs, or even take it for a test drive. But what about knowing whether the boat's battery box is secured properly? How do you know whether or not the fuel tank is mounted in a way that won't mean corrosion and expensive repair bills later? How can you be sure the arc of visibility from the navigation lights will be suitable to keep your family safe after a sunset cruise?

A New Set Of Standards

Fortunately, inspectors such as Clyde Head exist to ensure you don't have to sweat all those seemingly insignificant things that can snowball into major problems down the road. He's among a team of inspectors contracted by the National Marine Manufacturers Association's (NMMA) Certification Program. The Tennessee-based boat inspector travels the country investigating the many nooks and crannies aboard vessels for indications that boats are out of compliance with the association's strict standards, which exceed those standards set by the U.S. Coast Guard. "Along with safety comes a higher-quality vessel providing a satisfying experience on the water both for the original boat owner and future owners of the boat," says Head, who spent 25 years building boats before becoming a certification inspector in 2000.

Good news for buyers shopping now: The 30-some standards Head and his colleagues instruct builders to meet are expanding in 2008 to encompass a wider range of criteria. Also, thanks to a 2007 mandate that all NMMA-member builders will go through the certification process, an increasing number of builders are joining the inspection program. As a result, there are more NMMA-certified boats out on the market now than ever before. As of early November 2007, a total of 270 NMMA-member manufacturers have become certified, with another 80 currently undergoing the process. By early 2008, an estimated 290 to 330 builders are expected to be certified.

"We're adding more criteria for certification," says Robert Newsome, director of engineering standards at the Chicago-based NMMA. "We're broadening it to cover more." For example, 2008 standards added to the NMMA's inspection list include battery chargers and inverters, prop shafting systems, propulsion control systems, and electric and electronic prop control systems. In 2009, the list will include inspections of such items as galley stoves, refrigeration systems and air-conditioning equipment.

Savings and Safety

Such details don't have to bog down your boat shopping experience, though. That's part of the point of NMMA certification. Buyers just have to look for inspection stickers so they know they're looking at a product that met superior standards while it was still at the builder's yard. "Even the up-to-date, latest trinkets people like to have on boats are being certified," says Craig Scholten, director of product compliance for Genmar. "The things you can't see are where the extra level of time, research and money went into the product."

The net result? Think higher levels of safety and fewer warranty problems. "The certified boat is being built to standards so it's going to be less susceptible to issues that can occur with a boat once you've had it two, five or 10 years," Scholten says. And don't think you'll have to pay more for a boat from a builder with NMMA certification for its products. Most manufacturers spend about $1,500 to gain the marine equivalent of the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval," Newsome explains. In turn, they save money because their product liability insurance can decrease due to certification. "It can equal savings to the consumer," he says.

Savings and safety are two good selling points these days, says Tom Nichols, owner of Bonita Boat Center in Bonita Springs, Fla. Certification is an enhancement that can bring a level of comfort to buyers. They don't just have to believe the dealer to whom they're speaking - the sticker is right there on the capacity plate. "The type of new boater who is just going into buying and knows nothing about boats can have that sticker as something to look for," says Nichols.

Inside The Inspection Process

Protecting new consumers is at the crux of the issue for the NMMA. While all boats in the United States must meet applicable U.S. Coast Guard regulations, boats built by manufacturers participating in the NMMA Certification Program must also meet the more comprehensive standards set by the American Boat and Yacht Council. After receiving the third-party inspection and certification, the builder then has to maintain an ongoing, formal Customer Satisfaction Index program. In this capacity, the NMMA Certification Program covers more than 30 categories of standards, which vary by boat type and size, and may include fuel systems, ventilation, passenger and weight capacities, horsepower capacity, flotation, electrical systems, navigation lights, warning label placement and guidelines, and steering systems. Each inspection takes four to 15 hours, and an inspector will look at each model while at a plant - all in various stages of being built.

Craig Scholten of Genmar, for one, says he appreciates the intensity of this process. Inspectors want to see that his crew has tried to break things, fix them and then test the boats prior to inspection. "This is not a rubber stamp," says Scholten, who had just been through two days with an inspector at the time of this interview. "It's a real process based on technology and statistics." By and large, in fact, a majority of the boating industry is supportive of the NMMA's efforts to raise the overall standards of boat manufacturing. "NMMA's Certification leads to a safer product," says Dave Marlow, director of product integrity for Brunswick Boat Group. "For a boater, it means a greater peace of mind."

As for the NMMA's part, inspector Denis Bonneau says he's convinced NMMA certification helps builders validate their product in a productive way. He's seen tangible results to this effect as certification criteria have evolved. "The benefits include helping to inform and remind the operator about specific areas of concern though the use of our warning labels," explains Bonneau, who has been an NMMA inspector for two years, but originally started in the business back in 1986.

A Growing Trend

Now that all NMMA manufacturer members must go through certification, there's a guarantee to prospective buyers that at least 80 percent of the boats they see will be safer. Currently, the NMMA represents 80 percent of all U.S. builders. Expect that percentage to grow, however, because - according to Newsome - the demand for NMMA Certification overseas has increased tremendously. He's now working with builders in Asia, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere in the world, and he explains, "Foreign as well as domestic boat builders are seeing its value, and consumers more and more are demanding NMMA Certification when shopping and buying."

Checking On Certification

Need to know if a boat is NMMA certified? Here’s how to find out:

• Go online to www.discoverboating.com, and click on the certification logo for a complete list of NMMA-certified boat builders.

• When boat shopping, make sure to look for the certification logo on the boat — it’s typically located on the capacity plate, or sometimes you can find it near the boat company’s logo.