Insurance Recommendations

M

Mike...

New member
Hello everyone....

I need to find insurance for the new boat. Might you all have any suggestions on a good provider?

Anything in particular I should look for in the coverage?

What are the big pitfalls I should try to avoid?

Thanks...

---

mike
 
wannaboat":257nejxi said:
Hello everyone....

I need to find insurance for the new boat. Might you all have any suggestions on a good provider?

Anything in particular I should look for in the coverage?

What are the big pitfalls I should try to avoid?

Thanks...

---

mike
Click to expand...

I am certain an expert insurance agent will chime in soon. But with that said, I would call the insurance company that covers your house and automobiles as they should give you a really good rate.
 
This subject comes up every so often, and always it seems that the Progressive insurance company gets touted - even by me. That's what I have and the rate for a $50k agreed-value policy with their recommended liability levels was $220 last year. That is down from $400+ the first year, I guess because I have never used it.

Since T.R. invited the insurance pros to chime in, I'll post my policy particulars for an assessment. (Cut and paste from my info online.)

BODILY INJURY & PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY
BI $50,000 EACH PERSON - $100,000 EACH ACCIDENT

PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY - $25,000 EACH ACCIDENT

MED PAY/WATERSKIER'S MED PAY $1,000 EACH PERSON

COMPREHENSIVE $0 DED AGREED VALUE
AGREED VALUE $50,000

COLLISION $0 DED AGREED VALUE
AGREED VALUE $50,000

DISAPPEARING DEDUCTIBLE INCL

WRECKAGE REMOVAL INCL

MARINE ELECTRONICS DED $500 INCL
TRAILER DED $250

FUEL SPILL LIABILITY INCL

COASTAL NAVIGATION 75 NAUTICAL MILES INCL


Premium by Watercraft $220.00
Total Policy Premium $220.00
 
We have progressive and have had to use it twice. Every company with a low rate is good until you need to make a claim. Progressive was the best to deal with when my boat was broken into and they stole my C-80 screen. They were here the next morning and I had a check by close of buisness that day. When my radar doom was stolen two months later I got the same great service. They came right out and cut me a check that day. Not low balling me on replacement cost. My rate never went up either. I have been very happy with them and It has to do with more then the low price, best price I could find.
 
Mike,

If you have an umbrella liability policy make sure that the boat policy is accepted by the company issuing the umbrella policy, otherwise the umbrella may not cover the boat. It is easy to think of boating insurance just in terms of theft/damage to the boat, but collision with a more expensive boat, or liability for an environmental cleanup are also real possibilities.

In terms of liability limits, I would suggest that the ones you have already chosen for your cars would be a good place to start.


David B
 
For pitfalls, be sure to check WHERE you can go with your boat. We have Progressive on our cars and RV, but found State Farm to be more flexible with coverage throughout the US and up to 75 miles off shore. Some insurance companies only provide boat coverage by region. Not a problem if you don't intend to leave a certain part of the country, but a concern for those who wander.

Be sure that the limits are something you can live with, keeping in mind your net worth and what could happen should you be sued. In boating accidents (unlike auto) there is often blame assigned by percentages by the CG. You may have a lot more to lose than just your boat.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I also have Progressive insurance on C-Song.
When Ernesto destroyed my previous C-Dory they were there and made sure the boat was out of the water before the gas could leak into the Potomac River. Then they got me the check with no questions asked and didn't raise the cost of coverage on the new boat.

Couple of suggestions:
Make sure you have "agreeded upon value" so you don't have to
argue over depreation.

Take a careful inventory of items you have on board. My previous
coverage was for about $2,000. When I priced out the cost of
replacements they totaled over $6,000! With all the room on a
C-Dory you carry more then you think.

Enjoy your C-Dory without having to worry about something happening.

Gary Palsgrove
C-Song
 
We have BoatUS insurance on our 22 C-Dory and had BoatUS on our 32' Sundowner Tug for 6 years. No problems -- but no claims either. Very good rates in our area and Full Yacht coverage.

We have Erie insurance on our 16' Nautica Jet inflatable. Good rates but we did have some problems getting them to pay replacement coverage on our Boston Whaler Rage when a wind storm knocked it off the boat lift and destroyed it. Took a number of phone calls and "legal" threats before they agreed to pay just like the policy states.

I would suggest BoatUS.
 
Hi Folks,

My insurance is with Reliable Insurance purchased through a local agent.

I found BoatUS to be very expensive.

Fred
 
I had Boat US up until last year I switched to Progressive and the rate for both boats with progressive was less than one boat with Boat US with equal coverage. I haven't had any claims so can't comment on the service.
 
I have Markel. I suggest you work with a reputable agent that specializes in yacht insurance and investigate the difference between boat insurance and yacht insurance. I am away from home so don't have access to my files but there is a substantial difference, which to me was worth the additional premium.

I worked with

Jill Landback
Anchor Marine Underwriters, Inc.
2144 Westlake Avenue North, Suite A
Seattle, WA 98109
800-726-2728 Toll Free
206-273-6996 Local

Warren
 
I have used Progressive on my boats for over 10 years, and have been impressed with their service. If you need to have a rider for extra distances they are available, but most coastal navagation is covered. (The Bahamas will require a rider).

In looking at $$ you have to compare types, speeds, value and location of boats, or the numbers are meaningless. I carry a fairly high liability, plus an umbrella.

I have my other insurance, with USAA, but they do not write boats like the Tom Cat (they sub out the insurance on these). I do get my insurance from a agency who deals only in higher end marine insurance, and their recommendation was Progressive--after looking at my location (Florida) and costs etc.
 
Progressive has held USAA's boat policies for just over two years, but the policies do differ. I switched from USAA to Progressive this spring because of some coverage issues. So far so good with Progressive.

Robbi
 
I like Progressive too. Switched from USAA on both the cars and the boats. I use local follks for homeowners because, after 38 years, USAA wouldn't insure my house because it was "too far from a fire department". Even though we're 150 ft from the creek/river/bay with an unlimited supply of water. Wouldn't insure the one in Maine either because we put it up for sale, after they insured it for 10 years. No more USAA for me!! :thdown :thdown

Progressive has better boat rates (and auto rates too) and will do the "agreed value" which is a lot better than the "book" value which is all most companies will do and is NFG for C-Dorys which are worth much more than that.

Charlie
 
We have Progressive as well. Our policy lists the 75 mile coastal limit for the US and Canada only. Out of curiousity, I called today to check on the cost of a rider for the Bahamas. Unfortunately, it looks like we will need either a new boat or a new insurance company if we decide to cruise to the Bahamas. They require the boat to be 26+ feet in length and they also require 2 engines.

Rob
 
Rob & Karen":10b0zwaf said:
Unfortunately, it looks like we will need either a new boat or a new insurance company if we decide to cruise to the Bahamas. They require the boat to be 26+ feet in length and they also require 2 engines.
Click to expand...

This is one of the reasons we picked Markel. They will write us a rider that will cover the whole of the Bahamas, not just to Bimini (which is inside the 75 mile limit that most companies cover.)

Warren
 
Rob & Karen":1ldpbtvu said:
We have Progressive as well. Our policy lists the 75 mile coastal limit for the US and Canada only. Out of curiousity, I called today to check on the cost of a rider for the Bahamas. Unfortunately, it looks like we will need either a new boat or a new insurance company if we decide to cruise to the Bahamas. They require the boat to be 26+ feet in length and they also require 2 engines.

Rob
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The main thing is that the Bahamas is only about 60 miles. Once you are on the banks you are quite safe. The C-Dory is a piece of cake on the banks. With proper charts and GPS It is zero problems. The Ranger cannot get into some of the hurricane holes that the C-Dory can. That being said, 24 to 26 inchs is no problem either.
I refuse to have an insurance company dictate anything in my life. My favorite sayings is: "There was life before insurance". I developed that attitude after my home insurance cancelled me because I had a metal roof on our cabin up in the mountains. This is a back east city type company. They thought a metal roof was a fire hazard. DAAA!
Six years later they called me back. It seems they finally figured out that in a forest fire a metal roof is a good thing. Never did buy any house insurance on that cabin after they cancelled me.

I will continue to travel by boat where ever I damn well please. Some insurance companies will cover you on the west coast and Mexico but not the east US. Others on the east but not the west. The Mississippi being the dividing line. You got to read their fine print. I am sick of these crooks.

Progressive has been the cheapest and the best we have found. Boaters US is a good honest outfit and they do us boaters a lot of good, but they cost a whole bunch more than Progressive. It pays to compare. I have had friends that paid $2000 a year while I paid $1000 for the same amount of coverage on bigger boats. Right now we pay about $600 a year for $150,000 on the Ranger. I post these figures so you can see the difference.

There... I feel better. :)

captd
 
captd":syaiqpbv said:
Progressive has been the cheapest and the best we have found. Boaters US is a good honest outfit and they do us boaters a lot of good, but they cost a whole bunch more than Progressive. It pays to compare.
captd
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Previously, I was with Boaters US, but made the switch to Progressive a few years ago. Saved quite a few dollars in my pocket and I believe I have greater coverage. (I've had no claims, but based on others experience, I have confidence in them).
 
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