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About ABYC

The American Boat &Yacht Council (ABYC) is a non-profit, member organization that develops voluntary global safety standards for the design, construction, maintenance and repair of recreational boats.

ABYC has a long-established commitment to providing technical education, training, certification and professional development for marine technicians. Our seminars, workshops and technician certification courses are instrumental in increasing the level of knowledge and professionalism throughout the boating industry.

The Standards are the core of ABYC as they are continuously researched, developed and revised by over 400 volunteer marine professionals on 16 Project Technical Committees (PTCs) from all fields of the industry including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), trade organizations and private entities. ABYC collaborates with safety organizations worldwide such as Transport Canada and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). As an independent consensus-based body, these industry experts work together to develop standards with the sole purpose of protecting the safety of the boating public.

The Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft covers all the major boat systems and the development and annual review of these standards provide boat building guidelines which correlate directly to the significant reduction in the number of boating accidents over the past seven decades.

Click here to view ABYC’s mission and vision statements.

Quick Fact 01

Quick Fact 01

90% of boats on the water are built to ABYC Standards

Quick Fact 02

Quick Fact 02

ABYCs Standards are the basis of quality construction and repair practices, certification programs and marine surveys

Quick Fact 03

Quick Fact 03

In the absence of military specifications (MILSPECS), ABYC Standards are referenced in many RFP’s from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Homeland Security.

Quick Fact 04

Quick Fact 04

In product liability lawsuits, ABYC Standards are the authoritative reference for evaluating issues of design, construction, maintenance and product performance.

Quick Fact 05

Quick Fact 05

Boats certified to ABYC standards are 43% to 47% less likely to be involved in certain types of accidents, and reduces the likelihood of fatalities by 26% to 58% in accidents that do occur.

Quick Fact 01

90% of boats on the water are built to ABYC Standards

Quick Fact 02

ABYCs Standards are the basis of quality construction and repair practices, certification programs and marine surveys

Quick Fact 03

In the absence of military specifications (MILSPECS), ABYC Standards are referenced in many RFP’s from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Homeland Security.

Quick Fact 04

In product liability lawsuits, ABYC Standards are the authoritative reference for evaluating issues of design, construction, maintenance and product performance.

Quick Fact 05

Boats certified to ABYC standards are 43% to 47% less likely to be involved in certain types of accidents, and reduces the likelihood of fatalities by 26% to 58% in accidents that do occur.

“Being a member of ABYC holds us up to the highest level of providing the best products, care, and services to organizations. We all work together to achieve one goal of reducing boating accidents and increasing safety precautions”

— Safe Lakes Owner, Emilie Veinot

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