Navigators & General been taken over

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Nigel52

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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?
 
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.
 
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 .
 
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.
 
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) .
 
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.
 
I've just renewed with N&G. Their quote was competitive and this will be our third year with them. Since takeover, they have added a load more items to the "Statement of Fact", many were set to the default of "no" which was incorrect, eg no outboard on dinghy, no single handed sailing, no gas on boat, no survey ever done etc. Correcting the answers didn't change the premium but it's important to make sure the they have the correct info.

They also required the serial number of the electric outboard and battery to put them on cover. The whole renewal process was handled very well by Alan who has been with the firm for donkey's years (apparently). Based on speed of picking up call etc, I'd still recommend them.
 
wonkywinch said:
I've just renewed with N&G. Their quote was competitive and this will be our third year with them. Since takeover, they have added a load more items to the "Statement of Fact", many were set to the default of "no" which was incorrect, eg no outboard on dinghy, no single handed sailing, no gas on boat, no survey ever done etc. Correcting the answers didn't change the premium but it's important to make sure the they have the correct info.

They also required the serial number of the electric outboard and battery to put them on cover. The whole renewal process was handled very well by Alan who has been with the firm for donkey's years (apparently). Based on speed of picking up call etc, I'd still recommend them.
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I think their issue was during the takeover all their systems were down and they could not renew policies or give quotes. Having been with them for years and needing a new quote for a new boat I was forced to go somewhere else. What is ironical is that hadn't claimed with them since 1995 I had to put in a claim with my new company in the 1st 5 months.
 
Nigel52 said:
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?
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Try Craftinsure.com - my Policy (Inland) went down this year. 😀
 
Have just reinsured with Craftinsure who mention Nav & Gen as underwriters.
Premium gone up a bit since last year.
Did get silly quotes from most of the other well known companies constantly recommended on here, but stayed with Craftinsure which tells you something or other.
First insured with Craftinsure on a Princess 33 in the late 1980s and did make a couple of claims which were paid promptly and without fuss. lured away when Saga was buying business, it was then taken over and premiums rocketed.
Back to Craftinsure for last three boats.
 
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