Need US (WA state) coastal insurance after loss

[basssears]

Long story is here:
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ce-242010.html

But short story is our 1988 Gulf 32 broke off its mooring (sheared the bow cleats) and was damaged on some rocks. Our insurance at the time (Travelers) called it total loss and paid out ~85% of agreed value and we kept and repaired the boat.

Damage has been repaired, she is back in the water and has had a very positive out of water survey done on her showing she's in good condition and the repairs have been done.

However, we are striking out getting new insurance coverage. I can't even find anyone who will write us liability only at this point (would prefer full coverage, and am willing to pay for it and willing to pay extra premium due to the history of the loss) but no takers.

Boat is located in a marina in Bellingham, WA. To date I have tried:
Geico (myself and through Anchor Marine)
Markel (through two different brokers)

I've talked to Anchor Marine (brokers) and Farmers in Bellingham.

Does anyone have any good leads for me? I'm just coastal cruising, everything about this should be straightforward except the recent loss. If I don't get something eventually I'm going to have trouble staying in the marina, which would probably mean after all this effort I'd have to sell the boat. Ugh.

Any ideas / successful brokers you've used would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

-- Bass

[GreenWave]

Progressive? Boat might be too old for them.

[C_Breeze]

1979 Nauticat-liability only with progressive. <$35/mo, clean survey w/no issues. g/l

[pdxsailordiver]

Have you tried “boat insurance agency in Seattle?

[basssears]

Thanks GreenWave & C Breeze, I will try Progressive... their online quotey thingy doesn't like my info (different zip for mailing vs boat location) but will call them direct. -- Bass

[BlueH2Obound]

Try Peter, below.
Our mailing address is in Kentucky. Our boat address is in Puget Sound. You will probably need a survey or proof that the repair was accomplished in a professional and generally accepted manner.

As of January 1, 2021, Geico (Boats US) got real strict on the boats they will insure. Probably no reflection on your boat at all. Scot K.



Try:

Peter Ricks
Northwest Regional Manager
NOVAMAR INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
WA Lic # 249824

2500 Westlake Avenue N, Suite D
Seattle, WA 98109

Office: (800) 823 2798
Direct: (206) 350-5051
Mobile: (253) 377-0649
Fax: (206) 281-8036

[basssears]

Originally Posted by pdxsailordiver

Have you tried boat insurance agency in Seattle?

I have not... but now I will, thanks!

[Lost Horizons]

I have worked with this broker:

BRISTOL INSURANCE GROUP
Salmon Bay Marine Center
B: 206-634-1770
C: 253-740-4223

[01kiwijohn]

My boat is 12 years older than yours, and I had a prior claim (logging debris caught in prop, damaged prop, shaft, gland, etc). I have Geico (now) which was Boat US. They were super helpful on that claim, paid in days, still insured today. Give them a call, forget about all this emailing back and forth stuff.

[MJH]

Originally Posted by basssears

Long story is here:
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ce-242010.html

But short story is our 1988 Gulf 32 broke off its mooring (sheared the bow cleats) and was damaged on some rocks. Our insurance at the time (Travelers) called it total loss and paid out ~85% of agreed value and we kept and repaired the boat.

Damage has been repaired, she is back in the water and has had a very positive out of water survey done on her showing she's in good condition and the repairs have been done.

However, we are striking out getting new insurance coverage. I can't even find anyone who will write us liability only at this point (would prefer full coverage, and am willing to pay for it and willing to pay extra premium due to the history of the loss) but no takers.

Boat is located in a marina in Bellingham, WA. To date I have tried:
Geico (myself and through Anchor Marine)
Markel (through two different brokers)

I've talked to Anchor Marine (brokers) and Farmers in Bellingham.

Does anyone have any good leads for me? I'm just coastal cruising, everything about this should be straightforward except the recent loss. If I don't get something eventually I'm going to have trouble staying in the marina, which would probably mean after all this effort I'd have to sell the boat. Ugh.

Any ideas / successful brokers you've used would be much appreciated.

Thanks. -- Bass

Do you qualify for USAA insurance (ex military)?

Maybe crazy but have you gone back to Travelers telling them you will provide receipts or get a new survey to prove sea worthiness? First order of business is not to lose current customers.

Local insurance brokers to search for you.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[jim King]

I got turned down by Boat US where I had insured for 15 years. They said my 1985 Hunter was too old for them to insure. I got on with Progressive with no problem for $100 less than my old policy with Boat US.

[basssears]

Originally Posted by 01kiwijohn

My boat is 12 years older than yours, and I had a prior claim (logging debris caught in prop, damaged prop, shaft, gland, etc). I have Geico (now) which was Boat US. They were super helpful on that claim, paid in days, still insured today. Give them a call, forget about all this emailing back and forth stuff.

I did call Geico and went through the whole quote process (they can't really tell you anything beforehand so you just go through the process and then they say yes or no) and they turned me down cold due to the prior claim.

[basssears]

Originally Posted by MJH

Do you qualify for USAA insurance (ex military)?

Maybe crazy but have you gone back to Travelers telling them you will provide receipts or get a new survey to prove sea worthiness? First order of business is not to lose current customers.

Local insurance brokers to search for you.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

No USAA unfortunately. Travelers was very explicit about not wanting anything to do with me (more explicit than on anything else) afterwards, had to sign a cancellation before they'd cut me a check.

I was overall happy with Travelers too, they were a little slow but they hired a professional damage surveyor at their cost, and paid out the policy and the rather substantial recovery bill from TowBoatUS (recovery was much more than just a "tow" that would have been covered by my BoatUS membership), so I would have been happy to go back to them but that doesn't seem possible.

-- Bass

[Movinon1]

Has become normal for insurance co's to blanket cancel all boat policies for boats beyond a certain age. Happened to me and hundreds of other boat owners around here. I was with a co. for 11 years, no claims, but was canceled because of age of boat. I then needed to get new survey for new insurance co. I found a broker in Anacortes, Wa., just down the road from you, that found several options for me. Mary, at Alt Insurance Group was a live saver. She found a local insurer, with better coverage than I had with old Co., at about same price. Web page is: altinsurancegroup.com. Would be surprised if Mary could not help you.



Bob

[Captain Puget]

Try PEMCO - especially if you have other insurance with them (auto, home, etc) .... I have used several of the others mentioned for my '79 Rawson 30PH, all were ok, but PEMVCO was the least expensive for a quality policy.