Boat Insurance

[CoVianna]

My boat purchase is going through. Therefore I need to arrange insurance.

So the question is who do you use? Any good or bad experiences?

Boat is a Hunter Horizon 21. Value about £5,000.

Any recommendations?

 

[Appledore]

Just renewed my insurance with Nautical Insurance Services, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. Tel: 01702 470811.

Very straightforward and no issues. 22 footer, 40 years old, value £4,500, and fully comp insurance for £126.00. (with a NCB).

Speak to Stuart and say I recommended them!

(No connections other than a satisfied customer)

Geoff

 

[JumbleDuck]

My boat purchase is going through. Therefore I need to arrange insurance.

So the question is who do you use? Any good or bad experiences?

Boat is a Hunter Horizon 21. Value about £5,000.

Any recommendations?

Basic Boat Insurance. Eighty quid or so, third party only. Little point in comprehensive in the £5k boat world.

 

[Appledore]

Basic Boat Insurance. Eighty quid or so, third party only. Little point in comprehensive in the £5k boat world.

Normally I would agree, however my Club insist on wreck recovery, which is not covered by Third Party.

 

[LadyInBed]

Depending on where you will keep your boat, as they are pickey re locations, try Craftinsure for a quote. They are online at www.craftinsure.com and underwritten by Pantius. Even if you don't use them you will get the feel for what is asked / required and cost.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Normally I would agree, however my Club insist on wreck recovery, which is not covered by Third Party.

Main Features & Benefits
- A highly competitive annual insurance premium for your boat
- Limit of Indemnity £ 5,000,000
- Wreck Removal costs up to £ 50,000 (if you are legally liable for these costs)
- [...]

http://www.basic-boat.com/​

 

[jakeroyd]

Like Appledore , I have been with Nautical for about 6 or 7 years.
No problems but never claimed.

I changed to Y Insurance last year because of their "full cover" provides cover if for instance a badly maintained seacock sinks the boat , or so I believe or have convinced myself.. Won't put much detail on this , it's discussed in detail on quite a few large "insurance" threads on here.
Y seem to have a good reputation in the fora as well.

No claims with Y either , it's perhaps only if you claim you find out how good any insurance company is.

 

[Appledore]

Main Features & Benefits
- A highly competitive annual insurance premium for your boat
- Limit of Indemnity £ 5,000,000
- Wreck Removal costs up to £ 50,000 (if you are legally liable for these costs)
- [...]

http://www.basic-boat.com/​

Doesn't seem to cover me for use in the Channel Islands, etc. My existing cover is Brest to River Elbe. Unless I've not looked at their proposal form carefully enough.

 

[awol]

Doesn't seem to cover me for use in the Channel Islands, etc. My existing cover is Brest to River Elbe. Unless I've not looked at their proposal form carefully enough.

And now you have got to the nub of the matter. We are used to comparing car and home insurance on price 'cos the level of cover is very similar. Boat insurance has many more variables - racing, single-handed, geographical limits, night sailing, consequential loss, marina/swinging mooring, deductibles, new for old, regular inspection, machinery cover ... and so it goes on. If you buy on price alone, you are likely to be disappointed when the shit hits the fan.
The moral is - read the small print!

 

[Appledore]

Very slightly off-topic, but a few years ago I approached a well-known 'Over 50's' insurer. Went through all the details and then they said they couldn't insure my boat for CI use because it was less than 24 feet. I told them it was registered in Guernsey, but that made no difference. They still send me an annual 'invite' to insure with them!

Others ask for Surveys. Some require you to replace your standing rigging after X years. Yo really need to be aware of the conditions before deciding.

 

[colind3782]

Drifting slightly but are there any good insurers that don't insist on the ten year standing rigging renewal. Mine is a lot older but there's nothing wrong with it, I don't race and I don't want to spend upwards of £3K to replace it.

 

[awol]

Drifting slightly but are there any good insurers that don't insist on the ten year standing rigging renewal. Mine is a lot older but there's nothing wrong with it, I don't race and I don't want to spend upwards of £3K to replace it.

Does that mean you are happy to cover the risk of rig loss due to rigging failure yourself? Ask for quotes with that exemption.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Doesn't seem to cover me for use in the Channel Islands, etc. My existing cover is Brest to River Elbe. Unless I've not looked at their proposal form carefully enough.

They do three levels of cover, of which the broadest is

3. Any craft over 17 knots based and used on UK inland or
coastal waters up to 12 nautical miles from the UK coast.
OR
Any craft to be used on inland and coastal waters of
the UK and Eire, and inland waters of EU member
countries. Extended under Category 3 only to any
craft navigating within the limits of 54° North and
46° North and not beyond 10° West.
Coastal waters of the UK and Eire being up to
12 nautical miles of the coast (including the extent of
the Irish Sea and North Channel)​

So yes, it looks like your SOL for the Channel Islands. Does that matter to the OP, though?

 

[JumbleDuck]

Does that mean you are happy to cover the risk of rig loss due to rigging failure yourself? Ask for quotes with that exemption.

I believe that some insurers only want the rigging to be in good condition and perhaps inspected, rather than imposing an entirely arbitrary ten year cut-off.

 

[colind3782]

I believe that some insurers only want the rigging to be in good condition and perhaps inspected, rather than imposing an entirely arbitrary ten year cut-off.

That's what I was asking.

 

[CoVianna]

Thanks chaps.

By the answers I need to see what the Marina might require as well. (Marina is a bit of a posh word for where it will be moored!).

 

[LadyInBed]

Drifting slightly but are there any good insurers that don't insist on the ten year standing rigging renewal.

Craftinsure require that a survey has been carried out after 20 years then every 3.
They have a sample policy on their site that you can download.

 

[Sandgrounder]

I've been with haven Knox Johnstone for a few years now. Pretty good cover and better price than the previous insurer. Didn't insist on survey when boat replaced and will cover in commission over winter - double excess but no additional premium.

 

[pvb]

The problem with boat insurance recommendations is that very few people have ever claimed - and it's the treatment of claims which is all important. I've never claimed, but an errant visiting mobo in the marina managed to cause damage to my pushpit and boarding ladder. All sorted very quickly by his insurer, GJW.

 

[pvb]

... try Craftinsure for a quote. They are online at www.craftinsure.com and underwritten by Pantius.

I used Craftinsure for a few years. Their policy is underwritten by Zurich Insurance.