Boat Insurance

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rogerthebodger

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How many yacht clubs or marinas require the boat owners of a non commercial boat to have public liability insurance.

I can understand 3 rd party insurance in case the boat skipper damages any of the marina/club property.
 
My sailing club requires a written declaration from members of having 3rd Party insurance - as far as I know most people have Comprehensive anyway; not heard anything about Public Liability but I expect the club has it as we have a mobile hoist etc.
 
Thks so far guys

I have at least 3rd party insurance to cover any damage I may cause to other peoples property.

When I had my business I had public liability insurance to cover any accident or injury to any outside person visiting my office. My employees are covered in South Africa by a government scheme called workmens compensation that all companies must pay per employee based on salary

The marina my boat is moored in is insisting on public liability insurance but as my boat is for my own private recreation and pleasure I don't see I need public liability cover. 3rd party minimum and any other cover I think I need.

What do sailors do in the UK about any liability with regard to injury or death or crew. Is that covered by insurance or by getting the crew to sign indemnity as is common in South Africa
 
Rogershaw said:
How many yacht clubs or marinas require the boat owners of a non commercial boat to have public liability insurance.

I can understand 3 rd party insurance in case the boat skipper damages any of the marina/club property.
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Why do you ask? Are you joining a club that is asking you to have PL insurance, or are you merely curious?
 
Richard10002 said:
Why do you ask? Are you joining a club that is asking you to have PL insurance, or are you merely curious?
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The marina my boat is in is insisting on PL and I think it is to try to get around the marina having to have public liability cover. If that is their thinking they are in for a big shock if any accident happens as in our law like the UK as a business they still have a duty of care . It is currently being run by an ex South African policeman and IMHO that says it all.
 
Problem with clubs is that members also own the assets so, if your boat collides with (say) the club launch, third party may not cover because you are also a part owner of the launch. This can be covered by the club having a "member to member liability" policy.
 
There's a vocabulary breakdown here. Public Liability is the same as the UK Third Party: it covers the insured person against claims from another person (the third party or the member of the public) arising from their actions. It is common practise worldwide to have this sort of insurance in place before you are allowed to use marinas, ports etc. in some countries, just as you must have insurance for your car, you must also have as a minimum third party/public liability insurance for your boat. Spain, Italy and Greece all come to mind as having this requirement.

Any marina or club will probably have their own insurance in place as well as requiring you to insure your boat.
 
GrahamM376 said:
Problem with clubs is that members also own the assets so, if your boat collides with (say) the club launch, third party may not cover because you are also a part owner of the launch. This can be covered by the club having a "member to member liability" policy.
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Thats interesting and something I hadn't considered.

In my case then marins is a not for profit company which is owned by 3 local yacht clubs of which I and a member of one of these clubs. It is a condition that for me to own a lease at the marina I must be a member of one of the three clubs. So I am part owner of a club that is also a not for profit company than is a 3rd share holder of the marina which also is a not for profit company.

Do you think your comment will apply to that kind of convoluted setup.
 
"There's a vocabulary breakdown here. Public Liability is the same as the UK Third Party: it covers the insured person against claims from another person (the third party or the member of the public) arising from their actions "

That may be the case here but I do think insurance companies may tend to separate than out to confuse the punter so they can charge extra premium for ineffect the same cover. This may be considered then same in then UK but I don't think it is generally understood in South Africa where we still allow passengers to travel in the back of open vehicles.
 
I think Duncan is right Third party insurance on a boat is the same as public liability.

Section 2 of my AXA policy

2.1.1 The death of or injury to any other person or any other person insured by this policy including anyone getting on or off or travelling on your boat.

2.1.2 damage to any other property, including other boats, piers, docks, wharves, jetties and pontoons.

The first clause is much the same as the public liability clause in household insurance.

The cubs and marina operators should also have insurance in place to cover all their premises, equipment and boats (if any). This should specify who can operate equipment - in our club members need to be approved to use the club launches and RIBs and only staff members can operate the hoist, fork lift etc.
 
Thinking about it and looking at your post you say the 3rd party liability covers public liability but public liability does not necessary cover all 3rd party liability.
 
Tranona said:
I think Duncan is right Third party insurance on a boat is the same as public liability.

Section 2 of my AXA policy

2.1.1 The death of or injury to any other person or any other person insured by this policy including anyone getting on or off or travelling on your boat.

2.1.2 damage to any other property, including other boats, piers, docks, wharves, jetties and pontoons.

The first clause is much the same as the public liability clause in household insurance.

The cubs and marina operators should also have insurance in place to cover all their premises, equipment and boats (if any). This should specify who can operate equipment - in our club members need to be approved to use the club launches and RIBs and only staff members can operate the hoist, fork lift etc.
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The above is fairly standard except that 2.1.2 is sometimes interpreted in the small print as "property not belonging to the insured", as we found out at a gliding club.

Someone ran over the wing tip of a club glider with his glider and insurers wouldn't pay because, as a club member, he was a part owner of the club aircraft he damaged. After that, I took out the member to member liability policy there and afterwards at our boat club (I handled the policies for both).
 
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