Yacht Insurance (again)

[Halo]

Sorry to raise this again but I wonder if anyone has fresh insights as follows
- have you been able to get boat insurance without a recent survey and if so with who?
- have you been dealt with well on a claim that would cause you to recommend a company?

 

[Tranona]

Suspect you will find it very difficult to get all risks (rather than third party) insurance without a survey. As to claims experience, most insurers pay out and when you hear about difficulties it is to do with the specifics of the claim rather than a sign that the particular insurer is a bad payer.

 

[yotter]

We recently insured a boat that had been surveyed, boat 19 years old, the insurance company did not ask for a copy of any survey (which we have). It was Visicover. My understanding now is that its the owners responsibility to prove that their boat has been properly maintained, As examples they do not seem to ask when rigging or saildrive gaiters have been renewed, but in the case of a claim, you may be asked for this information. But that's only my understanding, others may have more info.

 

[Caer Urfa]

Always amazes me some people want to spend thousands on buying a boat but reluctant to have a survey, apart from needing one for most decent insurance companies don't you really want to know if there are any problems that might also cost you thousands later on

 

[Halo]

Always amazes me some people want to spend thousands on buying a boat but reluctant to have a survey, apart from needing one for most decent insurance companies don't you really want to know if there are any problems that might also cost you thousands later on

Fair point but I have maintained my boat properly for years including changing sail drive seals , through hulls , cleaning fuel tank and all standing rigging so I am not inclined to pay for a survey

 

[Boathook]

I had to get a survey for my new to me boat before I could get fully comprehensive insurance. All the recommendations the surveyor has listed need to be rectified before the insurance will cover them.

Boat now ashore and slowly working my way through the list. Some will involve me spending money with the yard. In the spring will hopefully get the same surveyor back to do a quick one page report to say that his recommendations have been completed. Worth the money in my view.

 

[Tranona]

Fair point but I have maintained my boat properly for years including changing sail drive seals , through hulls , cleaning fuel tank and all standing rigging so I am not inclined to pay for a survey

If you want to change insurers then most likely the new one will ask for a survey. One of the barriers to change and maybe better to stay with the same insurer as it may take years to get the£500 or so plus any probably unnecessary work you have to do to meet the surveyor recommendations.

 

[coveman]

I am with GJW Direct. They only require a survey for boats over 30 yrs old. If the boat is under 26ft and valued at less than £15,000 they do not require a survey until 50 years old.

 

[ylop]

Visicover will insure you without a survey (I don't know if they have any age cap, material or model rules on that - but certainly on 20+ yr old production boat they will). What they do require is that at least once every 12 months the boat is removed from the water and inspected (can be by you) and declared sea worthy (can be by you). I keep my receipts from the lift out, take pictures or video as a record of condition and details (receipts etc) of stuff I've replaced. I had a survey so that wasn't why I went to them.

I have no experience with claiming.

 

[doug748]

Sorry to raise this again but I wonder if anyone has fresh insights as follows
- have you been able to get boat insurance without a recent survey and if so with who?
- have you been dealt with well on a claim that would cause you to recommend a company?

In respect of the first point, Haven Knox Johnson sorted me out a policy for a 1986 boat without survey, all risks, earlier this year. Self certification but he value was only about £5000.

Later in the year the same company would not cover me for a £6000 boat even though it had a two year old survey and had all the main points professionally attended to with receipts.

So it's a bagatelle.

.