An online searchable database of archived standards from the American Boat & Yacht Council has just hit the electronic highway and is now available in the Ship’s Store at www.abycinc.org.

Copies of the ABYC standards from 1972 through 2001, and soon to be 2006, are obtainable for the first time online by going to the Web site, clicking on the ABYC Store and then clicking on the Archived Standards.

This online access allows the purchaser to search by keyword, standards number and/or volume, or view a full listing, and then download the document(s) immediately. All available standards are in Adobe PDF format, and can be purchased individually.

“Builders, attorneys, surveyors and investigators are in constant need of information that pertains to older boat models,” said John Adey, ABYC technical director, in a statement. “This product will give easy access to the standards they need, and is yet another step toward increased accessibility to the standards used for building and repair in the marine industry.”

In the past, those in need of older standards were charged for not only the standards, but also for the research time needed to determine the proper version, and finally shipping for a paper copy. Now, with a few clicks of a mouse the research will be done by the user, online, resulting in the ability to purchase the desired document for download immediately.