UK liveaboard personal possessions insurance?

[CaptainBob]

Just bought a new phone and it reminded me I have no possessions insurance. We don't have a land home so have no house insurance. We are not planning to leave eu waters at all. In fact not even leaving UK waters for some time.

Any recommendations? Or do you find the excess makes it pointless for most things?

Realistically it's only Mrs Bobs engagement ring and my new phone that are worth covering... though I guess we cd lose the lot if something really catastrophic happened.

 

[clyst]

Not checked my policy but cant you get personal property like that included on your boat insurance ? I know we have itemised equipment on ours....... but then you're too young for saga .......... Lucky you !!

 

[CaptainBob]

Oh maybe you got a good policy with Saga then. Don't think mine cover it. Will ask...

 

[rivonia]

All our personal items are covered. We had to list seperatly any Valuable items.--Pantanious.

Peter

 

[ukmctc]

I use Bay marine, they will cover what ever you ask for, just ask.

 

[CaptainBob]

Got a response from GJW:

"Thank you for your mail. We regret this type of insurance for mobiles ipads jewellery etc should be covered as an extension to your house insurance as we do not cover these items under our standard boat insurance policy.
Sorry cannot help"

I will be changing insurers at next renewal I think.

 

[CaptainBob]

Tried bay marine but their underwriters would not agree to cover us because we anchor too much,which I was surprised by.

 

[GrahamM376]

We have some personal possessions covered on boat policy with Towergate. Not marina based.

 

[ukmctc]

Tried bay marine but their underwriters would not agree to cover us because we anchor too much,which I was surprised by.

Very suprised, I have no problem and we anchor 6-9 months a year, swing moorings in winter too, and we have cover 24/7 366 days a year.

 

[CaptainBob]

Very suprised, I have no problem and we anchor 6-9 months a year, swing moorings in winter too, and we have cover 24/7 366 days a year.

Yeah I was surprised. They kept saying "we cannot cover you if you use 'anchoring' as a mooring" and I said "I'm not leaving the boat unattended at anchor, we are not using 'anchoring' as a mooring, we are simply 'anchoring' in the same way any other vessel might"... this went back and forth a little and didn't get anywhere.

I think there was a lack of comprehension of what I was asking for perhaps.

 

[binch]

GJW

We have a live-aboard clause in our GJW policy which provides £10,000 personal possessions cover. Certain valuable items must be nominated.
It is true that we came to GJW about 25 years ago, as a result of them buying out Fenchurch Marine Brokers, and that was our old policy with Lloyds via Fenchurch, which had run since 1972.
It pays to build up a reputation with your insurers.

 

[ukmctc]

Yeah I was surprised. They kept saying "we cannot cover you if you use 'anchoring' as a mooring" and I said "I'm not leaving the boat unattended at anchor, we are not using 'anchoring' as a mooring, we are simply 'anchoring' in the same way any other vessel might"... this went back and forth a little and didn't get anywhere.

I think there was a lack of comprehension of what I was asking for perhaps.

Possibly, I found Sue very helpful, we fill out a questionaire every year about what we want covered and have never had a problem. We have fully comp cover 24/7, with all items listed and petty cash on board.

 

[CaptainBob]

Got a quote back from Pantaenius which includes personal possessions, but which is over £100 more than my GJW renewal.

Perhaps worth it for the personal possessions cover except realistically my biggest fear is dropping stuff in the drink, and Pantaenius have this clause:

"Personal effects can also be covered under the Pantaenius policy, however this only covers such items for the insured perils as the vessel and not accidental damage."

So I presume dropping things is "accidental damage" and hence we'd not be covered for that anyway.

I think 1 x Yacht Insurance (GJW) + 1 x Travel Insurance = cheapest and best option.

Check your policy smallprint!

 

[Talbot]

Most boat insurance will not do "new for old" so you have an argument over value following a claim.

 

[charles_reed]

We have a live-aboard clause in our GJW policy which provides £10,000 personal possessions cover. Certain valuable items must be nominated.
It is true that we came to GJW about 25 years ago, as a result of them buying out Fenchurch Marine Brokers, and that was our old policy with Lloyds via Fenchurch, which had run since 1972.
It pays to build up a reputation with your insurers.

I've a small "personal possessions" element in my policy and, apart from a stipulation that the boat should not be left overnight, unattended, at anchor and only one night at sea single-handed, there are no other qualifications.

Talbot is correct about new-for-old - marine insurance is on a declared value basis - hence the survey demanded by many companies to check that the values they are covering are the genuine value.

My experience of claims is one very bad - a refusal to cover a mast fatigue by a Zurich subsidiary - and one extraordinarily good where after a break in the company (GJW) did not bother to deduct the excess as I showed that the replacement costs were greater than those insured.

As Bill says, an history with the company, does much to soften the exclusions.