Boat Insurance - Crew Number Conditions

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At Sea

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Just looking at options for insuring a 27ft motor boat. Is anyone familiar with the GJW policy and in particular their requirement to have a minimum of 2 "competent" crew members on board for vessels over 24ft (unless agreed otherwise)? I don't see this in other mainstream policies but perhaps I am missing something?

Thoughts?
 
At Sea said:
Just looking at options for insuring a 27ft motor boat. Is anyone familiar with the GJW policy and in particular their requirement to have a minimum of 2 "competent" crew members on board for vessels over 24ft (unless agreed otherwise)? I don't see this in other mainstream policies but perhaps I am missing something?

Thoughts?
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GJW aren't terribly highly regarded hereabouts (except by one poster :)). Minimum number of crew is the least of your problems with their policies IMO. Most of us insure with 'Y' (no connection) which doesn't prohibit you being single handed.
 
I would either get them to waive it or move to Y insurance to be honest.

Depending on the definition of competent ( could mean anything - qualification ?) then i suspect most people on here regardless of boat size would breach it. I crew my S58 with a 10 year old and a 7 year old - both of whom i believe are very competent ( the 10 year old especially - she can helm it out, anchor it, bring it back in, and dad chickens out once we end up going backwards!)

Would and insurer agree she is competent. Lord knows!
 
At Sea said:
Just looking at options for insuring a 27ft motor boat. Is anyone familiar with the GJW policy and in particular their requirement to have a minimum of 2 "competent" crew members on board for vessels over 24ft (unless agreed otherwise)? I don't see this in other mainstream policies but perhaps I am missing something?

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I had that with GJW. It effectively just means no single-handing. Competent crew isn't defined, but as the RYA have a Comp Crew course that isn't particularly onerous I just interpreted it as being roughly equivalent to that.

Problem went away when I switched to Pantenius then Y Yachting.
 
I've been with GJW for quite a few years, and I'm happy with their policy but, there again, my little 20ft boat isn't in the same league as most of the 'gin palaces' on this forum!! :encouragement::encouragement:

When I owned my 32ft motorboat, I just called GJW to ask them to remove the singlehanded exclusion, which they did without any problem, so suggest you give them a call.
 
So, GJW are saying you can't go for a poodle out by yourself? That's a non runner for me (37ft).

I have just committed to move to Y for the upcoming year, thanks to this forum.

Excellent communication via e-mail so far and they lay things out in plain English. I wanted to get clarification on some points, so as soon as I hear back via e-mail from them (and i'm satisfied with the answers), they get my money.
 
I,am with a Martello policy from Coleman s the Sunseeker approved broker .
I think it’s under written by Zurich? , buts it’s a Coleman bespoke thingy .
It’s like Y but has a few more benefit s .
Stuff like bigger personal med insurance with a wider scope .
I have only a paper copy of the policy ,it’s not online .
It’s got the forum favourite, seacocks failure via electrolysis, and latent defects ,those parts are copy/ pasted as is agreed payout if total loss .
Other stuff is very fair like this “ single handed “ crew business.
I,am covered for S/H for up to 18 hrs continuous passage - this is force a rest - to stop one turning R out the Solent and setting off for Oz none stop — fall asleep/ fatigue risk .
So in the real world , nipping to the fuel berth , mini sea trail round the bay , is covered .

Re crew - no restrictions just a wordy bit allowed to helm if I,am aboard and have deputised .

There was a restriction inquired about thought .
It was “ the boat is not covered if left unattended @ anchor “ or somewhere other than a marina ?

In the Med it’s normal to anchor and lunch ashore ,either you own tender in or the restaurant sends a tender to collect .
Or you just want to say take the dog ashore , or re provision if anchored in a nice calm bay .

Coleman’s said they would go back to the under writers .
What came back was , they mean leave the boat unattended for a long period of time say go to ( keeping it U.K. ) Herm and anchoring off , them departing by ferry to Gurnsey and flying home for two weeks .
“ As long as it’s in eye sight and about 1/2 hr away to return - then it’s ok to leave it @ anchor “

Point is this contact the broker and ask like I did ,using your example crew
“ Well it’s just mainly me ,me wife and kids .perhaps the odd friends .Only me with any RYA qualification s .
What do you exactly mean by competent crew ?
You should get somthing via the under writers in writing .
Go from there
 
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I did enquire with the forum favourite in 2014 , they wanted a full survey .
Coleman’s -Martello did not require a full survey , just words to the effect
“ boats maintened in a sea worthy condition “

As said there’s a lot of add ons from the wider bigger SS clients - stuff like crew don,t turn up , paying for agency staff valuables in your safe , paintings and antique s - lost charter income due to breakdown,and a shed load of accident and medical for all aboard and ashore if using the boat .
Eg if you are knocked down crossing a road by the marina or a guest , or a guest trips on the Passerelle and claims - you are covered .

No excess if a claim is made while the boat is in the home berth —- is that the same as Y
And a NCD scheme I think 25 % off and a protected NCD , bit like car ins .
 
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petem said:
GJW aren't terribly highly regarded hereabouts (except by one poster :)). Minimum number of crew is the least of your problems with their policies IMO. Most of us insure with 'Y' (no connection) which doesn't prohibit you being single handed.
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Correction. 'Y' policy states...

"The Vessel must not be navigated single-handed by anyone for a period in excess of 18 consecutive hours unless followed by a minimum 6 hour break whilst the Vessel is moored or unless agreed by Us."
 
Don't really understand this. I'm with GJW with a 26 footer and my policy says "single handed daylight hours only". The only redeeming feature that I think I might have is an ICC but that's about it.
 
I asked GJW to insure me for single handing, day or night, and this was not a problem.
My policy has “Endorsement 9 - 1 person - excess is increased by 100% if sailing single handed between dusk and dawn”.

I’ve hardly ever single handed the SC35, and would never plan to come back on my own in the dark, but just in case ...
 
Having gone back to them it appears GJW are flexible on the single handling point during daylight hours. A shame you have to ask for these things when other insurers give as standard!
 
At Sea said:
Having gone back to them it appears GJW are flexible on the single handling point during daylight hours. A shame you have to ask for these things when other insurers give as standard!
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Did you get it in writing?

The saying goes - if it isn't written down, then it doesn't take effect.

Not sure about GJW - is it an "all risks" policy?
The point is that an "all risks Policy" covers everything EXCEPT the exclusions.
whereas the alternative covers ONLY the things mentioned.
 
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I called the a few years ago and their definition (over the phone) was “RYA qualification, minimum Dayskipper 2 or more than 1 years boating experience”... goodness knows what the latter part relates to...
 
Hurricane said:
Did you get it in writing?

The saying goes - if it isn't written down, then it doesn't take effect.

Not sure about GJW - is it an "all risks" policy?
The point is that an "all risks Policy" covers everything EXCEPT the exclusions.
whereas the alternative covers ONLY the things mentioned.
Click to expand...

Any “endorsements” are referenced from the base policy - they are optional sections that can be included, e.g. charter use, use as a HouseBoat etc.
The endorsements I requested are written down on my policy certificate.

.
 
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Hurricane said:
Did you get it in writing?

The saying goes - if it isn't written down, then it doesn't take effect.

Not sure about GJW - is it an "all risks" policy?
The point is that an "all risks Policy" covers everything EXCEPT the exclusions.
whereas the alternative covers ONLY the things mentioned.
Click to expand...

GJW have always been willing to change anything I have requested and is always confirmed in writing.
 
Boat2016 said:
GJW have always been willing to change anything I have requested and is always confirmed in writing.
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+1 been the same for me too, flexible and no additional charges on changing the policy. Don't know about other insurers, but GJW is also an agreed value policy and that they are removing or have now removed the clause "replace with a similar vessel".
 
Scubadoo said:
Don't know about other insurers, but GJW is also an agreed value policy and that they are removing or have now removed the clause "replace with a similar vessel".
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Hang on a minute. I just looked at GJW docs online 5 mins ago and the clause is still there. Wasn't that very same point - their alleged intention to remove it - discussed on here maybe 6 mths ago? I discussed it privately with their management about a year ago - they asked me by private email what I didn't like about their policy.

Maybe they remove it for those who ask, and dupe everyone else - I don't know.

Generally other insurers with agreed value (Y and Pantaenius for example) insure for agreed value, without the sneaky "but we can give you a second-hand boat instead, worse than the one you lost" clause.

Let's be clear: that crummy clause is still in GJW's policy online as of 5 mins ago and they deserve no praise at all on this point. .
 
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