Single Handed Insurance

[Leisure 27]

My boat insurance allows me to Single Hand for 18 hours which is good but a trip I would like to do would take at least 20 or 22 hours. I can not find a company who will insure me for this. As any one overcome this. Would I still be insured for the first 18 hours if I did the trip. I know I am capable to do this as I have already done it not many years ago when I did not realise there was a deadline single handed.

 

[Daydream believer]

Been several threads on the subject. Suggest you do a search

 

[BelleSerene]

Here’s a leg up: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?497312-Single-Handed-Insurance

In short, ask your insurer specifically. GJW and some others will insure you single-handed, including in hours of darkness, without a time restriction if you ask and they reckon you’re competent and responsible.

 

[pvb]

No harm in asking a few insurers. I reckon the often-used 18-hour limitation is fairly sensible; after that time alone at sea you can be getting quite tired, perhaps without realising, and start making mistakes. When I do singlehanded trips, I consciously try to limit myself to 12 or 13 hours max, after which I'm not operating at 100%.

 

[Topcat47]

I am insured by GJW for single handing Brest to the Elbe. They are a sensible company and appreciate that it's always possible to get caught out by windshift and and tides. I have been assured that providing the trip should take less than 18 hours under normal conditions they would not reject a claim out of hand. I was particularly concerned after a trip home from Cherbourg took 26 hours. due to a combination of wind shift and engine failure. They assured me that as such a voyage would be normally done in 14-16hours in my boat, I would have been covered. What they don't want is someone trying to make an extended passage, say to the Canaries. I always plan my single handed voyages carefully in case there's any question of straying outside the 18hours by intent. Portsmouth - Cherbourg OK as is Yarmouth to Alderney or Weymouth (with a fair tide).

 

[LadyInBed]

No harm in asking a few insurers.

:encouragement:.

I reckon the often-used 18-hour limitation is fairly sensible; after that time alone at sea you can be getting quite tired, perhaps without realising, and start making mistakes.

The trouble with 18hrs is that there is hardly enough time to get your head down for a couple of hours kip

 

[ip485]

Daydream Believer - I find this is an often written comment. It is all well and good, and I mean no disrespect, but if every topic that had come up before wasnt repeated I suspect 90% of the topic on every forum on every subject would disappear. Also sometimes there are new angles and thoughts, so I find these days if I cant be bothered to reply for whatever reason it is best to say nothing. Repeat topic are after all the life blood of most forum.

As to the topic, I was told by an insurance company that part of the issue is that when single handed there is a potential legal issue that for prolonged passages you may be in contravention of the legal requirement to keep a watch, as it is impossible for one persion to maitain a safe watch for prolonged periods (without sleep). I can see some rational in their argument. As it happened I changed from that company for other reasons and I think that some insurers will allow reasonable single handed passages especially if you check with them first.

 

[doug748]

18 hours is ok if you sail port to port and are maybe based in the Solent. In the north, or west, cross channel might be 100 - 140 miles so you need a bit of elbow room. I think most people can do 36 hours without feeling too grim.

I have always been with Pants who never seem to make a fuss about it, so could be worth a look. They are expensive.

 

[Foolish Muse]

Can I suggest that you contact Richard Power from Fastnet Marine Insurance in the UK. When I wrote my Singlehanded Tips book I spoke with him at length and he indicated no problem with insuring singlehanders.

 

[[3889]]

Would I still be insured for the first 18 hours if I did the trip.

When I, insured by Y, enquired about this the answer was an emphatic "NO". however, the policy wording has since changed and even suggests that specific trips might be exempted which was certainly not the case a couple of years ago.
The Vessel must not be navigated single-handed by anyone for a period
in excess of 18 consecutive hours unless followed by a minimum 6 hour
break whilst the Vessel is moored or unless agreed by Us. (my bold)
Notwithstanding the above, I self insure on the one or two occasions per year that I sail solo > 18 hours. It sharpens the mind.

 

[alahol2]

The Vessel must not be navigated single-handed by anyone for a period
in excess of 18 consecutive hours unless followed by a minimum 6 hour
break whilst the Vessel is moored...

The way I read that means that you could sail singlehanded for ANY length of time as long as you tie up for more than 6 hours afterwards.

 

[LadyInBed]

The Vessel must not be navigated single-handed by anyone for a period
in excess of 18 consecutive hours unless followed by a minimum 6 hour
break whilst the Vessel is moored.

Would a sea anchor qualify as being moored?

 

[BelleSerene]

Would a sea anchor qualify as being moored?

Of course.

 

[[70521]]

When I, insured by Y, enquired about this the answer was an emphatic "NO". however, the policy wording has since changed and even suggests that specific trips might be exempted which was certainly not the case a couple of years ago.
The Vessel must not be navigated single-handed by anyone for a period
in excess of 18 consecutive hours unless followed by a minimum 6 hour
break whilst the Vessel is moored or unless agreed by Us. (my bold)
Notwithstanding the above, I self insure on the one or two occasions per year that I sail solo > 18 hours. It sharpens the mind.

After a lot of people on here recommended Y I contacted them and there is still the same caveat. Personally, I am not willing to self insure as I don't have £3,000,000 in the bank.

The way I read that means that you could sail singlehanded for ANY length of time as long as you tie up for more than 6 hours afterwards.

It is the insurance companies interpretation of the wording not your that counts.

 

[SaltyMetals]

Try and ask for 24 hrs. That is what i have and i find it covers the longer hops nicely. Gives me a range of about 150 Nm. It is also sensible bec longer than that you would get too tired. I am in the Med now, Adriatic. Too many ships, boats and islands for it to be safe to do more than 24hrs.
Andrew

 

[[3889]]

Try and ask for 24 hrs. That is what i have and i find it covers the longer hops nicely.

With Y? I've asked a couple of times and they won't budge on 18 hours.

@Sandy, I ain't got 3mill in the bank either but the probability of loss arising from a risk is far from certain. What will you do if you prang a 30 mill superyacht and set fire to it, causing £10mill damage? Same as I do self-insuring for X channel, I suspect: hope and prepare in ample measure.

 

[wully1]

Pantaenius...

 

[[70521]]

@Sandy, I ain't got 3mill in the bank either but the probability of loss arising from a risk is far from certain. What will you do if you prang a 30 mill superyacht and set fire to it, causing £10mill damage? Same as I do self-insuring for X channel, I suspect: hope and prepare in ample measure.

Its not the £30 million superyacht I worry about it is the prang with the repair bill of £20,000 and an environmental charge of £50,000 to clean up the mess. What happens then?