Top speed for insurance

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Stuart Adair

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Hi folks

I've just bought myself a Chaparral Signature 27 with a wonderful 260hp 5.7Ltr Mercruiser. The boat will be used on the Severn and Avon at max 6mph so I don't think I'll get above 1000 rpm :D
I'm going through the process of arranging insurance where insurers want to know the top speed.

a) Should I put down the max speed that the boat will be operating, ie: 6mph ?
b) Or do I put down the theoretical maximum speed, and if so how on earth do I find out what the maximum speed will be of my particular engine/boat combination?

Thanks for your help.

Stu
 
I recall my first years premium was reasonable as we were restricted to inland waterways - River Trent . We were not allowed East of Trent falls which I now know to be silly as the tidal river bits have more hazards than the Humber. However that is how insurers see it.
 
I think the correct reply should be

Max capable 35 knots
Normal use on river at max 6 knots.

I would have thought that trundling at 6 knots would not do your motor much good. Also a boat designed to be used a planing speeds will tend to wander at displacement speeds.

A bit like buying a high performance car and driving around at 10mph, the engine is tunes for an optimum rev range.

Horses for courses.
 
I can tell you our old 30kt 8k boat was 150gbp more to insure than our new to us 10kt 30k boat, so it appears speed does matter.
 
Without sight of the proposal form I thought they ask for the “max design speed “
That’s a different and more useful question from an actuarial point of view for them to access the risk than

“ how fast do think you will actually go in “ ?
I don’t think they asked that Q ?

Are folks saying a person can insure a Ferrari in central London for less than book price , because they say they journey in mostly in 20 zones ?
 
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I use MS Amblin (formally Haven-Knox Johnston) and they have special policy for Thames based use, they ask the same question but they know its for Thames use and occasional tidal use, you just inform them if you wish to go to sea. It normally covers as far as the tidal barrier in London without infoming them.
The speed at which the risk goes up is 17knts I believe so it doesn't really matter if you say 25, 30 or 35 top speed. But as the policy assumes mainly river use anyway the speed question is just a formality.
Ask for an inland policy.
 
Suspect they want to know what speed the boat is capable of, it can also affect if they will cover damage to your stern gear. ?
 
colingr said:
I would have thought that trundling at 6 knots would not do your motor much good. Also a boat designed to be used a planing speeds will tend to wander at displacement speeds.

.
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You obviously don't go boating on rivers like the Thames , Trent , Ouse , Severn. If you did you might see plenty of sea boats with planing hulls . The is not much trade in new engines.
The wandering can happen but is not a real issue.
 
I would suggest giving them the manufacturers specifications for your particular make and model, simple reasoning here, they are asking you to give an opinion and make an assumption and that old legal maxim of non assumpsit could come into play, by giving them the manufacturers you avoid giving an opinion and you are not making an assumption, merely giving them the manufacturers figures and letting them make assumptions.
 
I’m having a similar problem. Struggling to get insurance at a sensible price at all. It seems if your boat is capable of over the magic number of 50kts it is a big problem. The difference between a couple of hundred pounds and a thousand pounds or not even catering for it at all.
 
QBhoy said:
I’m having a similar problem. Struggling to get insurance at a sensible price at all. It seems if your boat is capable of over the magic number of 50kts it is a big problem. The difference between a couple of hundred pounds and a thousand pounds or not even catering for it at all.
Click to expand...

50knots is very fast . Not really surprising if insurers shy away from that.
 
QBhoy said:
I’m having a similar problem. Struggling to get insurance at a sensible price at all. It seems if your boat is capable of over the magic number of 50kts it is a big problem. The difference between a couple of hundred pounds and a thousand pounds or not even catering for it at all.
Click to expand...

I agree, the magic number on the insurances I have (and had in the past) has been 50kn. I am pretty sure that declaring any speed below this ie. 6kn to 49kn made little or no difference. It seemed to be the point at which they consider it to be racing speeds
 
MartynG said:
You obviously don't go boating on rivers like the Thames , Trent , Ouse , Severn. If you did you might see plenty of sea boats with planing hulls . The is not much trade in new engines.
The wandering can happen but is not a real issue.
Click to expand...

Correct, I don't .I'm basing it on my experience of the Itchen and Hamble where our old boat used to wander all over the place at displacement speeds. It was a light bowrider though. Our last boat was much better but still not as stable as a properly designed displacement or semi displacement boat. Just thought it worth a mention.
 
colingr said:
Correct, I don't .I'm basing it on my experience of the Itchen and Hamble where our old boat used to wander all over the place at displacement speeds. It was a light bowrider though. Our last boat was much better but still not as stable as a properly designed displacement or semi displacement boat. Just thought it worth a mention.
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Bigger boat less wandering. But in any case the steering adjustments become easier with experience.
 
QBhoy said:
I’m having a similar problem. Struggling to get insurance at a sensible price at all. It seems if your boat is capable of over the magic number of 50kts it is a big problem. The difference between a couple of hundred pounds and a thousand pounds or not even catering for it at all.
Click to expand...
have you checked you speed with a GPS taking tide into consideration
 
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