Boat insurance in AK

[C-Biscuit]

I need to ask my Alaska C-Brat buddies what insurance company they use to cover their pride and joy should something bad happen. I'm a USAA fan but their boat insurance for someone in AK is NOT competitive. I think USAA doesn't understand that most of us (Redfox aside!) put our babies in storage for most of the long winter months. Why should I be charged for a full year of use like someone in Florida?

Some of the other big companies don't insure boats in AK. What are you guys doing for insurance?

[k3nlind]

I use USAA for all my vehicles, boats and homes... I find them very competitive, but they will only insure boats up to $50K. After that they 'farm' you out to some other insurance company. So I insured my CD for $50K.

I don't know about Alaska... but I can understand that it would be more and maybe not competitive. However, I choose to submit this reply because I know that USAA will allows for my boat not being used for about four months during the winter. I would think that they would allow for more months. Another thought is maybe you could insure it when it is being used and then it might be covered by home owners when parked for the winter.

Some insurance companies cover autos this way when parked for extended periods of time such as when a single soldier goes to Iraq. Some require that the tires be removed.

I would suggest you call USAA again and proffer some suggestions...

[rogerbum]

Have you tried Progressive? That's who we insure the boat with.

[Gene&Mary]

I'm currently involved with Progressive on a claim on my boat. right now its C-Dory Factory (Jeff Messmer, Scott Mathews and Chet the Production Manager) two thumbs up, Master Marine in Mt. Vernon, two thumbs up and Progressive, one half thumb down but subject to change depending on the outcome.

I chose Progressive on the recommendation of the lender and on price. I would like to hear some stories, both good and bad, in case I want to go shopping after this is over.

[416rigby]

We use USAA for all of our insurance. I never thought much about the winter storage thing because we run the boat all year here in Kodiak. The kings run offshore even in winter. We may only go out once or twice a month in winter due to weather, but if it's a nice day we just can't bear to not go fishing.

We got a good rate on our boat, but of course it's a NCD...non-C-Dory. She's a 17' Wooldridge, so I'm sure the rate would be very different from a CD22. We did have a claim on our old boat, and USAA was pretty good throughout the process.

Rick

[k3nlind]

I actually sank my first NCD boat once. I tied it to a dock with the stern 'aimed' toward the harbor. The wind was pushing at the stern and eventually swamped it. When I got back the boat was 'hanging' sideways under the water down the side of the dock. (Maybe this should go into the thread about stupid boat tricks... )

Anyway I had no insurance on this boat, a 14' Glasstron with a 25hp Yamaha. All my fishing gear went to the bottom... tackle boxes, poles, etc, etc. USAA covered all this stuff as personal items of my homeowners. The only thing they wouldn't cover was the two c notes I shelled out to have the engine water purged.

I really stand by USAA.

[ChuckW]

I found the best deal in Anchorage thru Hagen Ins with Safeco

[akdeweyj]

[C-Biscuit]

I was going to look into a State Farm but I got the impression that I had to also insure a car with them. They wouldn't do just a boat by itself. Have you ever had claim troubles with SF?

I too am really happy with USAA on claims etc. but I'm forking out about 800 a year for the 'Biscuit and I've had some buddies that are driving the big 26' Hewescrafts and Harbormasters that say they are paying almost half that for their full coverage. I might have been getting some bad wampum from them, but it did start me thinking...

[akdeweyj]

[AK Angler]

I had my CD16 (and now my Arima 17) insured with Allstate. Was/is relatively inexpensive. Of course I also have my home and autos insured there too. I'm sure that helps with the cost. And it's a summer policy.

[lloyds]

I shopped around and State Farm was hard to beat. I did not have car or home insurance with them. But I did have an old term life insurance policy so I doubt there was any weight given to that. The thing I found shocking was the cost of Boat Us or West Marine. For our small boats I think the big standard insurers will give us the best rates, and pretty good service. When I was a live aboard in Seattle I had to go through a marine broker because of marina requirements for excessive coverage and those policies are really expensive. Then we don't want to forget my experience with Allstate. I signed up for a really, really cheap boat policy at a boat show one time, gave them the years fee right there. Then two months later I receive a cancellation notice because I had had two traffic citations in the last three years. For sure won't go there again.

[k3nlind]

Mike, just so you know, I pay about $600/year. But I am not in Alaska either...

[Redƒox]

400 a year with State Farm, for the RedFox I believe its sumpin like just over 20-some k in value. Only a grand allowed for her trailer (since the factory still has not sent me a new one ) . ....

Told them she was "over-powered" (with the F-115 Yamaha) they didn't mind---long as "it's not way-over-powered" Have had a claim to (no I ain't tellin what-fer ) ... no problems at all with SF, there great

[k3nlind]

I wonder if State Farm would raise your premiums if they saw the photo of RedFox setting high and dry on the rocks?

Seriously though you make a good point that I left out. The premiums are based on stated value... my $600/year is based on $50K...