Navigators & General been taken over

[Nigel52]

I need to renew my motor boat insurance and been with Navigators & General for many years. However, this last week I have been trying to get a quote and still trying. It seems they have been taken over by GEO Underwriters and the systems are still being swapped over meaning N&G can not do quotes or take money. A quick search on GEO Underwriters is not very complimentary - both Trustpilot and Glassdoor that rates employee satisfaction with the company is damning. I am now considering Haven Know-Johnston who are similarly priced. Has anyone got an opnion on this situation and what Haven Knox-Johnston is like?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Try Porthcawl insurance, always had very good service from them.

 

[Momac]

With all insurances you should read the policy wording as there may be some conditions that don't bother me buy could be a deal breaker for you.

 

[Hurricane]

Try brokers Gallaghers - +44 7458 124864
They brokered a Navigators & General policy for me this year.
The guy I dealt with is Jonathan Purvis

 

[dunedin]

Haven Knox Johnston are well known and been fine

 

[ashtead]

As you will no doubt know Nigel52 N&G while originally was an insurance company along with Eagle Star owned by British American Tobago and sold to Zurich insurance. It then was a trading brand of Zurich for private marine. Clearly Zurich N&G policies are available via other brokers such as Craftinsure as z adopted a dual approach selling direct via N&G brand originally based in Brighton but subsequently no doubt in Whitely or Swindon plus a broker channel selling through likes of Gallagher as mentioned. What I don’t know is whether post sale to GEO renewals will be with Zurich or whether GEO has own capacity elsewhere. Anyway apart from the history you might try Craftinsure . Clearly what’s competetive for one owner/vessel will not work for another depending on Underwiters market segment and book preference so do shop around. Details of your vessel might give some comparators if of use but as said the price is down to appetites and what commission your broker takes . I would also look at a quote from GJW .

 

[Nigel52]

Looks like a lot of phone calls this afternoon.

 

[Time Out]

Just done the same. Admittedly just a 21ft Thames launch kept on semi tidal stretch.

N&G were double the price of Haven for same cover.

The chap at N&G was very apologetic and couldn’t re quote so I went with Haven.

 

[ashtead]

What also happens is if a broker has a badly performing book the underwriter will up rates for that broker -now clearly if the broker has a panel the effect might be the broker terminates the insurer ToBA but if it’s a solus broker it has to find a replacement hence ideally you will have a panel to give a range of quotes etc. hence same vessel etc ends up with different quotes as one brokers prices might be loaded due to historic poor performance or because of excess of business outside expectations of underwriter. There is sadly no aggregator market as far as I know for private marine due to low volumes and to be honest insurer dislike of Aggs (unless they own it) .

 

[47GC]

Haven Knox Johnston are well known and been fine

HKJ seem to have a good rep on here. The wording of the policy seems to be one of the best out there.

 

[Nigel52]

Looks like I am going with HKJ sadly they aer unable to give me my full NCD due to a break with N&G when N&G stopped offering motor boat insurance in 2012.