On 2006-04-08 13:26:45 -0400, "Dennis Pogson"
said:

wrote:
More and more I see CE classification affixed on sailboat
specifications

Larger boat tend to be rated as A and other B,C and D.

Does A means that the sailboat is building to withstand the rigor of
long passage or does it mean that it has more stowage space?

Other sailboats have "Lloyd certification"

It's a European Directive which means very little in practical terms.

It does have a bit to do with where the boats are approved for use at.

A) is Ocean rated, and means that the boat should be capable of
bluewater passages.
B) is Offshore use, but not qualified for bluewater passages
C) is Inshore use, meant for protected bays, coastal cruising, etc.
D) is Protected waters use only.

A link of interest is http://www.rbbi.com/folders/cemark/rmnart.htm

It does have a bit to do with where the boats are approved for use at.

Approved by bureaucrats in Brussels who's primary interest is in
protecting the boat building industry Western Europe. Duffers
shouldn't take boats off shore; if not duffers they'll be able to
judge the risks they take for themselves.

-- Tom.

A - "Ocean" exceeding F8 and exceeding 4m significant wave height
B - "Offshore" up to, and including, F8 and up to, and including, 4m
waves
C - "Inshore" up to, and including, F6 up to, and including, 2m waves
D - "Sheltered waters" up to, and including, F4 up to, and including,
0,3m waves with odd wave to 0.5m.

Recreational Craft Directives applies to 2.5m - 24m sports and pleasure
vessels sold within EU, with some exclusions - for example replicas of
craft designed pre 1950. Pulls together a load of ISO standards
covering all aspects of vessel design and construction.

No more bureaucratic than ABYC/USCG standards and used by US boat
builders who want to market in Europe.

Lloyds standards, or indeed any other Bureau standards, are acceptable.