Novice boating insurance

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russ

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As a complete beginner to boating I am finding it difficult to get an insurer that will take me on.They want me to have at least a power boat 2 qualification but surely I would not need that type of qualification on a river.
The broker that I'm buying the boat through will be spending as much time with us as we need to be safe and knowledgeable on handling a boat up to helmsman standards.But this is not recognised by the insurance companies. One company will cover me but with a 25% reduction of the total amount in a claim be made.
Does anyone know of an insurer that would cover my boat when I get it?
 
do it

russ said:
As a complete beginner to boating I am finding it difficult to get an insurer that will take me on.They want me to have at least a power boat 2 qualification but surely I would not need that type of qualification on a river.
The broker that I'm buying the boat through will be spending as much time with us as we need to be safe and knowledgeable on handling a boat up to helmsman standards.But this is not recognised by the insurance companies. One company will cover me but with a 25% reduction of the total amount in a claim be made.
Does anyone know of an insurer that would cover my boat when I get it?
Click to expand...

A level 2 is just 2 day, and worth every penny spent.
 
Have to agree with Powerskipper, it is very informative and is relevant to inshore boating.
Or you could try the RYA helmsman certificate.
Try Traffords - they are boating people not a call centre.
 
www.gjwdirect.co.uk
As twilliams 34 says
Will sort it
But do PB2 as others have said.
Said two days are really good fun and informative.

Regarding GJW , Maybe not the 'Cheapest' but I have been insured with this Firm for 25 years.
Two claims involved during the Term
Both paid out with no probs

I still have My Pleasure boat insured with GJW

Work boat stuff with Towergate Malrdon

So there yer go!

No commercial interest in either

Just they have both served me well.!
 
Just do the course

It will make you more confident, and safer for you, your passengers, and everyone else.

Don't ever under-estimate and body of water - conditions can turn very quickly, wherever you are
 
Last edited:
russ said:
As a complete beginner to boating I am finding it difficult to get an insurer that will take me on.They want me to have at least a power boat 2 qualification but surely I would not need that type of qualification on a river.
The broker that I'm buying the boat through will be spending as much time with us as we need to be safe and knowledgeable on handling a boat up to helmsman standards.But this is not recognised by the insurance companies. One company will cover me but with a 25% reduction of the total amount in a claim be made.
Does anyone know of an insurer that would cover my boat when I get it?
Click to expand...

You could try St Margaret's, that's who I'm with. However, the point is a confessed lack of experience I suspect, so it begs the question how you can get it without using the boat? For river use it's more about manoeuvring and so on than navigation at sea and the finer points of passage planning which are irrelevant. I don't know where you are going to do your river boating, on the Thames? There are no end who'll come out with you on it and give you some guidance relevant where you will boat I'm sure, so I'd look at answering the "experience" question with a little ambiguity to get you insured and started.

Have you ever for example operated a boat on a boating lake? That's experience, when was it - 10 years ago, so, that's 10 years experience on someone else's boat. Meanwhile, once you are insured, get some experienced folk to go out with you and help with the first trip or so, practice coming alongside, getting away again, berthing astern and so on, and tying a few knots etc. It is NOT a question they will ever answer to prove your answer to, and no way they c an disprove your answers anyway. So I'd be a bit inventive on the forms or find a company that doesn't ask awkward questions.

However, whilst this answer might produce howls of outrage from the members on here, they ought to be asking themselves how they learnt any skills they have acquired - Powerboat courses or get out and do it? Hire a boat on the Arun or Thames and no-one is going to ask you about previous experience, nor on the Fens, Broads, Irish waterways, our canals etc. Get the point? I've met many skippers with certificates from this or that course, and many of them are still a danger to themselves and everyone else!

That from me with over 40 years afloat with no losses or significant damage to my boats and none to anyone else's.
 
The cost of a two day course will be less than your first gel repair.

Don't be barmy and try and avoid doing it because you are going to get a little hands on experience from the broker. The insurance companies are being twitchy as there are so many people with just that sort of attitude out there who are not getting any training.
Whilst you shouldn't be forced to get trained anyone who is driving about in their 1 tonne, 2 tonne, 100 tonne motorised torpedo without any training is a time bomb waiting to go off, quite simply a liability to themselves, their crew and to others.
 
russ said:
As a complete beginner to boating I am finding it difficult to get an insurer that will take me on.They want me to have at least a power boat 2 qualification but surely I would not need that type of qualification on a river.
The broker that I'm buying the boat through will be spending as much time with us as we need to be safe and knowledgeable on handling a boat up to helmsman standards.But this is not recognised by the insurance companies. One company will cover me but with a 25% reduction of the total amount in a claim be made.
Does anyone know of an insurer that would cover my boat when I get it?
Click to expand...

Try the 'Inland Plus plan from here'

http://www.havenkj.com/Direct/welcome.asp?id=30931/HV





.
 
Agreed proper training is a must and I will be taking it at some point but it would be nice not to put under pressure to get it done before cover is given. Especially as the broker says his 2-3 day training matches a helmsman course and will be on my boat and not on a small out-board rib, which i assume does not handle the same as a cruiser would?
Thanks for the advice and the links.
 
russ said:
As a complete beginner to boating I am finding it difficult to get an insurer that will take me on.They want me to have at least a power boat 2 qualification but surely I would not need that type of qualification on a river.
The broker that I'm buying the boat through will be spending as much time with us as we need to be safe and knowledgeable on handling a boat up to helmsman standards.But this is not recognised by the insurance companies. One company will cover me but with a 25% reduction of the total amount in a claim be made.
Does anyone know of an insurer that would cover my boat when I get it?
Click to expand...

As a complete beginner to motoring I am finding it difficult to get an insurer that will take me on. They want me to have at least a driving licence but surely I don't need that type of qualification for a suburban street.
The dealer that I'm buying the car from will be spending as much time with me as I need to be safe and knowledgeable on handling the car up to driver standards.
Does anyone know an insurer that would cover my car when I get it?
 
russ said:
Agreed proper training is a must and I will be taking it at some point but it would be nice not to put under pressure to get it done before cover is given. Especially as the broker says his 2-3 day training matches a helmsman course and will be on my boat and not on a small out-board rib, which i assume does not handle the same as a cruiser would?
Thanks for the advice and the links.
Click to expand...

Unless I've missed something, you don't say where you are keeping your boat. If the school you do you course with is any good you should not be put under pressure! Most of the pressure will come from you!

If you are solely going to us the boat on a river then contact Roy at Bisham Abbey - http://www.bishamabbeysailing.co.

it is fine for the broker to say his course is equivalent to............. but unless it is a recognised centre it will mean sweet fa!
 
trapezeartist said:
As a complete beginner to motoring I am finding it difficult to get an insurer that will take me on. They want me to have at least a driving licence but surely I don't need that type of qualification for a suburban street.
The dealer that I'm buying the car from will be spending as much time with me as I need to be safe and knowledgeable on handling the car up to driver standards.
Does anyone know an insurer that would cover my car when I get it?
Click to expand...

Well, I know of a couple but I've lost the links. One was in Nigeria and the other..................................
 
russ said:
As a complete beginner to boating I am finding it difficult to get an insurer that will take me on.
The broker that I'm buying the boat through will be spending as much time with us as we need to be safe and knowledgeable on handling a boat up to helmsman standards.
Click to expand...

So, the Broker, who is unqualified as a instructor... is saying he will get you to "Helmsmans" standard.... (Whatever he thinks that is....:rolleyes:)

Why not just spend the same time getting some instruction from someone qualified to do so, and get a certificate as well??

If your trying to save money... this is a false economy.
 
You are completely right to wish to have the training on your own boat. There is nothing like completing the courses aboard something that will become very familiar to you and your first days at the helm with her should be with minimal pressure.

Several insurance companies will take you on with the understanding that you will complete your training aboard your new boat with an RYA instructor joining you from the start.

This is no biggie.
Have your handover from your friendly "helmsman broker".
And then have the RYA instructor join you from about lunchtime and for the next 2.5 days (minimum).
The first half a day will be in his charge, showing you the basic workings of the boat, learning how to find forward and neutral and becoming a little more familiar with some of the terminology.
The next two days you will actually do the course and get a PROPER qualification to satisfy your insurers.

If you are buying a used boat, your brokermay not have the money in the deal to negotiate a proper RYA instructor into the arrangement. In this case, swallow your pride and pay for it. It will make a world of difference to your boating.
If you are buying new, or particularly expensive then get the broker to organise the PROPER training in the deal.

Tom
 
Navigators and General insured us no problems on our boat with no previous experience other than hire boats, and no no claims. They are maybe not the cheapest but their cover seems very good and they are very willing to help.

We currently have an inland policy which is extended to include 30 days in coastal waters with prior notice to be given to the insurers. Works well for us at the moment however we may look into having a coastal policy when it is due for renewal in September.
 
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