sailorman
Well-known member
BUT what are you covered for
Boat insurance renewal - I'm a bit miffed
- Thread starter Angele
- Start date
BUT what are you covered for
Searush
New member
Happened to me a few years back & I told them I needed the extra cover or I would go elsewhere. They approached the new company on my behalf & got my required solo sailing & over 12 miles offshore clauses added at no extra charge.
GeorgeLlewellin
Member
Y-Yacht
How do I find Y-Yacht ? I have run a search and I get masses of other yacht insurance companies and brokers but I cannot find Y-Yacht.
Thank you.
George
How do I find Y-Yacht ? I have run a search and I get masses of other yacht insurance companies and brokers but I cannot find Y-Yacht.
Thank you.
George
sailorman
Well-known member
GeorgeLlewellin
Member
Thank you Sailorman, very helpful, I have made a note and shall ask for a quote next year, I have just signed up for this year.
George.
Koeketiene
Well-known member
Have to renew by the end of April. Currently with GJW (and quite pleased with them)
However, have a singlehanded, offshore trip planned for May/June.
The trip would also take me outside the usual UK waters and Brest/Elbe area. Planning to sail to either Norway or the Faroer).
Got a quote from Pants: it's several 100 quid more expensive than the renewal invitation I got from GJW (who were as yet unaware of the planned trip).
E-mailed GJW on Friday and asked them if they would be able to cover me for this trip.
Their first reply left me somewhat puzzled: they wanted to know if I would be sailing singlehanded in the hours of darkness.
Replied that this would be inevitable - duh.
I now await their reply.
If GJW turn out to be unable to cover me for this trip, it looks like I'll be switching to Pants.
awol
Well-known member
Do it late June and there won't be any darkness to sail in. Sun sets but it doesn't gets dark north of John o'Groats.
Koeketiene
Well-known member
I know - unfortunately this is not an option.
Am off work in May and the first week of June. That's the only period I could get 4 or 5 weeks off.
Have to play with the cards I am dealt.
rotrax
Well-known member
Trust me-I am covered for what I need to protect my boat.
Pants. quote, when the small print was read, gave me little, if any, extra.
As I have never needed to make a claim-and long may that continue-I have no knowlege how my chosen company would deal with one.
Which is, I hope, the same with most who post on here.
Searush
New member
GJW pulled that one on me. Now, normally for coastal cruising it isn't a problem, but obviously on passage a lack of wind or a head wind could end up with you sailing solo at night. They accepted that as not a problem, but I should not plan overnight trips on my own. That suited me.
But on a long distance passage the requirement is nonsensical. Consider switching to 3rd party only, I think that is what many long distance sailors have to do.
But on a long distance passage the requirement is nonsensical. Consider switching to 3rd party only, I think that is what many long distance sailors have to do.
Angele
Active member
Koeketiene
Well-known member
UPDATE:
Just heard back from GJW.
They're willing to insure me for the trip.
- Premium increase of £250
- Cruising area extended to 65N in May & June
- Excess increased from £250 to £750 when sailing singlehanded
There are also a couple of endorsements I haven't yet had time to read.
Will compare details of the GJW and Pants policies and endorsements tomorrow.
As GJW have really been good for us when we had a claim my first instinct is to stick with them (better the devil you know...)
jfm
Well-known member
Ignorance is bliss. (To be fair, only you can decide what you cover need of course)
There is plenty of knowledge - hard experience - on these forums. By way of just a little example, a poster on here (seahope) suffered a total loss when his boat sank in a solent marina about 3 years ago. A seacock had electrolysed away. Insurers got a survey and BS wrote refusing the claim in full. Marine mortgage company then demanded immediate repayment. Tough times for the boat owner. After a few hard months of putting BS (and Towergate; both were involved) right, full payout was achieved. However, the legal detail on getting that payout was, with full respect to Joe Average, well beyond Joe Average's ability (and pockets in terms of legal fees). Anyway, just saying, that's one example of how your chosen insurer actually behaved
Sure it is, with most people. But the population of these forums is so big that there are several examples of people here suffering losses and insurers not paying. Sometimes insurers have been correct in not paying (though the owners have been shocked how un comprehensive their cover turned out to be). Other times the insurers have been wrong, and ultimately put right, after a lot of work. There are examples of bad behaviour among insurers and if I were voting I'd score BS and Towergate very low on the behaviour front (I'm talking big claims only; I couldn't care less about gelcoat scratches)
rotrax
Well-known member
Thanks for the heads up.
I am not ignorant-even blissfully so-and, after a lifetime of involvement with insurance companies involving vehicles-even acting as a broker for a major motorcycle insurer, know my way around.
Let us say I am streetwise, and know how to present information, and in what quantities.
If BS are so poor, I am surprised that they are endorsed, through special deals, by the RYA and the RNLI.
If clients were unhappy, we would hear about it, especially on here.
First Mate and I are very fortunate to own a high quality yacht, one we never imagined we would ever aspire to.
We maintain her very well-50 years as a professional mechanic plus 45 years owning boats allows me to be sure that what is needed is done. If I cant do it, an expert will.
Never a claim in all that time-although it has been a close call once or twice.
Been away from our boat for three months.
She is visited twice a week by a very experienced guy who lives nearby and keeps his boat in the same marina. He logs every visit and, like us, is fastidious.
Cant wait to get back to her-we have been sailing a 22 foot lift keel cruiser here in Spain- and prepare her for the coming season.
I am happy with my situation.
My broker gives me any information I ask for when I need it, I fulfill my end of the bargain by keeping the vessel in good nick and as safe as I can manage, plus informing them IN FULL of any changes or additions we make.
So far it has worked out well. I pay a realistic premium, they get a dedicated owner who keeps the boat up.
If it goes tits up, I will PM you so you can be the first to say "I told you so "....................................
jfm
Well-known member
Tbh, RYA and RNLI sponsorship folks aren't really insurance experts. And you have heard about it on here, at great length. I mean there has been write up on the failings of the policies in question, and of the non payout of large losses in cases where, later on and following much legal effort, the offending insurers have been proved wrong and ultimately been made to pay out in full. Sure, you wont find hundreds of threads about it because large losses/total losses are, thankfully, pretty rare. You will likewise find very few folks on here who have posted that they actually stepped up into a liferaft but that doesn't stop most of us wanting to own a good one, if you see what I mean.
I wish you well and hope never to get that PM. One of the problems with forums is you don't really know who you're talking to in most cases, so I see only now that you have a fastidious approach to maintaining your boat. I applaud you for that of course, and a bunch of things that do cause total losses of boats won't happen to you because of that. Best wishes
Last edited:
