UK Expat boat insurance - insure a boat in UK without UK residency

[jontysailor]

I'm a British citizen currently living in the USA. I have found a boat I want in the UK. I made an initial enquire of an insurer and they said they can only insure UK residents. This is of course a big problem. I have messaged some other providers but have a distinct sinking feeling as I come up against yet more barriers to international living (also related to non boating activities such as loans, mortgages, healthcare).

Has anyone encountered the problem/found a solution to a similar boat insurance situation?

Will I find making a marina application as problematic?

Hope people with experience can help out. It has to be something people have encountered when wanting to insure boats outside of their own waters.

[goboatingnow]

You will find it very difficult given your residence in the USA.

[cajucito]

Im a european citizen and have just been told my large wellknown british yacht Insurer can no longer quote me. Where do we go from here. Because of brexit they told me i must be a british citizen living in uk to quote me.

[Zaika]

Hi - has anyone found a solution to the above issue? We just heard that GJW will no longer insure UK registered boats for non residents. Thank you!

[YoureBarrd]

Has anyone found a (narrow) boat insurer for non-UK residents yet? I've talked to 14 boat insurers in the UK and US, but none will insure non-UK residents. Since the Canal River Trust requires boat insurance, it may no longer be possible for non-UK residents to own a boat in the UK.
Scott

[shimari]

We didn't have any problem getting insurance from Topsail. Our boat was flagged USA, and we were not live aboard.

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...uk-262197.html

[YoureBarrd]

Thank you for the suggestion of Topsail. When you say "flagged USA" do you mean you registered your boat in Maryland? Is your boat permanently moored in the UK?
Thanks,
Scott

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by cajucito

Im a european citizen and have just been told my large wellknown british yacht Insurer can no longer quote me. Where do we go from here. Because of brexit they told me i must be a british citizen living in uk to quote me.

Get a European Insurer..
I'm a Brit whose a Portuguese Resident and Pantaenius, who insured me for years can't cover me anymore because EU rules prevent it.
As a Brexit supporter I can accept it..

[shimari]

Originally Posted by YoureBarrd

Thank you for the suggestion of Topsail. When you say "flagged USA" do you mean you registered your boat in Maryland? Is your boat permanently moored in the UK?
Thanks,
Scott

Scott,

We were temporarily in the UK for a few months post purchase. That didn't matter to Topsail. We could have been there permanently for all they cared.

By flagged USA, I mean that our boat was registered and documented with the US Coast Guard.

Good luck!

[YoureBarrd]

Ah, that's great information. Thank you. I called Topsail and they say they will issue the insurance, just as you said. I really appreciate your help.
Scott

[shimari]

Originally Posted by YoureBarrd

Ah, that's great information. Thank you. I called Topsail and they say they will issue the insurance, just as you said. I really appreciate your help.
Scott

Glad I could help! I was impressed with Topsail. The team I worked with was excellent. Responsive and didn't complain about all of my many questions.

[YoureBarrd]

At first Topsail was certain they could insure a UK-based narrowboat for a non-UK resident. After a week, they got back to me saying their underwriter would not insure a non-UK resident. Big dissappoinment.
The Irish/EU based Haven Knox-Johnston is the only insurer of 16 who has positively offered to insure my boat, so I think it is probably true what boatman61 said about getting an EU insurer.
To save someone else the hassle of contacting other marine insurance companies, the following told me that they could not insure a non-UK resident:
1)Noble Marine, 2)GJW Direct, 3)Newton Crum, 4)Collidge & Partners, 5)Mercia Marine, 6)Curtis Marine, 7)Morgan Marine, 8)Porthcawl (Insurance-4-boats), 9)Nautical Insurance, 10)A-Plan Marine, 11)Bay Marine, 12)Lloyds SeaWave Yacht Insurance, 13)Geico(USA), 14)Progressive(USA).

[shimari]

Originally Posted by YoureBarrd

At first Topsail was certain they could insure a UK-based narrowboat for a non-UK resident. After a week, they got back to me saying their underwriter would not insure a non-UK resident. Big dissappoinment.
The Irish/EU based Haven Knox-Johnston is the only insurer of 16 who has positively offered to insure my boat, so I think it is probably true what boatman61 said about getting an EU insurer.
To save someone else the hassle of contacting other marine insurance companies, the following told me that they could not insure a non-UK resident:
1)Noble Marine, 2)GJW Direct, 3)Newton Crum, 4)Collidge & Partners, 5)Mercia Marine, 6)Curtis Marine, 7)Morgan Marine, 8)Porthcawl (Insurance-4-boats), 9)Nautical Insurance, 10)A-Plan Marine, 11)Bay Marine, 12)Lloyds SeaWave Yacht Insurance, 13)Geico(USA), 14)Progressive(USA).

That's disappointing, must be a change in policy which stinks.

[Shaker44120]

I just contacted Haven Knox-Johnson and they informed me they no longer insure UK boats to non-UK residents. Very disappointing.

Is there any UK insurer that will insure a houseboat to a non-resident? This is very confusing. Thank you!

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by Shaker44120

I just contacted Haven Knox-Johnson and they informed me they no longer insure UK boats to non-UK residents. Very disappointing.

Is there any UK insurer that will insure a houseboat to a non-resident? This is very confusing. Thank you!

Please provide clarification details:

The nation of permanent residency of the owner(s).
The nation of citizenship of the owner(s).
The State of Nationality of the vessel. [What flag does the vessel wear?]
Where is the vessel located or to be located?
[E.g., are we to presume that if the vessel is a houseboat that it is located on a river / canal system of the UK.]

[You state "UK boat", what do you mean by the adjective].

Of keen issue is that an insurer must be licensed to provide policy coverage within the nation of the insured and also within the jurisdiction of the insured asset. And of course there is the complexity of jurisdiction of adjudication / settlement of claims; borders have consequences.

Insurance is a very complex and highly regulated sector. Brexit has made many challenges. Sometimes you end up between national issues and there is no ready solution.

Potentialities: Consider relocation of the asset or the residency of the owner to avoid conflicts.