boat insurance ?

[dgs119]

Do most people go with their local insurance agent that they have for home, auto, etc to get boater insurance? (allstate, state farm, etc) Or do you go with a specialized company such as Westmar Marine Insurance Service. It would be for a 19 foot boat and trailer.

Thanks,

 

[eaglejim]

Re: boat insurance ?

I use www.boatus.com they had a better price than Allstate

 

[642mx]

Re: boat insurance ?

Everything I have is insured with Indiana Farm Bureau. When I got my Baja, I had them add it on my home-owners policy.

 

[Mike722]

Re: boat insurance ?

Home, Lake Trailer, Cars, and Boat all Country Companies or whatever they are called now.

I check around every couple years but no one has come close to the package deal.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: boat insurance ?

I also use boat us not just better price but also better coverage and the ability to get an agreed value policy.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: boat insurance ?

Do most people go with their local insurance agent that they have for home, auto, etc to get boater insurance? (allstate, state farm, etc) Or do you go with a specialized company such as Westmar Marine Insurance Service. It would be for a 19 foot boat and trailer.

Thanks,

I had the same question just a few weeks ago, and posted it to the forum. I wound up going w/our local agent and adding it to our homeowner's policy. We have an 18.5' three year old Bayliner with a 4.3L and the yearly cost came to ~$140 for the boat and trailer. I believe it was the agreed value policy...the one where they lock in today's price, so even if it sinks in five years they would still pay me what I told them it was worth today.

Others on the site seemed to imply they could get better deals online or through pure marine insurance companies. I didn't check around because it seemed they were bragging about getting rates for $100 to $150, and that's where my agent came in, so I stopped checking. My time is too valuable to try and shop around if I'm only going to save a few bucks every year. I'd rather sleep well knowing one agent has a vested interest in keeping me happy. In my younger days I would have shopped it and maybe gone w/someone that could save me $20/year, but not any longer. I've been burned too many times by going w/the cheapest provider.

Best of luck!

 

[Radiac]

Re: boat insurance ?

Everything I have is insured with Indiana Farm Bureau. When I got my Baja, I had them add it on my home-owners policy.

Another one here with Farm Bureau (North Carolina). They have both Jeeps, the house and the boat.

 

[rtpassini]

Re: boat insurance ?

everything of mine is through state farm.
I have a motorcycle (storage for now), renters, life, car, and my boat which is costing me a total of 128 a month. im 24.
my boat costs 4 bucks a month. lol

 

[cbear34]

Re: boat insurance ?

I have coverage with Boatus. I did have it with State Farm but Boatus has better coverage and better price. My home and autos are covered with State Farm.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: boat insurance ?

I think I should have also explained what I mean by better coverage with my boat us policy. Bear in mind that if something happens the least of your worries is the replacement cost of your own boat.

my current policy is for a 2000 Monterey 322cr with an agreed value of $74000 I have a 1% deductible (max$740) the liability limits are $500,000 property damage, $1,000,000 bodily injury per occurrence $300,000 per person, and this you won't find with your local agent $1,000,000 for hazardous material (oil or fuel spill) clean up. for all this and towing and other minor add ons I pay $340 per year. the best i could find elsewhere for the same boat with $1000 deductibles and lower coverages was $1200.

 

[mthieme]

Re: boat insurance ?

insurance ???????

 

[OldePharte]

Re: boat insurance ?

I used BOAT/US as it was cheaper than Safeco, who has everything else. Also BOAT/US offers pollution and boat towing coverage.

 

[clarkbre]

Re: boat insurance ?

I went with State Farm since I have 2 cars and a house covered through them. The addition of the boat was a whopping $68 a year. However, my coverage is mainly out of water damage. With a 16' aluminum v-hull, I'm more worried about what will happen on land rather than in the water. I'm sure if I had a more powerful ski boat, I'd go with the liability as well.

Also, something to keep in mind is that you should go through a boater's safety course. State Farm gave me a 10% discount on my boater's policy because I had successfully completed that course.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: boat insurance ?

my boat costs 4 bucks a month. lol

Ok, since no one else seems to be biting on this one, I have to ask...what kind of boat do you have that you can insure for $4/month?

 

[TheWoodCrafter]

Re: boat insurance ?

I went with State Farm since I have 2 cars and a house covered through them. The addition of the boat was a whopping $68 a year. However, my coverage is mainly out of water damage. With a 16' aluminum v-hull, I'm more worried about what will happen on land rather than in the water. I'm sure if I had a more powerful ski boat, I'd go with the liability as well.

You mean you don't have any liability insurance at all on the boat?
What insurance do you have then?
I would think liability would be the most important to have.

 

[clarkbre]

Re: boat insurance ?

You mean you don't have any liability insurance at all on the boat?
What insurance do you have then?
I would think liability would be the most important to have.

No, I dont' carry liability insurance on the boat. I have an aluminum V-hull with a 15hp tiller motor. The whole thing peaks out at 22mph and most of the lakes I fish on have 8mph speed limits.

My insurance covers things like theft, acts of God, and an accident to and from the lake.

I realize liability insurance is important but I also look at the risk involved in my boating practices. Liability would kick in if I did damage to someone elses boat or property. I'm not saying I'm perfect but I also know that 80% of my time on the water is under electric power at 1mph. When I am at wide open throttle with my gas engine I'm very responsible and respectful of staying clear of other boats.

 

[Wildcatin]

Re: boat insurance ?

If you add your boat to home owners insurance, all you have is liability. You have to write a new policy for the protection of your boat.....at least that is the way Farm Burea writes theres.

 

[clarkbre]

Re: boat insurance ?

That's how my boat is covered. I have a seperate policy that renews on a different date than my home or 2 cars.

 

[Wildcatin]

Re: boat insurance ?

I just did a quote from BOATS/US, and it was 75 dollars higher (19 dollar membership fee included). I would much rather have my insurance that I can walk into his office right down the street anyway.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: boat insurance ?

I have never owned a boat and have never given insurance on a paid for boat (which mine will be) much thought except liability. Then, my Paw Paw left the ramp one morning in his 21' Triton. I believe it had a Mercury 200 on it. Someone left a minnow bag floating in the water and it somehow wrapped itself around his water inlets on his motor. Half mile of running later motor siezed. He said water was coming out like it was supposed to when he left the ramp, so it must have wrapped around the motor right after he looked and throttled up. Cost $9500 to fix the motor. Cost to him? $250. Gonna defiantly get me some sort of insurance when i buy my boat.