Inspection

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KoPu follows the inspection practice of the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation (SPV). New boats joining the club undergo a full inspection in their year of joining, or by the following season at the latest. All boats have a full inspection every five years, and an annual inspection must be done every year by the end of June.

• See the inspection guide here (SPV)
• See also the inspection classes (SPV)
• Inspection classes / Distress signalling equipment

Inspectors and contact details

The general inspection days and the inspectors' contact details are listed in the club's electronic inspection booking calendar and in the club's publications. You can reach the chief inspector at katsastus (at) kopu.fi

Booking an inspection time

The electronic registration form opens when you are logged in with your KoPu credentials.

Inspection practice

Boats must be inspected annually. Only an inspected boat is entitled to fly the club's ensign. The general inspection days in May–June are in the calendar on the website. If a boat is inspected in another club, the boater must allow an electronic inspection outside the club in Suuli. If the inspection is not done in Suuli, it can be done as a so-called paper inspection, in which case a photo/scan of the inspection certificate must be sent by email to the chief inspector so the information can be transferred into Suuli.

The inspection is recorded in "Suuli" and on the boat certificate. The boat certificate is kept on board, and if needed you can print the inspection report yourself from the Suuli interface. The boat certificate is valid from the inspection day until the end of June the following year. In all cases, responsibility for having the inspection done on time rests with the boating member themselves.

Having the boat inspected entitles you to a reduced insurance premium with most insurers. An uninspected boat is removed from the club's vessel register, the boat is treated as a boat outside the club, and the owner is charged a neglect fee.

Responsibility for the boat and the safety of the people on board lies with the boat's owner and, while under way, with the person acting as its skipper. Inspection does not release them from this responsibility.

Full inspection of keelboats

A boat must undergo a full inspection if even one of the following conditions is met:

• The boat is entered as a new boat in KoPu's vessel register, or its keeper changes (i.e. this condition applies even if the keeper changes within KoPu)
• The boat has been ashore / uninspected for more than one sailing season, even if there is no change in ownership
• Five years have passed since the previous full inspection. You can tell this clearly from the boat certificate being "full" in terms of the annual-inspection boxes. You can also check this in Suuli (instructions for logging in are elsewhere)

A full inspection has two parts. A hull inspection is carried out before the boat is launched, and an equipment inspection on the water with the boat in sailing condition.

A full inspection checks all the points required by the SPV inspection rules. It is worth checking that the through-hull fittings work well in good time before the hull inspection, because replacing them is a somewhat time-consuming job, and a malfunction is an absolute ground for rejection.

Boat owners are reminded of the full inspection by email during the spring, to the email address recorded in Suuli. Boaters should contact the inspector organisation and agree the inspection time and procedure in good time before the boat is launched.

The hull inspection goes best when the winter cover has been removed but there is as little equipment inside the boat as possible.

The full inspection of new boats joining the club is aimed to be done at the start of the season when the boat joins. If a boat arrives at the club on its own keel or goes straight into the water from road transport, the hull inspection is done in the autumn or by the following season at the latest. In that case the equipment inspection done at KoPu is enough for the right to fly the ensign. The boat owner can collect the ensign from the clubhouse during office hours by presenting the inspection report showing the current season's inspection entries.

Annual inspection of keelboats

The annual inspection checks safety-related equipment and installations, such as

• buoyancy equipment
• the installation certificate and condition of LPG installations
• parachute rockets and red flares with valid manufacturer's markings
• fire extinguishers carry the current year's inspection marking
• the operation of the navigation lights
• the operation of the anchor light
• lifebuoy
• fire alarm
• signal shapes and sound signalling device
• fire blanket
• emergency tools

If there are deficiencies in the highlighted items or the boat is not in sailing condition, the inspection is suspended. Other deficiencies must be corrected according to the procedure agreed with the inspector.

In addition, specific items that change each year are checked, or boaters are informed of current matters.

If a boat is away from Finnish territorial waters for more than one sailing season, the inspection procedure must be agreed with the chief inspector. If there is an insurmountable obstacle to completing the inspection, or you do not intend to launch the boat, contact the chief inspector before the last inspection day marked in the activity calendar.

If something is unclear, ask the inspectors.