Best Boat Insurance?

My policy is with Watkins 457 @ Lloyds - all these names being bandied around are obscuring the issue as all of them are brokers and have little influence with the underwriters.
As it so happens it's the same syndicate as GJW (and probably many more of the above names). Mine is through Yachtmaster Insurance and costs 0.5% of sum insured - it covers me for single handed sailing (planned to not include one period of darkness).
The one major claim I made on them was paid in full without deduction of the excess (£350 for hull and machinery, £75 for dinghy and personal effects)
I have an up to 20% no claims bonus.
I would, after one experience, not consider N&G, or Saga whose premiums are high in any class of insurance they quote.
 
charles_reed said:
My policy is with Watkins 457 @ Lloyds - all these names being bandied around are obscuring the issue as all of them are brokers and have little influence with the underwriters.
As it so happens it's the same syndicate as GJW (and probably many more of the above names). Mine is through Yachtmaster Insurance and costs 0.5% of sum insured - it covers me for single handed sailing (planned to not include one period of darkness).
The one major claim I made on them was paid in full without deduction of the excess (£350 for hull and machinery, £75 for dinghy and personal effects)
I have an up to 20% no claims bonus.
I would, after one experience, not consider N&G, or Saga whose premiums are high in any class of insurance they quote.
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Different brokers will have "differing,agreed wording" on their policies with the underwriter, so it is relevant. Read the policy wording, is the byword
 
I used to use Bishop Skinner but now use GJW as they will cover me for unlimited single handing subject to a doubling of the excess at night. Their premium is ok I guess but as someone else mentioned earlier I find the woman on the phone (Janet Morrison) incredibly short and not very helpful. I figured it was worth dealing with her in order to get the unlimited SH cover and apparently they are good with dealing with claims. Bishop Skinner were very good to deal with and I'd use them again if I didn't want to be at sea for more than 24hrs.
 
Just taken out a GJW policy. Woman who phoned was very helpful and friendly. Traffords was probably the cheapest, but wanted me to haul out and get a surveyors report. For a Corribee, it's just not worth it.

GJW originally offered only 9 months cover, but when I asked for 12months they agreed but increased the excess between 1 Nov and April. Much easier than motoring insurance!
 
Reverend Ludd said:
After seeing this I checked out Y Insurance & GJW

GJW were the cheapest but I felt the woman on the end of the phone was too curt and not much interested beyond, read what's on the interweb, the terms are there.
Y on the other hand were extremely polite and helpful answering all my inane questions. More importantly they asked me all the questions I would expect an insurer would want to know. I explained the price issue to them and the lowered theirs and cut half the difference. So I am now with Y.

More importantly with regard to the price comparison they also wrote (I'm sure they won't mind me revealing this recommendation).

We recommend that you check that any yacht insurance policy wordings you may consider cover direct loss or damage caused by latent defect, wear and tear or mechanical breakdown resulting in FIRE, SINKING, SUBMERSION,RIGGING FAILURE, COLLISION OR STRANDING. Many policies do not cover such losses resulting from mechanical breakdown.
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I have been with Y Yachts for a couple of years, had to make a large claim and they helped me all the way through this process. Renewal did not go up a penny. Just now I cannot see past them for quality of service, but there again I have not been insured with anyone else.
 
dslittle said:
I am not insuring his boat. I assume that anyone insuring their boat will take out the cover they require. That is what I did and I am happy.
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I got about 6 quotes, and the price varied a bit, but ultimately there were other factors that determined which policy I took out. Each persons needs are unique - insurance is not always down to price.
 
This is an old thread but I think this is still relevant. I was visiting several sites and I liked the look of Mercia Marine enough to get a quote from there. Only problem was their honesty was that they encouraged me to shop around (see https://www.merciamarine.co.uk/boat_information/Best_Yacht_Insurance_article.aspx) to get the best deal... I took them at their word (at little too literally for their liking I suspect ;-) ) and as a result found slightly a better value policy at GJW!!!

Massive thanks to them for their honesty but this just shows the value of shopping around... note I did try the main comparison sites and either the usual suspect s don't do boat insurance or the supply of quotes were very limited.

Hope this is useful to someone!
 
Sandy said:
And have deep pockets! There were 5 times the price of the nearest quote.
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I know I am resurrecting this thread but I have been phoning around insurance companies regards a potential purchase. Saga were the lowest but pretty much the same as MS Amlin and GJW. I asked Saga who their underwriters were and they said MS Amlin and so might as well go direct to them. I know this may have changed since the 2011 post above. The other one that comes out cheap is GJW and has extra benefits if you are at a Premier Marina. Probably the most helpful, pleasant person and the quote is pretty much the same as MS Amlin/Saga.
 
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charles_reed said:
...Mine is through Yachtmaster Insurance and costs 0.5% of sum insured...
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I'm not sure I could afford that, I've got 3 million quid of third party liability cover, that'd be £15 grand!
;)

Yachting 24 don't seem to have any of the curious conditions mentioned by other people, but I've not claimed.
 
derekbland said:
I know I am resurrecting this thread but I have been phoning around insurance companies regards a potential purchase. Saga were the lowest but pretty much the same as MS Amlin and GJW. I asked Saga who their underwriters were and they said MS Amlin and so might as well go direct to them. I know this may have changed since the 2011 post above. The other one that comes out cheap is GJW and has extra benefits if you are at a Premier Marina. Probably the most helpful, pleasant person and the quote is pretty much the same as MS Amlin/Saga.
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Suggest you try Y Insurance which many of us here use. probably the best policy and competitive premiums. Reported good claims handling.
 
Tranona said:
Suggest you try Y Insurance which many of us here use. probably the best policy and competitive premiums. Reported good claims handling.
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Just tried them and annoyingly they wanted me to fill in a form online whereas the others did it over the phone. Have done the compare quote that she suggested and will see what comes back.
 
derekbland said:
I know I am resurrecting this thread but I have been phoning around insurance companies regards a potential purchase. Saga were the lowest but pretty much the same as MS Amlin and GJW. I asked Saga who their underwriters were and they said MS Amlin and so might as well go direct to them. I know this may have changed since the 2011 post above. The other one that comes out cheap is GJW and has extra benefits if you are at a Premier Marina. Probably the most helpful, pleasant person and the quote is pretty much the same as MS Amlin/Saga.
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Y Yachting's insurance is underwritten by MS Amlin too, but they have good terms about the effects of corrosion.
 
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