Can anyone name the countries they've been to where boat insurance was not required?

[rabbi]

If you are liable for 1 million they charge you 1million.
Liability insurance reimburses 300k. So you just lost 700k to someone.

In Italy minimum liability is 8 million euro i think so about 10million. Greece also has some special requirement. At least I get 3 insurance confirmations, one valid globally, one for Italy and one for greece

[Giro]

Call me a whimp, but I can’t comprehend going to some third world country that would not require liability insurance. Picture any scenario where someone else is at fault and you have no recourse to collect for damages. Are you going to politely ask the owner of the other boat from some other country, to make you whole? Good luck with that.

[rabbi]

You mean the US?

[Dsanduril]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

...In the USA -- the most litigious of developed countries -- the standard seems to be a mere $300K. This seems laughable low measured against the cost of fancy new yachts. Yet this is the standard. So, what happens when your liability claim exceeds your coverage?

It's funny, but in the places we've been asked for liability coverage the US has had the lowest coverage limit requirements. Go figure.

You hope that your boat coverage handles the very boat specific aspects (environmental damage, wreck removal) and then you have a personal umbrella liability policy for $2M or $5M or $10M that covers the rest. Much of the US liability industry (home, auto, etc.) comes with low liability limits, if you have any significant assets you carry a personal umbrella to go above those limits.

[philiosophy]

Originally Posted by jordanbigel

I've entered 2 dozen countries by boat and none of them required insurance.

Also, it is important to distinguish between comprehensive and liability insurance. In the USA, most (all) marinas now require proof of liability insurance. I suspect it is the same in other countries where marinas require insurance. Liability insurance costs me about $200/year whereas Comprehensive insurance (which will replace or repair your vessel in case of a claim) would cost me close to $10,000/year (which is why I don't have it).

I am also a world cruiser. Presently in Australia. I couldn't find Liability Third Party insurance for my1980 Southern Cross. Ended up with Full coverage for 1000.00 per year but its only good for Australian Waters. In the past when using a marina in say New Zealand my 3rd party was 500.00 per year. Nobody wants to insure this old s boat. Wouldn't I ever love to find International 3rd party for 200.00 per year. Your Shannon must be an older boat. Do please tell us the name of your Insurance company so I can buy a 3rd party policy that will allow me to cruise anywhere.

No insurance was required to just cruise anywhere as long as I did not using Marinas or Haul Out facilities except Mexico. That includes much of Central America,Panama,Ecuador,Columbia,Marquesas,Frencu Polanesia,Tonga,Figi,, Vanautu, New Caladonia and Australia

[Bill_Giles]

I know that our Marina in the UK asks to see our insurance every year but I have never been asked to produce an insurance document anywhere in the UK, France or Holland when merely a visitor. In fact, for the UK, the only documentation you need is a licence for a radio and a licence to operate it..

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Dsanduril

...Unless things have changed since Covid, Mexico (the country, not any business entities therein) requires liability insurance on all boats. This is similar to the requirements for automobiles in many countries (including Mexico). And, as Zzmeyer says, it must be written by a Mexican company. IIRC we’ve only ever been asked at our port of entry, I don’t recall producing the certificate for any of the various port captains along the way.

Yes, Mexican law requires it. No, they do not always check (in fact rarely, but most marinas do).

This presents a problem. Each year irresponsible boaters arrive in Mexico with nearly derelict boats, little or no money and no insurance. Usually they got the boats cheap and took off cruising on a lark (first stop: Mexico). No verification of insurance was done. They anchor out. Freedom. Fun. Tequila.

Then they find it's hot, hard work, and sailing is not as much fun as they thought. And their girl friends start calling, "Honey, when are you coming home?"

So some of them leave their boats anchored and fly home. Others just hang out in the bars and stay with new girl friends, or anywhere, leaving their boats mostly unattended.

Storm comes, boat drags ashore and is wrecked.

No insurance and no money to clean up the mess. Sometimes no owner is found (boat was never registered).

Boaties pitch in and do what they can, but usually it is a total wreck and sometimes environmental damage is done.

In the seven years I've been in this port (Vallarta area) there have been at least seven boats wrecked here (my dock neighbor says there's been more but I can't remember).

All but one dragged ashore into the rocks while unattended. One was sailed directly onto the rocks. Two had insurance. ALL but one were owned and operated by young, single, males with little means and less responsibility.

This makes me angry.

Two problems: Irresponsible boat owners and lack of enforcement on the part of the officials.

[Breaking Waves]

Originally Posted by dusblo

Can anyone name the countries they've been to where boat insurance was not required?

OP, just fyi, noonsite tends to be the best site to determine required formalities for cruising locations. The information tends to be both accurate and up to date - You can pretty quickly browse the countries you are interested in.

[polbndr]

The government of the US as far as I know doesn't, but in every marina in the US we have docked, they require it.

[alitaptap]

At the moment you cannot officially enter the Philippines by yacht except if in distress or, if a returning resident or Filipino citizen.


Before Covid related travel restrictions there was no need to produce any proof of insurance for pleasure vessels upon entry to the country.


The Subic Bay Yacht Club marina does require 3rd party insurance cover for your yacht before entry. To my knowledge this is the only marina in the Philippines that REQUIRES proof of yacht insurance.

[bobnlesley]

Originally Posted by Dsanduril

...Much of the US liability industry (home, auto, etc.) comes with low liability limits, if you have any significant assets you carry a personal umbrella to go above those limits.

And in those instances where the perpetrator doesn't have 'significant assets' it's presumably the victim who gets stuck with the remainder of the tab; so effectively insuring only when needed to protect your own assets, rather than covering your responsibilities to others? In much the same way as so many cruisers/livaboards who claim that they're 'self insuring' rather than paying for even liability insurance cover; when the majority have insufficient assets to cover any third party claim and are relying on the victim to pick up the tab if they're at fault

We gave up on full cover insurance (just too expensive) but have always maintained 3rd party/liability cover specifically because we don't have 'significant assets' to cover the costs that our error might impose on others and as noted, if you're European the minimum/industry standard is nowadays about €10million. It's often struck me as something of a con that the cost of such a policy is very similar to that which a US Yottie would pay for their $300k cover and often those two policies might well be provided by the same Insurance company.

[rabbi]

Originally Posted by bobnlesley

And in those instances where the perpetrator doesn't have 'significant assets' it's presumably the victim who gets stuck with the remainder of the tab; so effectively insuring only when needed to protect your own assets, rather than covering your responsibilities to others? In much the same way as so many cruisers/livaboards who claim that they're 'self insuring' rather than paying for even liability insurance cover; when the majority have insufficient assets to cover any third party claim and are relying on the victim to pick up the tab if they're at fault

We gave up on full cover insurance (just too expensive) but have always maintained 3rd party/liability cover specifically because we don't have 'significant assets' to cover the costs that our error might impose on others and as noted, if you're European the minimum/industry standard is nowadays about €10million. It's often struck me as something of a con that the cost of such a policy is very similar to that which a US Yottie would pay for their $300k cover and often those two policies might well be provided by the same Insurance company.

I think you go tthis wrong:
Those people with valuable assets carry a personal umbrella to protect them against uninsured perpetrators. An insurance against uninsured / under-insured morons.

[SVTatia]

Kind of a delayed response here, summer is leaving us and need to make the most of whats left.

Originally Posted by BillKny

I am mystified by the people who claim that "every" marina demands to see proof of insurance. I suspect that these people do not actually GO anywhere, and just assume since their home marina requires insurance every other marina must as well. Or they are just making stuff up....

I am mystified by people who judge and attack first then think they are helping – why?

As Zanshin mentioned in his post, the question should have been asked differently, hence the first post with my question - Insurance for what purpose….
By the way, I didn't carry insurance and I was never asked for it in Bermuda, Azores, Trinidad, Canaries, Virgin Islands, Madeira or Brazil.

[donradcliffe]

99.99% of the posters who say buy worldwide liability insurance have never tried to do it.

Put yourselves in the position of the insurance company. If they are going to pay claims in 100 countries, they need agents and lawyers in 100 counties Guess who is going to pay for that?

Why do you think that the rates for local coverage are so low, when the coverage limits are so excessive? Because the odds of paying off are really negligible.

[sdesimon]

Originally Posted by dusblo

in some places like the Azores you can get liability insurance upon arrival

Do you have any links or information about getting this type of insurance in the Azores?