What is the definition of a Pleasure Craft?
Pleasure Craft: used for sport or pleasure where the owner does not receive any money for operating the craft or for carrying any passengers.
1. any craft which at the time it is being used is:
- in the case of a craft wholly owned by an individual or individuals, used only for the sport or pleasure of the owner(s) or the immediate family or friends of the owner(s); or
- in the case of a craft owned by a body corporate, used only for sport or pleasure and on which the persons on board are employees or officers of the body corporate, or their immediate family or friends; and
- on a voyage or excursion which is one for which the owner(s) does not receive money for or in connection with operating the craft or carrying any passengers, other than as a contribution to the direct expenses of the operation of the craft at that time; or
2. any craft wholly owned by or on behalf of a members' club formed for the purpose of sport or pleasure which, at the time it is being used, is only for the sport or pleasure of members of that club or their immediate family, and for the use of which any charges levied are paid into club funds and applied for the general use of the club; and
3. in the case of any craft referred to in paragraphs (1) or (2) above no other payments are made by or on behalf of users of thecraft, other than by the owner.
In this definition "immediate family" means- in relation to an individual, the spouse or partner of the individual, and a relative of the individual or the individual's spouse or partner; and "relative" means brother, sister, ancestor or lineal descendant;
Pleasure Craft under 24 metres can be registered under Part III of the UK Ship Register. The craft must be owned by an eligible individual who is ordinarily resident in the UK for 185 days of the year. You can pay and register on-line now for £25.
If your craft is over 24 metres in length you will need to
register under Part I of the UK Ship Register.