Whenever you are on the planet, we encourage you to buy your
personal watercraft from official dealers in your home country. You
will benefit from a full warranty, the expertise of your dealers
for parts and accessories, services and maintenance as well as be
informed in case of safety recall. It will also ensure that your
vessel is fully compliant with local your national regulations.
The EU
Some people try to import PWCs into the EU privately having
either owned them elsewhere or have purchased them from a US
dealer. Although you might be a private owner, these PWCs are still
required to meet EU requirements under the Recreational Craft
Directive (RCD) for construction, engine exhaust emissions and
sound emissions (a maximum limit). This is the same "conformity
assessment" as a new craft. While craft purchased in the USA may
meet the construction requirements, there is no guarantee they will
meet the EU's engine exhaust emissions and sound emissions
limits.
You will need to employ a so-called Notified Body which are the
inspectors authorised by the EU member states, to carry out the
conformity assessment on your PWC. Their details can be found here. At least three
of these notified bodies carry out these "post construction
assessment" on PWCs. They are HPi Verification Services Ltd (UK)
and IMCI (Belgium).
Should you seek to avoid these tests you are in breach of EU law
and in countries where there is registration your registration will
likely be refused. It may also affect the re-sale value of your PWC
and you may not receive support or information from the official
dealer network.
