Insurance cancelled for NSW & VIC

[JPA Cate]

"My Insurance company has calculated that they can save some money by not insuring moored boats." There have been many stories over the years of our visits to Australia of thefts from moored boats, in the Sydney/Pittwater areas, where we have spent a lot of time, and of course what people have been doing to avoid said thefts. It might be interesting to find out why the "bean counters" decided to eliminate moored boats from coverage.

Clearly, if this is a fait accompli, a lot of people will be re-insuring elsewhere, so appreciate "Uncle Bob"'s suggetion: "anchorage marine underwriting at north sydney,"

Another option is going public, like writing to both "The Australian" and "Sydney Afloat", as a groundswell of public opinion might get Nautilus to change this policy. As the American Benjamin Franklin wrote, "the wheel that squeaks the loudest gets the grease."

Ann Cate, s/v Insatiable II, lying Pittwater

[ctl411]

Yes to "going public " , the motorcycle riders in the USA did this years back against State Farm Insurance. They came out with a " black list " of bikes you couldn't insure. We as a group canceled everything home,auto,business ect. They changed their tune very quick and became one of the cheaper places to insure with. Get the local paper, yacht clubs, magazines involved.

[philocat]

Was comprehensively insured with Nautilus up until this years renewal. Wanted to downsize to third party only but was quoted the exactly the same premium as for comprehensive. go figure! Needless to say we are now insured with another "car company type" insurer -on an annually inspected $60pa swing mooring.

UncleBobs suggestion (not that I have looked at it) hopefully may be worthwhile next time around but from my experience niche players unfortunately can't compete with the economies of scale and simplistic risk formula of the big boys. I'd imagine that they too might come up against the underwriters "formula" restrictions also. With the present set of insurer antics being discussed here perhaps this might soon change for the better.

As an aside, a certain nameless yacht club recently insisted in writing on having comprehensive boat insurance to come alongside, third party only wont do!!!!

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Jim try anchorage marine underwriting at north sydney, I have just changed to them and found the price much more reasonable than NRMA or club marine. Oh and they know and understand boats as that is thier business, not homes etc.
Cheers

Anchorage = Horrid Horrid Horrid company in my opinion. I hope you never ever ever have to claim. The bullish tactics from the assesor, I experienced, were like a drunk front rower on a bucks night.

[charliehows]

wow, you really have to work hard to give insurance companies your cash. I gave up on that game a long time ago. I added up all the years of insurance i would have paid on my car if i'd paid any in the last 40 years - could pay for about 10 replacements. On the same basis im about 15 grand ahead on the boat by now - may not sound like much to you but i can do a lot with that much money.

[sctpc]

Interestingly I got an email from my broker saying Nautilus "require a current out of water survey report performed by a suitably qualified boatbuilder or marine surveyor, together with a current photograph of the vessel." its Not due till next year but thats ok they dont pay. Oh and I have less than two weeks who cares about xmas and time to get it slipped.

When I asked who is "a suitably qualified boatbuilder or marine surveyor" my reply is "Insurers have advised they do not have a preference so you can google or find in the yellow pages a qualified marine surveyor or boat builder in your area." So can I make up somone and put it up for Google? what is "suitably qualified "

Im at the stage I dont care if I have insurance but then how would I ever get it again like who would pull my boat for a survey if I did not have insurance to begin with?

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

Anchorage = Horrid Horrid Horrid company in my opinion. I hope you never ever ever have to claim. The bullish tactics from the assesor, I experienced, were like a drunk front rower on a bucks night.

OZ please tell me more, pm if you wish.
Cheers.

[hellosailor]

Not to worry, pc. Since there's no real time to arrange having the boat pulled, it should be obvious that a "suitably qualified" surveyor in this instance would be one who can perform psychic surveys on the vessel.

That's right, from the convenience of your own home, without having to go outdoors and interfere with xmas, you can call for a psychic surveyor at our toll-free hotline. We have surveyors standing by twenty-four hours a day, just for your convenience, and accept all major credit cards. No credit card, no problem! Our psychic payment specialists can even withdraw money from your banking account, with your permission of course, directly over the telephone lines too!

Qualified. Suitably qualified for keel-hauling, methinks. Good luck with that.

[Dulls]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

Anchorage = Horrid Horrid Horrid company in my opinion. I hope you never ever ever have to claim. The bullish tactics from the assesor, I experienced, were like a drunk front rower on a bucks night.

Ozskipper has made a good point as that is how we felt with dealing with them.

[Hoohaa]

I started this thread last year. Im the end I got insurance from GIO.
Well! guess what I got in the post last weekend. GIO will no longer insure my vessel.

Here we go again..
I have a few things insured with GIO. I will enjoy cancelling them.

[Lake-Effect]

Ouch. Have you asked for reasons why? Is it the same comprehensive thing, or something else?

My friends received a similar letter by special delivery announcing that their house insurance was being cancelled. Once contacted, someone at the insurance company finally told them that their antiquated 60A service was the problem. So they had a new 100A panel installed and all was well. Do you think there's something small like that, such as they want but haven't received a more recent survey?

[Hoohaa]

Unfortunately it will be the been counters again. It has not totally come as a surprise as I read something similar in the Sydney Afloat magazine.
I am waiting until tomorrow to phone them up and try to get some satisfaction. I know I have other policies with them so I will threaten to cancel them all. Probably wasting my time but at least I will feel better about it.

[sctpc]

Depending on your age try are APIA (Australian Alliance Insurance) others seem to be ok with them. But im not old enough so im uninsured even as I got an out of water and rigging survey. but im evil and on a mooring so none for me.

[Hoohaa]

Maybe all of us evil mooring people around the East Coast should start kicking into a "Sinking Fund". Sorry. But it could work. Deposit in say 1% of your boats value, recent survey and a couple of hundred members & Bobs you uncle.
Just don't all sink at once.
Jeff
And fortunately or maybe not. I am not old enough for APIA but I might have talk with them anyway.
Thanks