On October 21, all the rules set forth in the new Implementing Regulation of the Pleasure Boating Code will come into full effect. Many new measures are aimed at revitalizing the sector, but more could have been done—first and foremost by drastically lowering the power limit for “license-free” engines
In Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s celebrated novel The Leopard, one of the protagonists, Tancredi Falconeri, utters a line that has become famous: “If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” Words that still perfectly capture the strategy of certain power circles who pretend to adapt to changing times, while in reality aiming to preserve their positions and privileges.
A similar situation seems to have unfolded in the pleasure boating sector with the entry into force of the new Implementing Regulation of the Pleasure Boating Code, published in the Official Gazette on September 21 of last year, partially effective as of October 21 and fully operational from the upcoming October 21. It was well known that Italy’s Navigation Code needed updating, but equally well known was the reluctance with which such an undertaking was viewed by those operating in a sector that, despite outdated regulations, had nonetheless found its own equilibrium. The fear that these balances might be upset to the detriment of industry professionals was strong; hence, on several occasions, those very professionals urged politicians to “move with lead shoes” or not move at all.
It was a paradoxical situation, further complicated by the need to reconcile two conflicting requirements: “Safety” and “Business.” Protecting the former had to avoid damaging the latter, already struggling due to the economic crisis that has shrunk the middle and upper-middle classes once able to purchase and maintain boats. Eventually, a compromise was reached, and the regulations governing the use and features of pleasure craft were updated—though at times in questionable, even fanciful ways, and in some cases prioritizing business over safety.
One striking example is the introduction of a new “D” license, available also to sixteen-year-olds, enabling them to operate jet skis and small craft under specific conditions: daytime navigation, within one mile (for jet skis) or six miles (for boats) from the coast, and with engines under 85 kW (about 115.5 horsepower) and under 2,400 cc displacement.
In theory, this new license has two objectives: the first, officially declared, is to attract new and younger enthusiasts to boating. The second—less openly discussed and not necessarily welcomed by engine manufacturers—is to bring into legality the large crowd of reckless boaters who for years have been sailing with so-called “depowered” 40-horsepower engines. In this respect, the initiative is not without merit, but it is unlikely to achieve its aims since the regulation did not lower the maximum power that can be used without a license, which remains fixed at 40 horsepower. For four-stroke engines, this can correspond to displacements of up to 1,000 cc.
Adding to this, the process for obtaining the “D” license is very similar to that of the limited “A” boating license. Theoretical requirements are heavy on rote knowledge and culminate in a tricky multiple-choice exam which, if failed, prevents candidates from attempting the practical test. Considering this, along with the current economic climate and the relatively limited number of 16-year-olds interested in boating, it is likely that the inflow of new license holders will remain small. Those truly interested will likely pursue the limited “A” license instead, as it imposes no power restrictions. Meanwhile, reckless operators will continue to use their depowered engines, aided by manufacturers who—prioritizing business—supply motors that are too easy to repower, and by law enforcement that often turns a blind eye to obvious infractions.
One positive aspect of the new “D” license, however, is its limits on engine power and displacement. For most manufacturers, 115 horsepower represents the maximum output of outboards under 2,400 cc, making it unlikely that a new wave of depowering will begin.
In the following pages: a presentation of the main 115-horsepower engines currently available on the market.
Box – Boats in Brief
In Italy, from a legislative standpoint and in relation to leisure boating, the term “boats” encompasses two types of craft, further classified into three categories based on size. The main distinction is between motorboats and sailboats. These are considered:
- “Natanti” (small craft) if less than or equal to 10 meters in length,
- “Imbarcazioni” (boats) if over 10 meters and under 24 meters,
- “Navi” (ships) if longer than 24 meters.
Every boat also falls into a design category that limits its use based on prevailing weather conditions:
- Category D: boats designed to withstand winds up to Beaufort force 4 and waves up to 30 cm,
- Category C: boats suitable for winds up to force 6 and waves up to 2 meters,
- Category B: boats capable of handling winds up to force 8 and waves up to 4 meters (for the brave),
- Category A: boats designed to withstand winds of force 8 and waves exceeding 4 meters (a true test of recklessness).ù
Title: New recreational boating code: rules, innovations, and limitations
Translation with ChatGPT
