TiggerToo
Well-known member
Does anyone here have insurance to cover (long distance) cruising single handed?
If yes, where (which broker) and how (did you arrange it)?
If yes, where (which broker) and how (did you arrange it)?
Insuring Single Handed Cruising
- Thread starter TiggerToo
- Start date
Barnacle Bill
Active member
Try Pantaenius. They seem to have the refreshing attitude that you are best placed to know how to sail your own boat.
serendipity66
New member
For a price ...
doug748
Well-known member
Pantaenius cover you singlehanded from Bergen to La Rochelle. Beyond that, I think they wish to speak about "crewing arrangements" which is probably shorthand for No. I think they also have a policy of not covering smaller, cheaper boats offshore - minimum 50k or something,
One additional advantage is that they are not interested where you keep the boat, if you change moorings or are in a marina or not. Nor do they trouble about taking the boat out of the water or leaving it in throughout the year.
However as mentioned they are expensive.
.
One additional advantage is that they are not interested where you keep the boat, if you change moorings or are in a marina or not. Nor do they trouble about taking the boat out of the water or leaving it in throughout the year.
However as mentioned they are expensive.
.
srm
Well-known member
For many years Yachtmaster allowed me singlehanded with just a verbal agreement that I would not get in a situation where a claim was made due to fatigue. That gentleman then retired and they became more restrictive. The best I got was a planned passage of no more than 18 hours (UK and Scandinavian waters). When I changed my boat they wanted to cut me back to daylight hours only. Not realising that from my home base that could mean a passage of a month or more if I took the end of nautical twilight as the end of daylight. They would not cover a 200 mile passage from Shetland to Norway.
I now have third party only insurance as I got fed up with the well above inflation annual price hikes to pay for other people's losses.
I now have third party only insurance as I got fed up with the well above inflation annual price hikes to pay for other people's losses.
PhillM
Well-known member
They offer 3rd party for small / cheap boats. About to return to them for Swift. They want to know the rigging and seacocks are recent but don’t need a full out of water survey. Got the large sea area with no restrictions to distance offshore. Not at all expensive.
John_Silver
Well-known member
Cover certainly used to be limited to La Rochelle, going south. For a few years now, my policy has given cover down to the Strait of Gibraltar, but stipulates “not the Med.” Which gives more scope….depends on Tigger’s definition of Long Distance, if it meets the need….Works for me on a there-and-back-in-one-summer basis
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awol
Well-known member
Be warned - Bergen is south of the north of the Shetland Isles. Proper round British Isles cruises need an extension.
doug748
Well-known member
Good point, I have just looked at my schedule and it indeed covers latitudes 28 to 67 North and longitudes 12deg West to 30 East. Including the Baltic but excluding Russian waters.
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PhillM
Well-known member
They do various areas now. I’m sure you can add Med on too, as well as Atlantic. But I don’t know what the stipulations are. My sense is that as it’s 3rd party they don’t much care about how far you go, just be careful when you come back towards land!
srm
Well-known member
A friend had third party cover for his boat here in the Azores with Pantaenius and regarded it as very expensive. I suspect they were concerned about the coat of repairing any damage his boat may cause in the islands. He was very happy when I took him to a local insurance broker who offered cover for Portugal at a greatly reduced price.
Sandy
Well-known member
I've dropped you a PM.
Jonny A
Active member
How many singlehanders give up on this sort of thing and just head off uninsured? It's what I assume I'll end up doing.
matt1
Well-known member
Stoneways have been very good for me
srm
Well-known member
Occasionally the subject of insurance comes up when talking to cruisers in the marina here. Its not just singlehanders that have trouble getting full cover for long passages, or find the cost beyond their budget. Only one couple that I spoke to had full insurance, on a very nice and expensive wood yacht that was probably their sole asset. The others just had third party cover as that is a requirement when checking in to most marinas and harbours.
I have also noticed that insurers may try to specify at least three competent crew for yachts heading out past Biscay whereas many boats are crewed by a couple who do not want a third person on a long passage. I had to make the point that our boat was fitted out for offshore sailing with two people on board and did not have a suitable sea berth for a third as the space was used for storage.
doris
Well-known member
Pants used to cover me for unrestricted solo sailing Bergen to Gib. That was until three years ago when I sold the boat. Slightly expensive but they were amazing good when problems arose.
voyager35
Member
Try Simon at SOAK marine insurance. He got me cover when no one else could
Obi
Active member
+1 for Pantaenius. With a YM offshore they were very accommodating and it cost less than £400 a year for a 40 ketch Oyster (my first yacht).
That was 10 years ago, I imagine prices have increased but I was pleasantly surprised how OK they were with it all.
The first question they asked me was about my qualifications and the YM seemed to instantly reassure them. As mentioned by SRM I had to reassure them I would not exhaust myself to the point where fatigue would affect my abilities.
That was 10 years ago, I imagine prices have increased but I was pleasantly surprised how OK they were with it all.
The first question they asked me was about my qualifications and the YM seemed to instantly reassure them. As mentioned by SRM I had to reassure them I would not exhaust myself to the point where fatigue would affect my abilities.
PhillM
Well-known member
Tbh I don’t consider £140 for 3rd party and unlimited singlehanded expensive. On my previous boat I was spending £400 for fully comp but that option isn’t available for smaller boats anymore. Again not that expensive when considered against car insurance.
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Pants quote was within 5% of Topsail and Admiral for all of Med to UK waters and no mention of singlehanding restrictions anywhere.
