Recommendations for boat insurance company?

[DogsBody]

My current insurer (Topsail) is demanding a full out of water hull survery for my boat (that I've owned for nearly 20 years) before offering to renew their policy. Given that a lift out & survery is going to far outweigh the cost of the insurance itself, I'm looking at options with other insurance companies and wondering if the forum members have any suggestions?

The boat is a 1980 Fairline, used primarily on the non tidal Thames, with occasional trips to the salty stuff.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Try Haven Knox Johnson, I just insured my new-to-me 25 year old boat with them, no survey required.

 

[DogsBody]

Thanks, will give them a try.

 

[CJL]

We have been with Circle Marine in Lymington for some time now and not had any complaints.
Chris

 

[Gumpy]

GJW direct
Depends on how much the boat is worth whether they ask for a survey or not.

 

[cherod]

I never have any problems with Pantaneous

 

[Momac]

Topsail are not an insurance company. They are a broker.

 

[ashtead]

I can only suggest Craftinsure as another broker which offers Zurich underwritten cover.

 

[Chris_d]

Another vote for Haven Knox Johnson they have an inland+ policy which is ideal for Thames users who do a bit of salty stuff as well.

 

[harvey38]

Another plus for GJW

 

[wonkywinch]

When we bought our boat, the surveyor recommended Navigators & General (Zurich). His father was a boat surveyor before him and he said in the many years experience between them, they had very few issues with claims processed through N&G compares to other firms.

Who is the worst I asked. He advised against using Towergate.

A mate who retired from the big ship insurance industry had a look at our policy and was pleasantly surprised with it's inclusions.

 

[oldgit]

I can only suggest Craftinsure as another broker which offers Zurich underwritten cover.

Craftinsure gave a very competitive quote and insured without requiring a new full survey.
Provided there was an up to date survey recently carried out available ( less than 12 months previously by previous owner ) and with proof of any remedial work being carried out.
Should the poo hit the fan they would require sight of the survey and proof of any required remedial work by way of invoices.
Have made two claims in the dim (late 1990s) and and not so distant past (2014) , my not paying attention ........ and they paid up quickly and promptly.

 

[ashtead]

Tower gate is/was a broker so cover might have been underwritten by a variety of insurers. You will find insurers like Zurich will offer a direct product under the N&G brand (as well as broker brand products like Craftinsure, )which historically was an independent insurance company along with Eagle Star owned by BAT. On sale to Zurich coverage was underwritten by Zurich but the brand and their Brighton offices remained. I think nowadays the Brighton office has gone though and they probably operate out of Z offices.

 

[wonkywinch]

I'm familiar with Towergate and their status as they are/were very big in the classic car market so was surprised to hear negative comments from the surveyor.

 

[ashtead]

Will most likely be a completely different underwriter for classic cars which tends to have specialist algorithms compared to to the standard yacht marine hull risks. Most likely for classic cars tower gate deal with a third party managing general agent to source the cover That MGA then has a large underwriter insurance company or a Lloyds syndicate giving them capacity. If you look at your classic car policy should give you more info though.

 

[DogsBody]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I tried Haven Knox Johnson, price was good but they want a full out of water survey, which is a cost I'm trying to avoid. Will give the others listed a try, worst case, I'll have to haggle with them on the phone and see if I can get the survey postponed until I have the boat out to service the outdrives.