Frequency of Surveys For Insurance Purposes

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capricorn

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I bought my boat (1990 Gib'Sea 282) just under 4 years ago and instructed a full survey prior to purchase which I made available to my insurers at the time.

I've been with the same insurer (Admiral) all the time and I'm just about to renew my policy with them for the 5th year. I note from the renewal letter that my renewal next year (ie from June 2009) will be subject to a satisfactory full out of the water survey.

I've had no claims, groundings or any other noteable incidents that would concern an insurer.

Is it usual for insurers to request a full survey every 5 years for a boat of this age ?
 
I was told survey needed at 20yrs for Noble Insurance.
It does vary though.
At least you got a full year's notice!
 
It varies between insurers and the age of the boat. St Margaret's used to ask me every 5 years, although she was already 20 years old when I bought her, but last time it went up to seven.
 
7 years with GJW starting with the pre-purchase survey done two years ago. I have heard 20 years from some Moody owners but maybe they pay more. I have to say that the insurance survey on my old Snapdragon a few years ago was worth its cost as very little needed doing except replacing the bolts in the skin fittings where some git had put brass bolts in bronze fittings and the heads had almost worn right away. I'm not sure that I would have picked that up. Now could have been expensive!
 
Check through a broker. (I find Desmond Cheers pretty helpful) Companies differ, if you need a survey every 5 years add that to your insurance cost for comparison agianst other companies that may not require a survey.

I went back with 2 cheaper quotes after a sudden premium rise (no claims in years & years) & they agreed a premium reduction with my current company which saved me paying for a survey to move.

Many companies seem to "try on" a premium rise to see how you respond. A good broker will negotiate for you from a position of strength.
 
yep. Just had mine done. 20 years old.

After the survey, what are the insurance companies requiring as a result of the surveys.

For example, are they asking for everything that comes up to be sorted?

Specifically gas - with many older boats not having dedicated gas lockers - are people being asked to sort this?
 
I think MoodySabre rather makes their point. Unless one is a very thorough boat maintainer with the appropriate knowledge and experience, and inspection tools, you can miss things which are significant.

Keels do drop off. Steel hulls do rot through and develop leaks. Things go wrong. Unfortunately, not all of us have the skills to spot things that are developing, which a survey with a good surveyor will.

Its like a car, would we drive about without ever getting an MoT test done?

While I know that the insurance companies are not being altruistic, the truth is that surveys spot things we dont always notice ourselves, and I think they are therefore being responsible in asking for one every few years as a boat ages.

Yeah. There's a cost to it. Yet more money spent. But cheaper than losing a keel.
 
Insurance warranted subject to all recommendations being carried out. As for the gas, to be sorted to corgi standards asap with specific exclusion of cover in the event of fire & explosion.
 
That sounds all too familiar.

Seems a bit of a cop-out to me. For example my survey states that standing rigging older than 10 years old has to be renewed. Insurance company however do not require this, so individual items sometimes need 'clarifying'! Survey also includes some items that I would not normally associate with insurance - eg date on flares.
 
Corgi fitting of gas appliances is not a legal requirement, so if your insurance company requires it over and above a survey then you could always query it and/or ask other insurance companies.

Surveyors are not omniscient, mine had been happy with the gas bottles in a cockpit locker, draining into the self draining cockpit the time before last, but the next time he suggested I fill in the holes between the locker and the bilge. So now after 45 years of calor gas stove use, Evadne finally has a gas locker.

I was more prompted by what happened to "Skua", a boat in our creek that blew up and caught fire with the owner on board than anything else, although I still maintain that the most likely cause of a gas leak is through an open tap on the cooker.
link to Skua story here
 
Every five years was I thought the norm for older boats.

With regards Gas, we have an exclusion clause on our policy
and if we want it removed then the gas system has to be certified.
 
GJW has just announced that we do need another survey before renewal in Dec 2009. Although they have been good to us, it will prompt us into a serious round of reviewing options, as it makes them very non-competitive with eg Pantaneius.
 
[ QUOTE ]
That sounds all too familiar.

Seems a bit of a cop-out to me. For example my survey states that standing rigging older than 10 years old has to be renewed. Insurance company however do not require this, so individual items sometimes need 'clarifying'! Survey also includes some items that I would not normally associate with insurance - eg date on flares.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmmm. Now, If I were an insurer, out of date flares might tell me something, don't you reckon?
 
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