The Recreational Craft Directive sets essential requirements for the design and construction of pleasure crafts. The Directive defines a pleasure boat as 'any craft intended for sport and leisure purposes, regardless of the type or the means of propulsion, with a hull length of 2.5 to 24 meters, measured according to the appropriate harmonized standards'. The area of application of the Directive applies to pleasure craft, partially completed pleasure craft and loose and assembled components.

The Recreational Craft Directive came into force on 16th June 1996 and will have a transition period until 16th June 1998. After that date, manufacturers and importers may no longer place pleasure craft on the market that do not comply with the essential requirements of the Directive.

Several Directives may also apply to a recreational craft, for example the EMC, telecommunications terminal equipment, personal protective equipment, gas appliances and simple pressure vessels Directives. If the aforementioned Directives have already become a legal obligation, the manufacturer or importer must also take into account the essential requirements of these Directives (where applicable). So it is always necessary to verify exactly which Directives are applicable here.