Boat insurance

[RekkaBell]

Hey guys,

I just purchased my first boat and im looking at insurance companies, but so far i've been turned down by 3 of them. This is mostly due to my lack of experience and because i'm a liveaboard. I don't know what i should do, every day i gain more experience but i dont know how much they would need to insure me (I know having a liveaboard status doesn't help).

I was hoping to sail over to maple bay next month but i saw that you needed to show proof of insurance to be able to get moorage there.

As you can see i'm in a bit of a bind. Do all marinas ask for this? If i can't get it insured does it mean i won't be able to moor anywhere?

[Cruisingscotts]

I think there is a Liveaboard boaters association in the Victoria area, very proactive try looking them up.

[RekkaBell]

Oh yea I've heard of them. Im not looking for long-term moorage at the moment though, i was wondering if you needed proof of boat insurance for overnight stays.

[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by RekkaBell

I was hoping to sail over to maple bay next month but i saw that you needed to show proof of insurance to be able to get moorage there.

I haven't a clue as to why you'd have trouble finding insurance; would't be a problem here but that doesn't help you

Marina's are probably only interested in liability insurance, not so much hull insurance?

[svmariane]

You didn't say, but have you tried for only liability insurance?
That is really what most marinas want to see.

Edit: Oops.....Lizzy Belle beat me to the punch.

[RekkaBell]

oh no i havent but i will try.

It's been difficult because i've been told i don't have enough boating experience. I don't know how many years of experience one would need to qualify for it though...

[Lizzy Belle]

Here in the Netherlands, you pay full price when you have 0 experience and get a (small) discount for every full year you make no claim. Doesn't matter if you've ever seen a boat before Just as long as you don't go off shore, you'll be insured.

Edit: actual experience isn't even the point; just not claiming is. Which is easy when you're tucked away in a marina

[Dsanduril]

Never had a marina ask for anything other than third-party liability insurance. And never had my issuer ask anything about the boat or my boating experience. Pay the bill and they cover us (we carry a $250K policy with an umbrella over that up to $2M - total cost ~$550/year).

Hull/rig/damage insurance is a whole other matter. Sailing resume, boat survey, details on crew aboard (at least for offshore work)... For that I would expect to pay at least 1% and up to 2% of value per year (if you get a very local policy might see 0.5% to 1%).

YMMV, but I'd be surprised if you can't get satisfactory third-party liability insurance to satisfy the marina just by filling out the application and sending in the premium.

[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by Dsanduril

Hull/rig/damage insurance is a whole other matter. Sailing resume, boat survey

Even when you don't go off-shore?

I have full hull / rigging etc insurance and have never been asked about experience or for a survey. Nor has anyone I know.

Offshore is pretty much a no-go for solosailors, but still easy enough for couples. Solo with crew a little less so, but still doable.

[Dsanduril]

Agreed, for strictly local sailing I've always had cover from the same provider as either my car or house. No resume, no survey, limit of something like 25-50 miles offshore. Have done that both here in the US and as a non-resident in a couple of places where I knew I'd be in place for a year or so. Not sure what that's like for the OP in BC, haven't looked in that specific case. Clearly at least the places OP has looked it is more like offshore insurance if they are asking for sailing experience.

[UNCIVILIZED]

Some marinas will assist you in finding liability (& other) insurance if you ask them for their help.
For instance, while I know it's across the border, the Port of Port Townsend (in WA) will do/does this.
So it'd be worth asking some of the places where you're looking for moorage, about doing the same. Ditto on digging around in any of the online services/search engines, which help boaters to find moorage. Perhaps ActiveCaptain & others. Plus any & all of the local sailing periodicals in your area.

In WA, for example, there's; Dockside, 48 North, Northwesting, Boater's Yellow Pages & likely half a dozen more which I'm forgetting. And I'm sure that some of them would have some insurance rescouces which you could pursue. Along with, of course, all of the free marine periodicals in your neck of the woods.
Which, BTW, I'd love it if you would post them on here, when you get a moment.

Also, try some of the other online sailing forums:
Sailing Anarchy Forums
Sail Net
& the dozen plus others which slip my mind right now.


PS: Sometimes having a mailbox at someplace like a UPS Store, gives enough of the appearance of being a "real" (land type) address, that it makes finding insurance easier. As with many such stores, it's a real street address, & not a Post Office Box. HTH.

[DumnMad]

I'm for 3rd party insurance only. Some people are hooked on insurance as if it will somehow save them from disaster. Far more important to be an alert operator, get on top of your boat maintenance and keep the water out when offshore IMO.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by RekkaBell

Hey guys,

I just purchased my first boat and im looking at insurance companies, but so far i've been turned down by 3 of them.

Did they tell you why? Did you ask them?

When I got my first boat the insurance company required me to get some extra training due to the short time I had sailed.

[UNCIVILIZED]

For the experience thing. There are standardized forms which you can use, in order to document your time on the water, as well as what specialized evolutions or training which was done on a given day. In addition to what the weather was like, number & experience levels of crew onboard etc.
And also, be sure to document your time similarly when onboard other vessels. Having such, certified by said vessel's Master.

It might not help right this moment, but over time, it's a big help. And is also useful when applying for various liscences & certifications.

[Ribbit]

Could always see if you can get it tacked on to your house insurance I suppose?