Insurance recommendations please

Colin24

Colin24

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Morning all

I’ve just purchased my first boat. It’s a 23 foot GRP bilge keel built 1980 purchased without a survey. I now need to insure it. I recently read a couple of comments on this forum by readers who had been able to insure their boats without the insurance company requiring a recent survey, but I could not find those threads using a search. Can anybody point me towards an insurance company who would cover me? Maybe some readers who are in a similar situation could tell me who they use. The boats worth around 4,000 GBP

Many thanks

Colin
 
You may have a problem insuring the hull due to no survey and its age.Might be worth considering a 3rd party only type insurance, available from a couple of companies,which would give you cover for marina or other purposes.
 
Hi Colin,

Try Bishop Skinner (RYA Insurers) - brilliant - competitive - and NO problems when you make a claim. Talk to Bill Southgate, one of the most knowledgeable guys I've come across in boat insurance.

Cheers Jerry
 
Gin

The terms and conditions on the Craftinsure site stipulate: for boats over 20 years old a survey within the last 3 years is necessary. But I'll try Mark.

Thanks

Colin
 
I echo comments re Bill Southgate at Bishop Skinner. My first boat was under £2000 and they were realistic enough to say that they didn't expect me to pay for a survey, but just a letter from some sailing club official or a boatyard saying she was in seaworthy condition would do the trick. This was some years ago mind you. They were also excellent when dealing with my claim after a grounding.
 
Bishop Skinner insisted on a suvey with my boat when I bought her this year and insisted that all the items that the surveyor listed were remedied before insurance would be active on the water. This included replacing the standing rigging unless I could establish that it's age was less than 10 years (it wasn't) replacing guard rails as one strand had broken (it took me 2 weeks to find the broken strand) other items included things like make sure hardwood bungs were tied to the seacocks, split rings were replaced with split pins.

I still used them.
 
3rd party is the way to go if you're happy (well, - willing) to take a total loss.

My boat's worth peanuts so I went with Basic Boat Liability Co for £69. They do cover wreck removal costs if you incur a liability.
Victorian telephone based; 08707 870030
 
Why ??

Why would replace split rings with split pins ???? I for one prefer split rings for many applications as they a) don't catch cloth / sails etc., b) are easier to service without need for pliers etc......

I am yet to be convinced that 10 yrs is actually necessary for standing rigging ..... having worked at sea with derricks / lifeboat falls etc. etc. - far more potential risk there than a yacht mast .... and been with yachts near all my life, marine surveyor etc. I repeat again that I am not convinced about 10 yrs for standing rigging. Only if a boat is a hard pressed race-boat stressed regularly and pushed to limits .... but the average cruise boat unless caught out unlucky never gets close to rigging strain ...

OK - I know there will be some that will now post that they have had failures - of course there are - but I've seen new as well as old do it - age did not seem to be a factor.

Oh well the Insurance Co's think they are right ... so what can you do about it ? I for one don't see any need to replace mine and its donkeys years old ... probably more like 20+ yrs .....

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Wreck removal ....

3rd Party cover is fine for boats ... ok you lose the financial cover of your own items and boat but many items can be claimed on House Contents ....

The important one to remember is to make sure that you are covered for Wreck Removal .... this is necessary factor for all moorings / marina's. It's rarely mentioned - but if you check wording in contracts for moorings / marina's - you will find it somewhere in the clauses and conditions ....

Funny thing is my Marina forgot all about it .... I discussed with them about my boats insurance when I changed to 3rd Party only .... then they came back later and confirmed that it was in the clauses .... and they had forgotten all about it ...
 
Re: Wreck removal ....

I think it was Knox Johnston who told me that once they've seen a survey, they don't ask for any more. Unlike most insurance companies that seem to want one every 5 - 7 years (on older boats).
 
Re: Wreck removal ....

This does lead back to old chestnut of course.
Wreck Removal with Basic Boat is only covered from swinging moorings if the mooring was laid professionally and is professionally maintained.
I enquired how often checks should be carried out and so far have not had a definitive answer.
 
Re: Wreck removal ....

That may well be the case for some areas and some companies but it is not the general case. If it were, then there would be few if any boats in my area insured, because we all lay our own moorings. There are no professional companies to do it for us. And I guess that is the case for most club sailors outside the south coast

As for insurance I always recommend :

Gareth Jones
Heath Lambert Insurance Services
Orleans House, Edmund Street,
Liverpool
L3 9NG

Tel: +44 (0) 151 227 4321
Fax: +44 (0) 151 227 4322
<mailto:gjones@heathlambert.com

No connection but its a real pleasure to deal with someone who knows what he is talking about, rather than the half trained bimbos you get in some call centres. Doesnt seem to be any more expensive either, and I got cover for single handing at night plus a few other oddities
 
Re: Wreck removal ....

I have been insured with Nav & Gen through Nautical Insurance Services in Southend for the last 7 years. I've got an older boat that was last surveyed in 95. Also had a claim a few years ago and found their service excellent. Could be worth giving them a try - 01702 470 811.

Also, as someone else has said a "boatyard report" to say that the boat is sound and well maintained could be an alternative to a survey (and cheaper) for some insurance companies.
 
Interesting post....I am pleased with Bishop Skinner, others are please with their own companies. Perhaps it would be more informative to hear from those who are not happy with their companies?? I know it would be difficult to assess fairness when a major claim is involved, but perhaps if your company was being petty over some minor issue ??
 
We got dumped by Pantaenius 2 years ago, they increased the premium by over 60% after increasing it the previous year by 25% and this was before the hurricane in the Caribbean. Their excuse, "you have an old boat and the rebuild costs are as much or more than a new boat". Our boat is a 1984 Prout Snowgoose catamaran, fully surveyed and in excellent condition and valued at £70,000, we have 25 years experience and had 2 claims in that time on our previous boat, 1 with Nav &General after a break-in, and 1 with Pantaenius after hitting some rocks.To be fair to them they paid up with no hassle but it was only a small claim, about £700.00 I think.
However, they upset me with their excuses and take it or leave it attitude on renewal that we eventually went with Saga, we do have cars and house insurances with them so we get a discount but last years premium was less than 1/2 Pantaenius , less than £400. which I don't think is too bad for a multihull. I have no idea what they are like if you have to claim, hopefully we won't have to! You do have to be over 50 though!!
 
Sadly I just qualify for SAGA, and did get a quote last time my insurance was due, but they are very inflexible re swinging moorings. It has to be moved to a marina or lifted out by the stated date, with no room for manoeuvre. Bishop Skinner are extremely flexible, and one can stay on a swinging mooring all year for an increased cost, or defer lift out someitmes at no additional cost. Fellow club members, excellent sailors, he is 80 she is seventies, had an unfortunate string of incidents. Not while sailing, but mooring breaking loose, and going to the aid of a distressed Dutch motor cruiser who turned out to be charlatans with void insurance, were dumped by Pantaenius. They were offered full insurance by Bishop Skinner with the only proviso being a £500 excess.
 
I just reread the Saga endorsements and it says: During the period 1 Dec to 31March when not in use the vessel must be kept ashore or in a marina. Not too onerous for us as this is winter refit time, but I will try Bishop Skinner next time, some companies don't like cats, seem to think we spend most of our time upside down!!
 
Re: Wreck removal ....

Basic Boat stated that Marina was covered .... since they had to change registration style its harder to check - but I will ... as I don't want false statements made.
 
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