Insurance - better to liveaboard?

[Kristal]

Having become a rather unwilling liveaboard in Central London, but now loving it, it's coming up to Insurance renewal time.

I would tend to assume that Insurance companies would be more willing to insure vessels that are lived aboard, and perhaps offer a slighltly lower premium, as it suggests owners are on the boat muc of the time, keeping an eye out for problems, discouraging burglary etc.

Is this the case in the experience of the members of this forum?

/<

 

[jonic]

Check your policy carefully.

We have just had a major claim following our Hurricane Ivan curtailed circumnavigation. We have had a six month bitter fight and have given up under pressure and have settled for less than our surveyor and three independant estimates suggest. As a separate issue we laid the boat up in Grenada to return to UK to have a baby. The underwriters, Yachtsure, have said they are paying out as we were back in the UK at the time of the Hurricane otherwise our policy excludes liablity if the boat is being used as a "houseboat." We had purchased this policy from a specialist broker who advertises as "having particular expertise and understanding of bluewater and long distance cruising"

 

[peteandthira]

Give GJW a ring. I believe they have a houseboat clause that only costs a few extra pounds. I am about to go down the same route.

Pops

 

[Talbot]

I would have gone straight back to them with dictionary definitions of houseboat:

Merriam Webster Dictionary
Main Entry: house·boat
Pronunciation: 'haus-"bOt
Function: noun
: a boat fitted for use as a dwelling; especially : a pleasure craft with a broad beam, a usually shallow draft, and a large superstructure resembling a house
- house·boat·er /-"bO-t&r/ noun

Encarta
Houseboat, craft with living quarters, designed for use in sheltered waters. In its basic form the houseboat is a shallow-draught vessel with a bargelike hull and a superstructure resembling a house. It is usually designed for maximum living space rather than for seaworthiness and may be propelled by oars, sails, or motor power, or it may be towed. The use of boats especially built and fitted as places of permanent residence is ancient; the Chinese and other Far Eastern peoples have used such craft for centuries. Floating palaces and temples were used by the Romans. Early in the 19th century, huts on rafts and houses on scows were common on rivers in the United States, particularly the Ohio and Mississippi. Recently, houseboats have been in use as summer homes in Britain and continental Europe. © 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Thus a boat being lived in during a cruise cannot be classified as a houseboat - they have bamboozled you to avoid paying a correct claim - go to the solicitors

 

[jonic]

Hi Talbot

They are paying, not us much as we would like, but they reminded us about the clause when we were having arguments with them. I wonder if we had been aboard at the time how the definition would have been applied. They said if it were not the case that we were living in the UK at the time of the loss, then it would be necessary to reconsider their offer.

So the moral is check your policy very carefully if you are living aboard, and get a definition of houseboat. We were not living aboard at the time so it was not an issue.

 

[charles_reed]

No

On the contrary you'll likely get a surcharge.

In fact, most policies (in the small print), specifically withdraw cover if the house is being used "AS YOUR SOLE OR MAIN ABODE".

This I suspect was the "houseboat" clause to which Jonic was referring.

 

[rivalranger]

St.Margarets define Houseboat as follows

"This is where the Vessel is used for overnight accommodation during the Laid Up period, other than for occasional overnight stays by You, or at any time while she is
being used as a permanent residence."

Pretty much rules out sell up and sail.....

Any recommedations for insurers with policies for full time cruisers ?

 

[Cobra25]

Put every thing you want and are going to do, in writing - don't rely on some sh** head who sells insurance, is a broker, a surveyor or other expert. Read a book called 'Lawyers Can Seriously Damage Your Wealth', I think it's by Joseph Maxwell. Apply it to all in life especially when dealing with the professionals every one is so in awe of, the ones we call legends, doyens, experts, brilliant.... Until you make a claim. Don't abandon your critical faculties when dealing with these people, the law is quite clear for every one to follow. Put it in writing to them all and watch the reaction.

 

[Cobra25]

Put every thing you want and are going to do, in writing - don't rely on some sh** head who sells insurance, is a broker, a surveyor or other expert. Read a book called 'Lawyers Can Seriously Damage Your Wealth', I think it's by Joseph Maxwell. Apply it to all in life especially when dealing with the professionals every one is so in awe of, the ones we call legends, doyens, experts, brilliant.... Until you make a claim. Don't abandon your critical faculties when dealing with these people, the law is quite clear for every one to follow. Put it in writing to them all and watch the reaction.

 

[AndrewB]

Odd. We have always checked specifically with our insurers, incl St Margaret's when we were with them, and were assured 'liveaboard' and 'houseboat' are not synonymous - there is no restriction on live-aboarding, at least while the yacht is in use (laying up restriction applies because yacht is presumed NOT in use). When we contacted 15 insurers last autumn, none proposed a surcharge. It may have helped that we have a shore-based (accommodation) address. However, its easy enough to ask.

 

[jonic]

well said Cobra 25, whe the sh*t hits the fan it all changes.

 

[Cobra25]

Don't miss the point YOU put it in writing to THEM and get agreement.

 

[pmyatt]

Try Admiral. Recently asked them whether my premium would increase or policy conditions change as I planned to liveaboard (for most of the year) on retirement - they said that as my policy covers being in commission for 12 months a year, there would be no increase in premium or change to the policy conditions.

 

[Spicemariner]

We also had our boat badly damaged in Hurricane Ivan, she was brought back to the UK by insurers Pantaenius but even though it has taken a long time, they have just made a settlement in lieu of repairs which we think was very fair. There is no quibble about the cover for living aboard, and although they are expensive, the lack of restrictions on the policy and a protected no claims bonus means that we will be going back to them once we find a new boat. In life you get what you pay for. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[jonic]

Hi Spicemariner

We have asked Pantaenius for a quote and will be going with them. They were excellent with the Hurricane, have heard no complaints from lost boats insured with them. Have sent you a PM.