COF

Certificate of Fitness

A certificate of fitness is the vessel’s license and gives it the right to be on the water. The certificate is valid for 12 months and is issued by an approved SAMSA surveyor.

The following must be on the vessel to receive a COF for Category R (Dams, Rivers etc):

Item Description
Life Jacket
  • The life jackets must be SABS approved and carry the SAMSA stamp of approval.
  • They must not be faded.
  • There must be no loose stitching.
  • The buoyancy foam must not be compressed.
  • The tying tapes, zips or clips must be in a good condition.
  • A whistle is secured in a place with a short lanyard.
Bailing Bucket
  • All vessels which do not have a self-draining system must have a bailing bucket.
  • A bucket made of metal has the added advantage that it can be used as a sound signaling device by banging on it for attention.
Alternative Steering
  • To be used when the steering becomes defective.
Kill Switch Lanyard
  • Must have a clip which can be connected to the skipper.
Fire Extinguisher
  • One 1.5kg dry powder or suitable approved extinguisher per engine.
  • Should be mounted horizontally near the motor.
  • It must be turned and shaken regularly to prevent the powder from setting hard in the container.
  • Small extinguishers should have an average discharge time of 20 seconds.
  • Must be serviced once a year by an approved SABS dealer
Fuel Tank
  • Must be made of approved material
  • Not in the same compartment as batteries and electric cables
  • Clearly marked as fuel
  • Stored in well-ventilated area
First Aid First Aid kit, must have at least the following:

  • Wound cleaner / antiseptic (50ml)
  • Swabs for cleaning wounds
  • Cotton wool for padding (100g)
  • Sterile gauze (minimum quantity 10)
  • 1 pair of forceps (for splinters)
  • 1 pair of scissors (minimum size 100mm)
  • 1 set of safety pins
  • 2 triangular bandages
  • 2 roller bandages (75mm x 5m)
  • 2 roller bandages (100mm x 5m)
  • 1 roll of elastic adhesive (25mm x 3m)
  • 1 Non-allergenic adhesive strip (25mm x 3m)2. First Aid Manual must be on board.
Anchor
  • The length of line needed should be at least 3 times the depth of the spot you wish to anchor
  •  Chain of at least 3 meters connecting the anchor to the rope.
Registration Number

No vessel may go in the water unless it has an approved number. The following is important:

  • An approved registration number on each side of the vessel. Surveyors can issue a number.
  • Only one number is allowed per vessel.
  • The size of the letters must be approx. 150mm high and each letter 25mm wide.

The ID number of a vessel is issued to the owner of the vessel who will be responsible for the behavior of the vessel. The number belongs to the owner and not the vessel. A number cannot be transferred – a new owner must get a new number.
Flags

The following flags, where applicable, should be on the boat:

1. Red flag when towing skiers

 

 

 

 

2. Blue and white flag when dropping divers.

 

 

 

3. The V-flag to wave should the boat experience problems.
Buoyancy Certificate Valid buoyancy certificate.
A buoyancy of at least 30% is required for R category vessels.

The following is good to have.

  1. Pump & repair kit (Rubber duck)
  2. Bilge
  3. PVC safety equipment bag
  4. Tools to do maintenance

The following must be on the vessel to receive a COF for Category E (1nm Sea):

Item Description
Life Jacket
  • The life jackets must be SABS approved and carry the SAMSA stamp of approval.
  • They must not be faded.
  • There must be no loose stitching.
  • The buoyancy foam must not be compressed.
  • The tying tapes, zips or clips must be in a good condition.
  • A whistle is secured in a place with a short lanyard.
Bailing Bucket
  • All vessels which do not have a self-draining system must have a bailing bucket.
  • A bucket made of metal has the added advantage that it can be used as a sound signaling device by banging on it for attention.
Hand Held Smoke Marker Unexpired, approved.
Alternative Steering To be used when the steering becomes defective.
Kill Switch Lanyard Must have a clip which can be connected to the skipper.
Fire Extinguisher
  • One 1.5kg dry powder or suitable approved extinguisher per engine.
  • Should be mounted horizontally near the motor.
  • It must be turned and shaken regularly to prevent the powder from setting hard in the container.
  • Small extinguishers should have an average discharge time of 20 seconds.
  • Must be serviced once a year by an approved SABS dealer
Fuel Tank
  • Must be made of approved material
  • Not in the same compartment as batteries and electric cables
  • Clearly marked as fuel
  • Stored in well-ventilated area
First Aid First Aid kit and must have at least the following:

  • Wound cleaner / antiseptic (50ml)
  • Swabs for cleaning wounds
  • Cotton wool for padding (100g)
  • Sterile gauze (minimum quantity 10)
  • 1 pair of forceps (for splinters)
  • 1 pair of scissors (minimum size 100mm)
  • 1 set of safety pins
  • 2 triangular bandages
  • 2 roller bandages (75mm x 5m)
  • 2 roller bandages (100mm x 5m)
  • 1 roll of elastic adhesive (25mm x 3m)
  • 1 Non-allergenic adhesive strip (25mm x 3m)2. First Aid Manual must be on board.
Anchor
  • Vessels of 6 (six) metres and more – at least 5 (five) metres
  • Vessels under 6 (six) metres – at least 3 metres
  • Length of Rope at least 50 metres
  • Inspect weak link .
2 Oars or paddles Only for single outboard engine vessels
Capsize rope
  • For use when vessel is inverted in the water
  • Rope to be attached when proceeding to sea.
Watertight capsize bottle.
  • Attached to vessel with rope readily accessible in event of capsize
  • Containing flares, survival and emergency equipment.
  • The rope length must not be less than 1.5 times the length of the vessel and manufactured to be non-slip.
Flags The following flags, where applicable, should be on the boat:

1. Red flag when towing skiers

 

 

 

 

2. Blue and white flag when dropping divers.

 

 

 

3. The V-flag to wave should the boat experience problems.
Engine Power Every motorised vessel must have an engine capable of propelling the vessel in its fully loaded condition at a speed of at least 5 knots.

If operating in a surf, each engine must be capable of propelling the vessel at a safe speed when operating in surf conditions. (rough conditions)
Buoyancy Certificate
  • Valid buoyancy certificate.
  • A buoyancy of at least 60% is required for E category vessels.
Spares
  • Adequate for the purpose of carrying out emergency repairs to machinery and essential equipment aboard
Tools
  • Adequate for the purpose of carrying out emergency repairs to machinery and essential equipment aboard
Marking of Equipment
  • All life-jackets, buoyancy aids, life-buoys, Dan-buoys, flares, oars, paddles and life-rafts are to be permanently marked with the vessel’s name or approved marking.
Marking of Trailer Where any vessel is launched from a trailer other than a dolly at a private launching site the trailer must be marked in a conspicuous position, with the vessel’s name, or approved marking and with the owner’s name and emergency contact number.
Registration Number No vessel may go into the water unless it has an approved number. The following is important:

1. An approved registration number on each side of the vessel. Surveyors can issue a number.
2. Only one number is allowed per vessel.
3. The size of the letters must be approx. 150mm high and each letter 25mm wide.

The ID number of a vessel is issued to the owner of the vessel who will be responsible for the behavior of the vessel. The number belongs to the owner and not the vessel. A number cannot be transferred – a new owner must get a new number.