Mediterranean Insurance

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altair2

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ex Ireland, US and UK now S. France
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Having sailed from the UK to Cyprus and back to France over the past four years, I have dropped anchor in Port Barcares and bought a house in the vicinity. Whilst I am earning brownie-points on the domestic front, my sailing will be somewhat limited.
My current insurance is with Yachtline and prior to that Pantaneus. Renewal quotes are quite high for the type of sailing I will be doing.
Could anybody recommend a French company or make any other suggestions.
 
A couple of years ago Pantaenius reduced our premium after we told them we intended to cruise only the European side of the Med, not the whole of the Med including Turkey and the African coast.
 
Thats strange... Pantaenius quoted me for The med to 20E and, when I said that I needed cover to sail from Lagos to get to the med, they changed the cruising area to All waters within 200nm of European Coasts not North of Bergen and Excluding north African waters, with no change in the premium quoted.
 
our powerboat in france is insured with dutch company, Dna recreass. Dead cheap and startlingly eager to pay out - unknown to me there is mechanical cover so they they covered the rebuild costs of rebuild (£10k or so) when the engine lightly blew up. All dutch on the site but callem and they all fick into english no problem. They are about half the cost of uk insurers for us.

http://www.dna-adviesgroep.nl/cms/idc/yacht_finance_en_insurance/yacht_finance_en_insurance.html
 
tcm, that sounds amazing any question about none makes recomend engine parts or lack of dealer maintance, or did they check all that and you had an up to date engine log.
By the way what was the cause of light blow up.
 
Our present coverage is for "European rivers and inland waters. European coastal waters up to 200 nm off the coast, excluding waters north of Bergen/Wick." Our previous coverage was similar, plus the non-European parts of the Mediterranean including Turkey and the North African coast. I don't have the precise wording here in Toronto because the relevant document is in the boat in France. We had had that coverage for three years, before deciding not to sail to Turkey or North Africa. If your first quotation from Pantaenius was not for the same coverage we previously had, then we are not comparing like with like.
 
Talk to GJW. I have always found them helpful and accommodating. On our last long cruise they responded probtly and efficiently to requests for extension of cruising ground and emailed /faxed documents. Rates seem pretty good too.
 
I had yacht insurance with Pantaenius for nine years and never had a problem paying, the problem occurred after I sank my boat. Three times they stated that I was not covered and ultimately offered me 25% of the worth of my boat-when even their own maritime expert stated that they would have to pay 100% and let me keep the wreck because it would be so expensive for them to dispose of it. This is approximately the same amount that I payed in premiums over nine years without ever making a claim. Of course the only other option is to take up expensive legal action which I will have to do....
Since this has happened I have now quite a few sotries of how Pantaenius like to treat their customers. If anyone would like information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Opus iv
 
Pantaenius were beyond reproach when I claimed last summer. In every way from first communication to final settlement of contractors they could not be faulted - even found the contractors and held my hand.

That's not to say I am doubting your story - absolutely not - it's just that if we are going to have a public discussion about the good and bad things of a company it's only fair if people from both camps chip in with their experience.
 
I too have had a very good experience with Pantaenius. I took a lighting strike in the USA and they were helpful and supportive with the process of finding a yard to do the repairs.. They paid out an eye-watering $55,000 US for a total electrical refit and were good people to do business with. During my circumnavigation I moved the cruising area as I progressed and the premiums always seemed fair and reasonable.
Michael
 
Before taking the legal route, I'd urge you to take the issue to the Financial Services Authority (www.fsa.gov.uk/). They have a branch which took over from the Insurance Ombudsman a few years ago. The ombudsman took consumer interests very much to heart, had no time at all for misleading small print or obscure and unfair practices. The insurers lived in fear of him -- honestly! I once had a claim (not yacht-related) which was flatly denied. I wrote back threatening them with the ombudsman and they instantly settled in full, much to the astonishment of my broker.

The old ombudsman's site is still on the web, and is easy to research for any disputed claims that might have parallels to your own: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

The service is (or used to be) free.
 
[ QUOTE ]
the problem occurred after I sank my boat. Three times they stated that I was not covered and ultimately offered me 25% of the worth of my boat-when even their own maritime expert stated that they would have to pay 100% and let me keep the wreck because it would be so expensive for them to dispose of it.

[/ QUOTE ]

How did you sink your boat? and why are/were they saying you are not covered?
 
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