Boat insurance renewal - again !

[jfm]

Cartel?
Well, there are certainly some bad practices out there.
Most of us know that the broker Curtis was bought out last year by a consortium owned/connected to HKJ.
Over the last few years, I have been placing my insurance with Curtis as an independent broker.
I always read the policies carefully so my main aim is to use a broker who will "be on my side" if I ever needed to claim.
I guess I'm a bit naive thinking this but if a choice is to be made, I would rather put my money with someone who, at least, sounds trust worthy.

This year, my HKJ/Curtis renewal came in - 12% increase in premium.
So I queried it with them - saying that, at least I had a 7.5% discount last year.
The answer was that I already had a 5% discount - "that is rubbish", I said.
Anyway, a few days later, the premium was reduced to about 6% increase.
The exact figures aren't important - it is the principle.
In the past, Curtis have automatically given me a "brokers" discount that "kind of" implies that they are on my side.
So I didn't want to accept this offer - on principle.

So I turned to this forum and sent a PM to @Hooligan who, as usual was helpful.
He had been discussing this matter with @MedMilo
I received a reply from @Hooligan within a few minutes suggesting that I should contact a guy called Jonathan at Gallagher Marine.
So the following morning I gave him a call - I was greeted with - "Oh you must be the guy with the Princess 67"
Well, thats a good start - I thought - nice and personal.
So I gave him my enquiry.

A few days later, he called me to say that he had some offers but one (HKJ) couldn't quote.
I suspect it was "wouldn't" rather than "couldn't" because the reason was the size of the boat.
That proved to me that Curtis is no longer an INDEPENDENT broker.
Take that how like it - I'm sure it was that they wanted the business through the old Curtis brokerage that they now own.
This is disgusting and certainly gives me the feeling that I will be fighting if I ever have a claim.

Jonathan at Gallaghers was discussing my case with his boss who turned out to be the person who ran the brokerage that I was insured with when we first bought the Princess.
It is a small world and it was nice to feel part of the process again.

Anyway, cutting to the point.
Jonathan at Gallaghers was very professional and I have accepted a policy with Navigators and General and made a saving in my premium.
I have, of course, read and I'm happy with the terms.
With insurance, we all hope never to make a claim so paying for something that gives you peace of mind is important.
And Gallaghers, at least gives me that confidence.

So, if you are renewing your insurance, I suggest that you give Gallagher's a call.
Jonathan's contact details are :-
Jonathan Purvis
Gallagher Marine
email Jonathan_Purvis@ajg.com
But I just phoned him on +44 7458 124864

Give him a try.
I have no connection - other than being a customer - and I've never made a claim.

Hi Hurricane
I’ve landed in the same place. I’m insuring my new boat thru gallagher, with Beazley as underwriter. Very happy with the service and policy wording, even though I’m a completely new customer to them. The guy handling my acccount is Dean Shaw at gallagher in Poole- highly recommended.
Premium is ballpark 0.5% so seems ok.
My old insurers hkj weren’t suitable for the bigger boat and the go to (perhaps…) folks pantaenius offered daft (imho) terms.
Good to hear we have both independently come to same answer

 

[Andrew M]

Cartel?
Well, there are certainly some bad practices out there.
Most of us know that the broker Curtis was bought out last year by a consortium owned/connected to HKJ.
Over the last few years, I have been placing my insurance with Curtis as an independent broker.
I always read the policies carefully so my main aim is to use a broker who will "be on my side" if I ever needed to claim.
I guess I'm a bit naive thinking this but if a choice is to be made, I would rather put my money with someone who, at least, sounds trust worthy.

This year, my HKJ/Curtis renewal came in - 12% increase in premium.
So I queried it with them - saying that, at least I had a 7.5% discount last year.
The answer was that I already had a 5% discount - "that is rubbish", I said.
Anyway, a few days later, the premium was reduced to about 6% increase.
The exact figures aren't important - it is the principle.
In the past, Curtis have automatically given me a "brokers" discount that "kind of" implies that they are on my side.
So I didn't want to accept this offer - on principle.

So I turned to this forum and sent a PM to @Hooligan who, as usual was helpful.
He had been discussing this matter with @MedMilo
I received a reply from @Hooligan within a few minutes suggesting that I should contact a guy called Jonathan at Gallagher Marine.
So the following morning I gave him a call - I was greeted with - "Oh you must be the guy with the Princess 67"
Well, thats a good start - I thought - nice and personal.
So I gave him my enquiry.

A few days later, he called me to say that he had some offers but one (HKJ) couldn't quote.
I suspect it was "wouldn't" rather than "couldn't" because the reason was the size of the boat.
That proved to me that Curtis is no longer an INDEPENDENT broker.
Take that how like it - I'm sure it was that they wanted the business through the old Curtis brokerage that they now own.
This is disgusting and certainly gives me the feeling that I will be fighting if I ever have a claim.

Jonathan at Gallaghers was discussing my case with his boss who turned out to be the person who ran the brokerage that I was insured with when we first bought the Princess.
It is a small world and it was nice to feel part of the process again.

Anyway, cutting to the point.
Jonathan at Gallaghers was very professional and I have accepted a policy with Navigators and General and made a saving in my premium.
I have, of course, read and I'm happy with the terms.
With insurance, we all hope never to make a claim so paying for something that gives you peace of mind is important.
And Gallaghers, at least gives me that confidence.

So, if you are renewing your insurance, I suggest that you give Gallagher's a call.
Jonathan's contact details are :-
Jonathan Purvis
Gallagher Marine
email Jonathan_Purvis@ajg.com
But I just phoned him on +44 7458 124864

Give him a try.
I have no connection - other than being a customer - and I've never made a claim.

Brilliant, thanks for all that, ours is up fairly soon so I'll give Jonathan a call for a chat in advance......

 

[Hurricane]

Hi Hurricane
I’ve landed in the same place. I’m insuring my new boat thru gallagher, with Beazley as underwriter. Very happy with the service and policy wording, even though I’m a completely new customer to them. The guy handling my acccount is Dean Shaw at gallagher in Poole- highly recommended.
Premium is ballpark 0.5% so seems ok.
My old insurers hkj weren’t suitable for the bigger boat and the go to (perhaps…) folks pantaenius offered daft (imho) terms.
Good to hear we have both independently come to same answer

I didn't want to mention his name before but now that you have, Dean was the guy who insured JW when he was with Denovo when we first bought the Princess so I know him well, In fact, we have some common friends from the past - way back when I was sailing Hurricanes.

 

[Hurricane]

Brilliant, thanks for all that, ours is up fairly soon so I'll give Jonathan a call for a chat in advance......

I asked Jonathan if he minded me posting this on this forum. Of course he didn't. So maybe mention me when you talk to him. Same for any others looking for insurance.

 

[TonyR123]

Funny enough I am also using Jonathan @ Gallagher (but Beazley policy)

 

[alt]

We all must be renewing at the same time!

I'm currently with HJK (I'm in Ireland) but I am not happy with their valuation of the boat. They say I must get a surveyor or broker etc. to re-value the boat.

I am currently in touch with a broker in Ireland and the underwriter is Beazley so quite the co-incidence with a few here. I read through the policy and can't find any issues.... generally speaking, sounds like people are happy with the Beazley policy / wording? @jfm i'm looking at you here!

 

[jrudge]

I did get Gallagher to quote following a recommendation from jfm. They quoted a haven Knox Johnson policy which was some £700 more than gjw which shows if is horses for courses - but I do wonder why the premium profiles can be so different for similar leisure users with decent boat time and no claims.