Liability Insurance for these countries.

[theway]

I plan to start cruising and I would like to get any feedback about which countries/marinas will want proof of liability (or more). Any info on the countries below would be helpful. I would like to be self-insured, but don't want to get somewhere and not be allowed in because of insurance papers needed.

1_French Polynesia
2_America Samoa
3_Fiji
4_Vanuatu
5_Australia
6_Cocos Keeling
7_Mauritius
8_Reunion
9_Madagascar
10_South Africa
11_Brazil
12_Trinadad
13_Venezuela
14_Panama
15_Costa Rica
16_Mexico

I've seen plenty of mixed reports, so I'm looking for first hand experience.
Thank you

[Kevin84]

Originally Posted by theway

I plan to start cruising and I would like to get any feedback about which countries/marinas will want proof of liability (or more). Any info on the countries below would be helpful. I would like to be self-insured, but don't want to get somewhere and not be allowed in because of insurance papers needed.

1_French Polynesia
2_America Samoa
3_Fiji
4_Vanuatu
5_Australia
6_Cocos Keeling
7_Mauritius
8_Reunion
9_Madagascar
10_South Africa
11_Brazil
12_Trinadad
13_Venezuela
14_Panama
15_Costa Rica
16_Mexico

I've seen plenty of mixed reports, so I'm looking for first hand experience.
Thank you

Just be sure to keep us all informed of your travels so we can make sure our boats are kept at a distance. I would really rethink that idea of being self insured. Do you really want to try to pay 300k+ to replace someone's yacht if something should happen? Liability insurance can be had relatively cheaply and, IMHO, the pros outweigh the cons.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[belizesailor]

Insured, but have not been asked in Panama (or anywhere else in Central America) at Bocas Marine, Shelter Bay, or Green Turtle (AKA Turtle Bay). Never been required to prove anywhere except the USA.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Kevin84

Just be sure to keep us all informed of your travels so we can make sure our boats are kept at a distance. I would really rethink that idea of being self insured. Do you really want to try to pay 300k+ to replace someone's yacht if something should happen? Liability insurance can be had relatively cheaply and, IMHO, the pros outweigh the cons.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

We're covered now, but when out we were uninsured too. Terrifying I know....


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[theway]

Originally Posted by Kevin84

Just be sure to keep us all informed of your travels so we can make sure our boats are kept at a distance. I would really rethink that idea of being self insured. Do you really want to try to pay 300k+ to replace someone's yacht if something should happen? Liability insurance can be had relatively cheaply and, IMHO, the pros outweigh the cons.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

I meant self-Insured for the hull, Liability is a good idea if I can find a decent coverage for the world, I have both now with Boat US, but they don't do international.

[theway]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Insured, but have not been asked in Panama (or anywhere else in Central America) at Bocas Marine, Shelter Bay, or Green Turtle (AKA Turtle Bay). Never been required to prove anywhere except the USA.

Thanks

[Kevin84]

Ahhhh! Gotcha.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[andypack]

TheWay - Just curious - what have you found?

[nhschneider]

We're a little over halfway around the world on our circumnavigation and even though we're insured, we have only been required to show proof of coverage in a couple of places and I can't even remember which ones those were.

I do remember that Australia required a US$10,000,000 liability policy and I believe Italy requires the same. Before we could get a mooring (cruising) permit for Chagos, we had to provide proof of wreck removal insurance and medical evacuation coverage.

Fair winds and calm seas.

[belizesailor]

A related note: outside of the USA and maybe a few other developed countries, you are very unlikely to get a large punitive damages settlement. Unheard of in Central America. At most, actual damages + costs. The USA is one of the few places where someone could break their little toe on your boat and successfully sue you for $1M. You could still of course rack up substantial actual damages in a marina.

Because of this, the required minimum liability limits on home/auto insurance is laughably low by USA standards throughout Central America and insurance is inexpensive.

Another option to consider, rather than jacking up the liability limits on your boat policy is an excess liability or general liability (often called an "umbrella" policy) policy. These are typically relatively inexpensive options. An advantdge of a general liablity policy, is that it provides coverage for many other liabilities whereas your boat policy will only cover boat related liabilities. For example, if you got a big liability judgement from an auto accident ashore. General liability policies usually set minimum limits for the underlying policies (like your boat policy)...$300-500K is pretty typical.

[steve77]

Mexico required a liability policy. I can't remember about Panama. These are the only countries on your list we have visited, and it was about four years ago.

I have never heard of being required to have hull insurance, but lots of places in Europe require liability insurance for their country.
Cheers!

Steve

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by steve77

Mexico required a liability policy. I can't remember about Panama.
...

Ive spent the last several seasons in Panama and never been asked by marinas or officials.