Boat insurance in AK

C-Biscuit

New member
I need to ask my Alaska C-Brat buddies what insurance company they use to cover their pride and joy should something bad :cry 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?
 
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...
 
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.
 
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
 
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... :oops: )

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.
 
C-Biscuit":yn44en9u said:
Some of the other big companies don't insure boats in AK. What are you guys doing for insurance?

I have an 22' aluminum "NCD" that is insured thru State Farm here in Anchorage ("the big ugly" :xlol for RedFox) for $40K & they only sell a 12 month policy on it too. This policy costs me about $450 per year. It is supposed to be "full coverage" when it is either in the water or being towed back & forth; coverage reverts to fire, liability, comprehensive, theft, etc when it is being stored.
 
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...
 
C-Biscuit":3febj1ww said:
Have you ever had claim troubles with SF?

I have not had any trouble with State Farm, but I have been with them for about 20 years & they insure everything I own: home, car, boat, truck, etc.

My boat is a 22' Hewescraft.
 
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.
 
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.
 
400 a year with State Farm, for the RedFox :love 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 :moon ) . .... :xnaughty

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

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...
 
Wow! Do you AK types have a cold weather penalty or something? I just got my BoatUS insurance renewal bill, agreed value $52k, and it's $435/year with everything but towing. We also have everything - including business insurance with State Farm, but they couldn't beat BoatUS.
 
I tried BoatUS a while ago and as I recall they were one of the outfits that won't insure a boat up here :cry: Sounds like State Farm is winning this race right now. I'll look up Progressive and Hagen Insurance here in Anchorage and see what they can do too. Thanks for the help mates.
 
I have been with USAA sice 1983 but just recently switched to Statefarm when I refinanced my house. Got a way better deal with combining all the coverages (house, boat, cars, motorcycle etc.). I still use USAA for investments etc but I do like the personal local attention you get with a Staten Farm agent who lives in the ole home town.
 
My boat, now resident in Anchorage, is insured by Allstate. I have homeowners and life insurance through them, too (but not auto). I can't remember the premium off head, but my biggest gripe is that they don't have an "agreed value" policy.

Jim
 
The more we look, the more we see SF is ahead in price to :thup might just be because we have an ass-load of policies with them (mom even put life insurance on me :|) and been with them since I was a wee-one :smile
What has been most impressive is their good attitude and service... don't hardy ever need it, but if so, it's there with-a-grin :teeth

So ya saw my cover-pic huh! :xlol was thinkin of slap'n that pupy on this site to.. not enough time :sad it's proby my fave so far of goin' "hard-aground" :) "if ya haven't been-aground... ya haven't been around" :wink: :cigar :mrgreen:
 
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