Insurance Topsail ---GJW--- My 2 pence worth-- your mileage may vary as they say

[silverdee]

So was with Y yacht for several years they sold out to Topsail in 2020 and I clung on with them. 74 FT. motor yacht.
But this year chunky price rise again but worse--- cover from Admiral (underwriter Travellers) clear exclusion for corrosion / electrolysis. I ask and they wont ammend.
So went with GJW (Munich Re underwriters) - cover for corrosion / electrolysis included and 30% cheaper-- Happy days I hope.
Previous good experience (20 years back) when GJW covered yard where earlier boat badly damaged in haul out fall - claim paid easily in full on time - interactions as a claimant dealt with reasonably etc.

 

[Parabolica]

GJW were very easy to deal with and their policy looked very good when i recently asked for a quote. They also had no concerns about it being my first boat either. In the end i actually went with another company for a brand tailored policy (Sunseeker), for the same price but will stay in touch with GJW for yearly renewals and should the need to change arise, i’ll not hesitate In jumping ship (please excuse the pun).

 

[DavidJ]

According to moneysupermarket there is a “sweet spot” for new car insurance quotes of 21 to 28 days before expiry.
Is anyone aware of this practice with boat insurance?

 

[harvey38]

Third year with GJW. Thankfully not had to claim, the price drops each year as we're still accruing No Claims Bonus but very efficient on the phone and competitive.

 

[bowler]

I have two policies with them. Premium actually dropped this year. No claims yet.

 

[snowbird30ds]

I had a claim with them about 11 years ago and it all went very easy with a quick payout once the final invoice went in, needless to say I'm still with them.

 

[DavidJ]

Inspired by this thread, I went online to get a quote from GJW. (My renewal comes up in Feb)
Excellent website with the dropdown menus recognising my boat and my marina in Spain.
Against last years Craftinsure premium, GJW were £80 cheaper.
I‘ve just read the t’s & c’s and looking good to switch.
Big thing in the past was “unattended at anchor” which Craftinsure cover quite well, no mention by GJW but not so important for my current usage.

Topsail really tried it on a couple of years back after a decade with Y

 

[CHI]

I had a very large claim some few years ago. GJW were excellent.
Paid in full and very easy to deal with.
Have stayed with them since and will do for many years to come as they remain very competitive and past experience.

 

[Osmosis]

Not trying to be a party pooper .
Could be me on reading GJW policy wording. 10.21

Section 3 Galvanic Corrosion or electrolysis - Policy excludes if you are unable to demonstrate that anodes of sufficient size and appropriate type installed and annually checked.
Question checked by who?

Section 4 Osmosis - Excluded

Just asking if a fellow forum member could double check

 

[DavidJ]

Not trying to be a party pooper .
Could be me on reading GJW policy wording. 10.21

Section 3 Galvanic Corrosion or electrolysis - Policy excludes if you are unable to demonstrate that anodes of sufficient size and appropriate type installed and annually checked.
Question checked by who?

Section 4 Osmosis - Excluded

Just asking if a fellow forum member could double check

Indeed you are correct and well spotted.
This is already on my annual service requirements with VP anode part numbers and is detailed on the invoice so I think I’m covered. If you diy then tricky.

Quote from the policy I looked at (same as yours):

Galvanic corrosion or electrolysis
“ If You are unable to demonstrate that anodes of sufficient size and appropriate type have been installed and inspected annual. “

 

[alandalus11]

That should be easy to address if you diy, keep your invoices for the anodes every year and if you want to do a full belt and braces job then take before and after photos.

 

[Scubadoo]

Not trying to be a party pooper .
Could be me on reading GJW policy wording. 10.21

Section 3 Galvanic Corrosion or electrolysis - Policy excludes if you are unable to demonstrate that anodes of sufficient size and appropriate type installed and annually checked.
Question checked by who?

Section 4 Osmosis - Excluded

Just asking if a fellow forum member could double check

Yep, this is where my GJW claim was rejected a few years ago by this electrolysis clause no matter how I demonstrated to them the evidence. In my case, I was in the same berth for many years without any problems until two events occurred in one year where a liveaboard had power issues near me and marina was in the process of replacing lift berth anodes. No complaints with GJW customer service and price, but after that experience I moved to another insurer.

 

[penfold]

That should be easy to address if you diy, keep your invoices for the anodes every year and if you want to do a full belt and braces job then take before and after photos.

That plus these days videoing the maintenance activity is zero cost as even a grotty phone is a pocket TV studio.

 

[DavidJ]

I emailed a query to GJW this afternoon and had a positive reply in 30 mins… very responsive!!
Also while on the job I asked for a quote from Curtis and that came out £172 more than my GJW quote.

 

[bowler]

Section 4 Osmosis - Excluded

Does anyone have a policy that covers osmosis?

If so who is the insurer. Just out of interest.

 

[DavidJ]

Does anyone have a policy that covers osmosis?

If so who is the insurer. Just out of interest.

Others will know a lot more but from what I understand, osmosis doesn’t suddenly happen like an accident, where you may typically make a claim.
Osmosis would have to be neglected for years to actually sink a boat and is easy to detect.
I guess I’m saying that I’m comfortable with this exclusion.

I had my 20 yr old Sealine surveyed last year for insurance (Craftinsure requirement) and not a sign of osmosis after spending 99.9% of its life in salt water. I think it’s a rare event with modern GRP’s.

 

[Portofino]

Yep, this is where my GJW claim was rejected a few years ago by this electrolysis clause no matter how I demonstrated to them the evidence. In my case, I was in the same berth for many years without any problems until two events occurred in one year where a liveaboard had power issues near me and marina was in the process of replacing lift berth anodes. No complaints with GJW customer service and price, but after that experience I moved to another insurer.

Interesting.
There‘s a guy on the Itama FB group , but it could be any boat for want of example .
His stern platform lifting gear is allegedly robbed the normal anodes , depleted them and the props + shaft of I think the port set of gear needs renewal.

The suggestion is “ the boat should have been lifted every 2 months “ to check the anodes .

Theres a bit more background as I suspect the port prop anode with its RHS thread has spun off during the season .Spinning anti-clockwise undone itself , and he’s not checked etc before leaving it sitting on its marina berth - end of season .

What I am saying is a pic / invoice of fresh anodes at the annual if you think about it still leaves the door wide open to refute ……because who says they last between annual lifts ?? That’s a presumption difficult to back up .

Unless as I say ….well telegraph to you “ 2 monthly lifts “ .I guess a diver inspection will suffice too .


Diver pic ^….done in lockdown.


Yard pic done by the yard ( annual done by them with me not present) Note the white wax in the prop bolt fixing hole .
It stopped them loosening .

I do not think a invoice and yard pic is enough.

 

[DavidJ]

Interesting.
There‘s a guy on the Itama FB group , but it could be any boat for want of example .
His stern platform lifting gear is allegedly robbed the normal anodes , depleted them and the props + shaft of I think the port set of gear needs renewal.

The suggestion is “ the boat should have been lifted every 2 months “ to check the anodes .

Theres a bit more background as I suspect the port prop anode with its RHS thread has spun off during the season .Spinning anti-clockwise undone itself , and he’s not checked etc before leaving it sitting on its marina berth - end of season .

What I am saying is a pic / invoice of fresh anodes at the annual if you think about it still leaves the door wide open to refute ……because who says they last between annual lifts ?? That’s a presumption difficult to back up .

Unless as I say ….well telegraph to you “ 2 monthly lifts “ .I guess a diver inspection will suffice too .

View attachment 147390
Diver pic ^….done in lockdown.

View attachment 147391
Yard pic done by the yard ( annual done by them with me not present) Note the white wax in the prop bolt fixing hole .
It stopped them loosening .

I do not think a invoice and yard pic is enough.

Interesting.
Note that GJW require an annual anode inspection which is reasonable.

 

[Scubadoo]

Interesting.
There‘s a guy on the Itama FB group , but it could be any boat for want of example .
His stern platform lifting gear is allegedly robbed the normal anodes , depleted them and the props + shaft of I think the port set of gear needs renewal.

The suggestion is “ the boat should have been lifted every 2 months “ to check the anodes .

Theres a bit more background as I suspect the port prop anode with its RHS thread has spun off during the season .Spinning anti-clockwise undone itself , and he’s not checked etc before leaving it sitting on its marina berth - end of season .

What I am saying is a pic / invoice of fresh anodes at the annual if you think about it still leaves the door wide open to refute ……because who says they last between annual lifts ?? That’s a presumption difficult to back up .

Unless as I say ….well telegraph to you “ 2 monthly lifts “ .I guess a diver inspection will suffice too .


Diver pic ^….done in lockdown.


Yard pic done by the yard ( annual done by them with me not present) Note the white wax in the prop bolt fixing hole .
It stopped them loosening .

I do not think a invoice and yard pic is enough.

At the time I had a lengthy conversation with GJW "expert" and if I remember correctly there was a conversation on monitoring anode wear throughout the season, which was difficult to do. The difficulties is providing evidence, at the time I thought I had sufficient evidence of my annual lift and checks etc. Photos (new & old anodes fitted), evidence of new anodes purchased (invoices), annual inspection including resistance checks and so on and I even had many years of my old anodes that I keep at home which showed the usual annual degradation. I came to the conclusion that insurers (not just GJW) have plenty of "excuses" not to pay a claim. Since then, I have gone further to ensure it doesn't happen again, increasing my anode protection, added galvanic isolator and weighing the anodes annually to use as a comparison and using a video camera underwater to check the anodes that I can't see. This is also the same for sea cocks, ensuring checks are documented, including photos internal and external and so on.

 

[Portofino]

At the time I had a lengthy conversation with GJW "expert" and if I remember correctly there was a conversation on monitoring anode wear throughout the season, which was difficult to do. The difficulties is providing evidence, at the time I thought I had sufficient evidence of my annual lift and checks etc. Photos (new & old anodes fitted), evidence of new anodes purchased (invoices), annual inspection including resistance checks and so on and I even had many years of my old anodes that I keep at home which showed the usual annual degradation. I came to the conclusion that insurers (not just GJW) have plenty of "excuses" not to pay a claim. Since then, I have gone further to ensure it doesn't happen again, increasing my anode protection, added galvanic isolator and weighing the anodes annually to use as a comparison and using a video camera underwater to check the anodes that I can't see. This is also the same for sea cocks, ensuring checks are documented, including photos internal and external and so on.

This ^ is the reality……folks .