Wooden Boat Insurance

[Kristal]

Spoke to Max at Yachtmaster Insurance of Woodbridge today. I gathered from the conversation that the number of possible underwriters are down compared to last year - this is certainly how it seems from attempting to get quotes from other companies.

I'm still optimistic about Yachtmaster, but what on earth am I supposed to do if they can't help - I have been refused cover by three companies that claim to include wooden boats in their policies. This is on a boat with an exceptional survey undertaken in September 2003, kept on a pontoon mooring in a secure London marina, and sailed in coastal waters by someone with 8 years experience of keelboats.

Perhaps it's because I don't have RYA qualifications - I have no intention of getting any. Perhaps it's because I keep Crystal in London - I intend to do so for the forseeable future, as it's the only way I get to spend more than a few weeks per year with her. But either way, what happens if I can't insure her? No marina mooring, no racing (of the friendly variety), no possibility of repairing her if she is damaged at sea...

Oh, by the way, it's my birthday. And Crystal got all the presents, as predicted. One thoughtful relative bought me professional boatyard sandpaper (allegedly)!!

/<

 

[LittleShip]

Happy Birthday

Try SAGA if your old enough!! There are some advantages in being an OLD!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Kristal]

Sadly, am just over halfway towards the entry level age for any Saga benefits - Crystal, on the other hand, passed the magic 50 a year before I was squeezed into the world (she is 78, I was born in '78). Wonder if that counts?

 

[tillergirl]

I'm with Nautical Insurance Services of Leigh-on-Sea who have never quibbled with the fact that TG is a wooden boat. In fact I am sure they are overdue asking me for a survey.

 

[kds]

You could try Hayes/Parsons Marine. They are based in Bristol.
George Hayes is a classic boat owner himself and knows the problems.
link
Ken

 

[Hoilung]

I own a 40 year old wooden folkboat, and am currently insured with Haven Knox-Johnson. They did ask for a current survey, but otherwise no problems.

 

[Santana379]

Hello /<rystal

A /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif very /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif happy /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif birthday /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif to /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif you.

Nancy Blackett is also insured with Haven Knox-Johnson.

Francis Fletcher is with K C Powell & Partners, in Leigh on Sea
(tel 01702 470035)
www.polestarinsure.co.uk

Hope you sort this one out reasonably easily.

By the way, once you've applied the Coelan, wouldn't a move to the East Coast proper make sense - you may not get to Kristal quite as often, but at least when you did so you'd get some decent sailing?

There was a another recent thread on insurance - might be worth a search - as I remember someone was struggling to get cover on the Deben. Obviously they weren't trying to insure the whole river, but had a boat moored there.

 

[Casey]

I am with Navigators and General. I would not recommend the broker I am with but the insurance company seems o.k.

 

[Strathglass]

When I had an old wooden boat I was a member of the Old Gaffers Association and they recomended insurers for wooden boats.

Iain

 

[sailorbob]

The lack of RYA qualifications should not present problems. I know many excellent sailors with no qualifications and one or two sailors with a sackfull of qualifications, but little or no practical ability!

I am insured with Norwich Union through brokers Noble Marine. There website states that they will need to see a survey for any boat over 20 years old, but you say you have "an exceptional survey", so there should be no problems in getting some cover.

 

[pyrojames]

I am with Yachtmasters, but I was given cover with no survey requested by one of the other advertisers in the back of Classic Boat, at the moment I can't remember who it was. The underwriter was offshore, S. Africa I think.

 

[milltech]

Try Kendal Becker

Sorry if this has been said before but I'm too busy today to read the thread. I'm with Kendal Becker tel 01243 672142, (info@kendalbecker.co.uk). I've no idea what the claims procedure is like, (thank God), but fixing the insurance was easy and they weren't fazed by a 45 year old wood boat.