This page is designed to help people decide on the requirements of a pleasure vessel. If you are unsure if your vessel is commercial or a pleasure vessel, you may also want to use our online calculator, which will point you in the right direction as to whether the vessel is a commercial vessel or a pleasure vessel.
A pleasure vessel is a vessel under 13.7m that is used entirely by an individual, their immediate family or friends or, in the case of a body corporate, employees or officers of the body corporate, or their immediate family or friends. If the vessel is owned by a club, then the club must be formed for the purpose of sport or pleasure and at the time the vessel is being used, is used only for the sport or pleasure of members of that club or their immediate family.
If the vessel is over 13.7m, then the vessel would fall under class rules and would be deemed to be a Class XII vessel. This means that certain Life Saving equipment would be mandated to be onboard, and also the vessel must meet certain standards of fire protection.