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

[dusblo]

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

So far I've learned that the United States, Canada and New Zealand don't require boat insurance and that in some places like the Azores you can get liability insurance upon arrival but I haven't learned of any more countries that don't require boat insurance.

[SVTatia]

Insurance for what purpose? In Canada, all marinas and clubs require at least 2M liability.

[Paul L]

Most countrie on the typical cruisers paths in the Carib, Pacific or Indian Ocean do not require insurance. Malaysia requires insurance to clear in, Seychelles requires it after 39 days and Australian marinas require a higher liability coverage than anywhere else, Many marinas in all countries absolutely require insurance.

[dusblo]

I've read stories of people who lost their insurance or couldn't keep it when they were sailing across an ocean but as soon as they can get it again after an ocean passage they will but obviously they can't be headed towards a country that requires insurance to clear in.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by dusblo

I've read stories of people who lost their insurance or couldn't keep it when they were sailing across an ocean but as soon as they can get it again after an ocean passage they will but obviously they can't be headed towards a country that requires insurance to clear in.

If this were the case, then you would need to have something lined up ahead of time.

This is a weird, backwards way of approaching something. Rather than build a list of countries that don't require insurance, simply build a list of countries you want to visit and then research the requirements for entry and satisfy them.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by SVTatia

Insurance for what purpose? In Canada, all marinas and clubs require at least 2M liability.

Not all, but probably most. But they only require it for long-term usage. I've never been asked to produce insurance for transient dockage anywhere I've traveled in Canada.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Not all, but probably most. But they only require it for long-term usage. I've never been asked to produce insurance for transient dockage anywhere I've traveled in Canada.

and ... it is not a legal requirement.

[Dsanduril]

I suspect we may begin to see more countries begin to ask for environmental/wreck removal insurance, but in 4 years from 2016-2020 (and in all our prior sailing) we were never asked for insurance by government officials other than in Mexico. Milk Run by way of South Africa. Not one request when checking in.

St. Helena did require medical evacuation insurance (which could be purchased there). We don't stay in marinas much, but pretty much all of them require third-party liability coverage.

[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).

[chrisr]

as a country australia does not require insurance for recreational craft.

however most marinas & boatyards will...

cheers,

[Zanshin]

I think that the question needs to be rephrased to ask what countries require insurance in order to clear in. I haven't been to one of those countries yet and can't think of any (except Polynesia, and then only for non-EU boats), but lots of marinas will ask for proof of liability insurance.
I only carry liability insurance, and it is quite inexpensive in the grand scheme of things. Considering that some countries like the USA can (rather arbitrarily) fine a boat owner hundreds of thousands of dollars for leaked diesel from a sunken boat then tack on costs for wreck removal there's no reason not to fork out the cost of a couple of nights out on the town for liability insurance.
I'm currently in a marina in St. Lucia (Rodney Bay) and apart from all the COVID stuff all I needed was a credit card and a photocopy of my liability insurance to dock

[Chotu]

My marina’s new contract requires comprehensive insurance and workman’s compensation insurance. On a private boat without crew! Ha ha ha.

I was just blown away by the incompetence of the attorney

[Benz]

Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Cuba, Bahamas, Canada--none of these required insurance to check in.
One marina in Mex. asked for it. One marina in Massachusetts.
Nobody else ever.

[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.

In our travels for years from the Canadian Maritimes, up and down the east coast of the USA, through the Bahamas, and the western Caribbean, we have found roughly half of marinas ask us as transients for insurance. Many of those who "require" it don't actually ask to see any proof, but just ask for the name of the carrier.

We have also come across a very few who require hull insurance in addition to liability.

We do carry full international hull and liability coverage, so it's not an issue for us, but the misinformation is real.

[Zzmeyer]

Mexico requires liability insurance issued by Mexican company. Whether a marina asks for it doesn’t mean it is not a requirement