Who to insure with?

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madabouttheboat

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My insurance is up for renewal in a few weeks so have been busy on line getting quotes. Last year I went with 'Cover My Boat' as they were significantly cheaper for the same cover. This year there doesn't seem to be much between any of them, although my existing insurers are now the dearest quote I have received :eek:. So with Craft insure, Haven Knox thingy, GJW and Bishop Skinner all qutoting withing about £20 of each other, who do I choose?

Any experince of good or bad service from these four?

Thanks
 
I use Denovo simply because there service is first class without a big call centre.
I have also found out that their claims procedure is first class too.
Depending on boat they are often a couple of percent dearer, but you get what you pay for without a doubt.
 
Hello,
I have used Pantaenius for a number years now, you get good service and useful 'extras' such as no requirement to be out the water for a prescribed period in any one year. Extending my cruising area from UK to Portugal was no problem either. I am told by people who have had to make claims that the process is swift and sure and not nit picking. Did not find the premium much different from others, perhaps marginally dearer, but as with other things in life you get what you pay for.

Good luck!

Adrian
 
Newsailer said:
My insurance is up for renewal in a few weeks so have been busy on line getting quotes. Last year I went with 'Cover My Boat' as they were significantly cheaper for the same cover. This year there doesn't seem to be much between any of them, although my existing insurers are now the dearest quote I have received :eek:. So with Craft insure, Haven Knox thingy, GJW and Bishop Skinner all qutoting withing about £20 of each other, who do I choose?

Any experince of good or bad service from these four?

Thanks
Click to expand...

for 20 squids why change :o
 
The only time you need insurance, is when you make a claim not pay the premium. Find out who settles there claims the best. I'am with Haven Knox Johnson, not made a claim yet.
David
 
As said, it's how they react when you claim that matters.

I'm with Bishop Skinner. I had to claim about six years ago after some low-life filched one of my outdrives whilst the boat was on the hard. Bishop Skinner settled up fully (less £200 XS) within about a month. For that reason I'm still with them.
 
I have only known 1 person who has made a totall loss claim, inexcess of 100k plus the fire damage to other boats, GJW paid out no problem.

I have been with gjw for 2 years now, at my last renewal I did get other quotes including Premiers own insurance which does not take an excess if you get damaged in your own marina, which is good as its usually where boats get hit by other boats, and theft claims etc.

They were slightly cheaper than GJW but not by much no I stayed where I am, im agreat believer in building a relationship up rather than chopping and changing every year for the sake of £20.

I have heard and dealt with various mechanical claims for clients, in my opinion based on feed back, GJW are one of the best for no quibble claims, where as Mardon, HKJ and St margarets , which are the same company im told wanted to supply second hand drives and parts to boats, which in my opinion as an engineer is not on as any mechanical failure on second hand parts fitted will come back and haunt you!.
 
I am with HKJ and am currently trying to claim (see separate thread on Volvo water strainers).

They are doing some serious wriggling and I expect that I will not get paid out at all. Having read the small print, many likely accidents / reasons for claims are not covered and their list of 'exclusions' is fairly comprehensive.

This being my first year of boating, I can't comment on other companies but will not be using HKJ again. In future, I will be reading the small print before deciding which insurer to go with.

£20 different or £2000 different is completely irrelevant if you are not completely covered.
 
Fantasie 19 said:
Me too... my first year of insurance with them and a month after I took out the insurance I had a major claim - they were more than helpful, and paid up - top service...
Click to expand...

Another vote for Craftinsure,who paid up very promptly when I made a claim and who were considerably cheaper than all the previously mentioned companies,however am now with SAGA who have been touting for new business recently using very aggressive pricing.
 
We have been with Navigators and General for two years now and have been very happy with the service we have been provided. We have not had a claim so cant comment on their servcie in that department. However they tailered a policy to meet our needs and have also gave us a large discount last year when we rang up and queried some wording on the renewal paperwork. They have always been helpful when we have contacted them. This is our first boat of our own so we had little experience of craft of this type before however they found a policy that suited our needs for not a lot of money and have kept increasing our cruising grounds as our experience has grown.

We are currently awaiting our renewal for this year which is due to arrive in the next few weeks. So we shall see how competitive they are on price this year.
 
My vote goes to Euromarine (http://www.euromarine-ltd.com/). I've been with them for years, and the service from Renny Gold personally is absolutely second to none. They agreed my underwater damage claim within a day and a half recently, and when I asked about alternative quotes last year, Renny went to great lengths explaining the differeneces between marine and car insurance and despite the fact I could have saved £50-60, I decided to stay with them. I'm very pleased I did.
 
sailorman said:
for 20 squids why change :o
Click to expand...

I thik you misunderstood my post. The four that I was asking about are all within £20 of each other. The difference between say GJW and my current insurer is more like £50. While this may not seem much, there is no particuar reason to stay with my existing insurer and £50 represents about a 25% premium at the levels I am paying. Wht pay 25% more for something that another reputable company can supply for 25% less?
 
terranova said:
I am with HKJ and am currently trying to claim (see separate thread on Volvo water strainers).

They are doing some serious wriggling and I expect that I will not get paid out at all. Having read the small print, many likely accidents / reasons for claims are not covered and their list of 'exclusions' is fairly comprehensive.

This being my first year of boating, I can't comment on other companies but will not be using HKJ again. In future, I will be reading the small print before deciding which insurer to go with.

£20 different or £2000 different is completely irrelevant if you are not completely covered.
Click to expand...

I've had a bad experience with HK-J, relating to a substantial claim. I believe that they generally have a good reputation in the market but, like any insurer, if they think they can get away with not paying, they will.

I will never use them again.
 
GJW every time

I had a 10 year old Rinker 260V

Whilst on a swinging mooring, in the famous October storms several years ago the original (and if we're honest not that good and poor condition) canopy was irreparably damaged.

Phoned in the claim, "Yep, that's covered - get 3 quotes and tell us what they are"

I phoned them back with 3 quotes including one from Flexicovers - which was the dearest but they were going to do me a lovely custom cover that was much nicer than anyone elses - their response:-
"Oh we know Flexicovers, good workmanship, we'll pay that one no problem - you just need to pay a small contribution as the old canopy was 10 years old and we consider that to be the life of a canopy normally - would 20% be acceptable??"

Me "Ah... is that 20% AND the excess?"

Them "Ah yes I see... Hmmm... no, lets call it 10% + the excess then would that be ok?"

Me ... "Oh yes, that would be fine!"


Following year they even gave me a noc-claims discount as it had been a "no-fault" claim....

Can't fault em.
 
Newsailer said:
My insurance is up for renewal in a few weeks so have been busy on line getting quotes. Last year I went with 'Cover My Boat' as they were significantly cheaper for the same cover. This year there doesn't seem to be much between any of them, although my existing insurers are now the dearest quote I have received :eek:. So with Craft insure, Haven Knox thingy, GJW and Bishop Skinner all qutoting withing about £20 of each other, who do I choose?

Any experince of good or bad service from these four?

Thanks
Click to expand...

If the stories on this forum are anything to go by it would appear to be a bit of a lottery when it comes to claim time.
It would appear some claims are being paid which are clearly outside of the policy cover where other claims which appear should be covered are being turned down.
I can't help but feel when it comes to claim time some would benefit from an argumentative Broker on their side .

Of course if the premium is higher through the Broker and you don't make a claim anyway then you will have wasted your premium.

Perhaps you could check a few premiums and find a Broker who is prepared to accept clients via the internet without making additional administration charges.
 
Newsailer said:
I thik you misunderstood my post. The four that I was asking about are all within £20 of each other. The difference between say GJW and my current insurer is more like £50. While this may not seem much, there is no particuar reason to stay with my existing insurer and £50 represents about a 25% premium at the levels I am paying. Wht pay 25% more for something that another reputable company can supply for 25% less?
Click to expand...

Your Call ;)
The premium cost is irrelevant when its claim time
 
If I'm ever faced with making another claim, I think I will employ the services of a loss assessor. With respect, a lot of brokers are too cosily in bed with the insurers to be able to fight a client's corner for him/her (present company excepted :)).
 
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