Visit our Popular Forums

**colemj** · 17-02-2012, 06:13

Last September we were struck by lightning and lost all electronics and a lot of the electrics. Our insurance company is Commandeur in the Netherlands.

We have completed all repairs/replacement and are now back out cruising.

Commandeur paid for everything. This included a haulout and survey for damage, all equipment replacement and installation, pulling and reinstalling the mast (more expensive than the haulout where we were), and the entire 5 month marina stay. The total cost was relatively large and we did not get any hassle from them.

Commandeur themselves are only representatives of insurance companies and do not handle the claims directly. Upon reporting our strike, they turned our case over to a Dutch marine engineering firm that worked with both us and the insurers to determine the extent of damage, the best avenue of repair and the costs for such. Then the insurance company sent us a check for the up-front costs of the equipment. We are now waiting for the remainder of the money for the marina stay and various other small bits. We are confident that they will pay this part as they did the first part.

The marine engineering firm was very helpful. You are assigned an engineer who knows boats very well and speaks flawless English, so you can quickly work with him to determine what the damage is and what repairs/replacements are necessary. The engineering firm stays very active throughout the whole process with you and is instantly responsive to all communication. Commandeur themselves do not play much of a role and the actual insurance company stays completely behind the scenes. All of this is actually a good thing because Commandeur does not know boats like a marine engineer and the insurance company is only interested in insurance.

When we first got Commandeur insurance, we couldn't understand what the "catch" was. The rates were fantastic, the coverage and deductable were better than all others and the navigation limits and crew requirements very generous. The only information we could not find on them was whether they had paid out claims.

We now know they pay out claims. We are very happy with Commandeur's insurance product and happy with how they handled our damage claim.

Mark

funjohnson · 18-02-2012, 08:42

That is great to hear.

Are you a US flagged vessel? I'm looking for insurance for outside the US, but most won't touch a US flagged boat.

**CSY Man** · 18-02-2012, 09:45

I would have used them too, but they don't cover hurrucanes in Florida...

(Named Storms)

**Therapy** · 18-02-2012, 13:33

A good insurance company?

Wow!!

**David M** · 18-02-2012, 13:39

That is nice to hear.

I was half expecting another gripe against an insurance company, which is not the mission of this forum to deal with.

**colemj** · 18-02-2012, 14:37

Yes, we are a US flagged boat and currently cruising outside the US.

Do many companies still cover hurricanes in FL now? If so, they are probably a vanishing breed.

Mark

travler37 · 18-02-2012, 14:51

back in the day,
After paying and getting a better rate i was denied a claim for a L strike because i had installed a inner fore stay myself......
I guess if i paid a rigger he would of bonded it.
Now the insurance co that will not be named but if UR are in a pub in the county of loyds.i think in london
Bottom line is i was given a better rate for a better sail plan then told to bugger off when i made a claim for a L strike.because i had installed a inner fore stay that they knew about to give me a better rate.............
so take your GOOD INSURANCE and your stories and .......well in the us be sure you do it ouside the 3 mile limit.
My Experence
Mark