Struggling to find insurance for transat & Caribbean season in 1979 ketch

R

roaringgirl

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 Nov 2014
Messages
886
Location
Half way around: Wellington, NZ.
bit.ly
As above, so far I have failed to get a quote from:
GJW
Pantaneus
Towergate
Topsail
MS amlin
Merciamarine
Bishop Skinner
Yachting24 (Pantaneus)
Offshore Risk Management - aren't regulated by the FCA, so I'm not keen

I am waiting to hear from:
Yachtmaster
Velos
Admiral

Does anyone have any suggestions?
 
Last edited:
Has the boat got a recent survey? What exactly are you trying to insure against? Are the proposed insured amounts realistic? Insurers like insuring things they can assess the risk for, but they don't like insuring things that are unknown and might lead to heavy losses.
 
I presume that you’re seeking comprehensive insurance, not just third party. Never had a problem seeking third party cover but I’ve come against silly premiums for comprehensive cover for my Hurley 18, so I just have third party cover now. If you can’t even get a quotation or request for a survey, I’d suggest that your boat is probably not insurable on a comprehensive basis.
 
I have a feeling that Insurers in Europe might be treading warily now after seeing what can happen in the Caribbean when hurricanes hit - hurricanes such as Maria and Irma in 2017, and Dorian last year.
If you are happy to cross the Atlantic without insurance, you should be able to get insurance out here fairly easily.
You could even try contacting Insurers out here to see if they might be keen on covering you for a transatlantic, although I have a feeling that they might be a bit dubious about this.
Massy United have branches in most of the English speaking Eastern Caribbean islands -
- Massy United Insurance
 
Try ORM (offshore risk management).
They are a broker. I'm not certain they will cover the Transat but I think they will. They found us a policy when the ones you mentioned above gave us the same response. You aren't worth enough.
Topsail still did cover when we crossed the Atlantic (2018) but they definitely changed who they would cover by the time we tried to renew.
 
roaringgirl said:
We don't even get to the 'recent survey' questions. Feedback I've had so far is that 'we don't insure things that cheap', so I don't think I'm over-pricing it!
Click to expand...
That must be Pants (Pantaneus), said the same thing to me at the Southampton Boat Show 2018. If you mention single handed everybody faints...
 
Topsail? We went to them after our previous (major) company insisted on a 3rd crew member for Biscay. We prefer a Hydrovane!

As a bonus, default coverage includes single-handing with a time limit of either 18 or 24 hours per trip (can’t remember which).

Edit: Sorry - I see Topsail in your ‘no’ list, I must have missed it.
 
Last edited:
roaringgirl said:
We don't even get to the 'recent survey' questions. Feedback I've had so far is that 'we don't insure things that cheap', so I don't think I'm over-pricing it!
Click to expand...
If you're valuing the vessel so lowly, there might be an assumption that it's not of a type or condition that's suitable for the voyage you're planning. Any well found boat that is about to set off for the Atlantic and Caribbean is worth more than a tiny bit...
 
I'm insured with Pants for single handed Atlantic crossing but only 3rd party as I think most single handers are.
You can go fully comp once you get there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top