NMMA Certification is the premier product certification program for boats, yachts, boat trailers, personal watercraft and marine oils in the United States. The program focuses on helping marine manufacturers provide safe products.
NMMA Boat & Yacht Certification works with boatbuilders to ensure their products are built to applicable standards set by the American Boat & Yacht Council. ABYC standards are continuously researched, developed and revised by volunteer marine professionals. In product liability lawsuits, ABYC standards are the authoritative reference for evaluating issues of design, construction, maintenance and product performance.
As these standards are reviewed and updated to align with current product designs and technology, the oversight committee for the NMMA Certification program adopts them to ensure the consumer has a safe, enjoyable experience. New to the 2023 model year were two standards adopted by the NMMA Certification program: ABYC E-30 Electric Propulsion Systems and ABYC P-28 Electric/Electronic Control Systems for Propulsion and Steering.
Published in 2021, the E-30 Electric Propulsion Systems standard is an excellent resource for marine manufacturers. This standard addresses the design, construction and installation of alternating current and direct current electrical systems on boats for the purpose of propulsion. The E-30 standard covers such topics as labeling and warnings, monitoring, grounding, battery switches and more. If you are building or plan to develop boats with electric propulsion systems, this standard is a must-read.
It specifically applies to AC systems on boats operating at line-to-line voltages of more than 300 VAC but less than 1,000 VAC, and to DC systems operating at more than 60 VDC nominal but less than 1,000 VDC, including battery banks, motors and controllers for the purpose of propulsion.
Published in 2020, the P-28 Electric/Electronic Control Systems for Propulsion and Steering standard combines the previous requirements of ABYC P-24 and P-27 with a few new concepts, such as the zone of protection. This standard addresses the design, construction, testing and installation of electric/electronic control systems that consist of one or more of the following features: steering, forward or reverse thrust, speed, and tilt/trim of propulsion machinery. It applies to physically wired and wireless electric/electronic control systems for steering equipment, propulsion machinery and trim/tilt of propulsion machinery. This standard also addresses the marking and orientation of controls.
The addition of these standards improves the overall safety of the product and increases the importance of choosing a product that has undergone a significant deep-dive inspection by a third-party to achieve the only marine certification offered in the United States. The Boat & Yacht Certification Committee is currently conducting a thorough review of ABYC’s A-4 Fire Fighting and E-13 Lithium-Ion Batteries standards for the 2025 model year.
There are many critical components to achieving NMMA Certification. Boatbuilders must submit applications for all models, and each model must be physically inspected annually by an NMMA inspector. Further, a manufacturer must demonstrate that all variances found during the inspection have been corrected. The builder is responsible for ensuring that all production units are manufactured in compliance with the certified design.
Program participants must certify all recreational models (except racing vessels) marketed in the United States for non-commercial use. The annual requirements for NMMA Certification are outlined in the certification agreement and published policies/documents. The standards used each model year are outlined within the standards basis. As a result, NMMA Certified products are seven times less likely to be involved in a Coast Guard, federally mandated recall.
As we look ahead to a model year transition, it’s important to include an NMMA certified inspector as part of your transition team. We are here to assist. Annual inspection schedules fill up fast, so reach out to your NMMA inspector today to ensure you are inspected as early as possible to mitigate potential exposure.
In addition to your NMMA-certified inspector, your model year transition team will include: design (for new components and parts for the product line); supply chain (unfortunately disruptions continue); sales and marketing (product updates, from digital to brochures); logistics; and production.
The Boat Builders Guide to Certification is an electronic brochure that explains the process for prospective builders and can be found at nmma.org/certification.
Scott Berry is senior director, engineering standards, for the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
This article was originally published in the March 2023 issue.
