Boaters Insurance

[bruceb58]

Re: Boaters Insurance

Apparently they have some sort of alliance but I am grandfathered in. I have motorcycle insurance as well and seems that is being sent to Progressive too for new customers. I am going to be calling them soon about an umbrella policy so I will ask them more about this.

 

[N3UP]

Re: Boaters Insurance

38 posts before someone finally mentioned it.....wow.

That was the first thing I thought of when I got my present boat.
It's been 10-15 years since I last had a boat and I didn't have insurance back then.
I don't seem to recall the EPA fines for spills back then.
I don't remember people being as sue happy either......

Maybe I'm a bit older and wiser now too.
For me, spill fines and liability are the top reasons I insure now.
If the boat gets totaled, at least I'll get a little out of it......

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Boaters Insurance

Seriously. I NEVER go within 50 yards of another boat .

So if there is somewhat at the dock or launch ramp, do you wait 50 yards out waiting for them to leave?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Boaters Insurance

Insurance for my boat is $40 per month. fuel for the boat is $400 per month (during the season). not running with insurance is just stupid. if you were to be involved in an accident the lawyers would not only go after you, however everything that you own.

my buddies boat ate the outdrive. the insurance company totaled the boat, he bought it back and has $8k to replace the outdrive.

Insurance is a necessary waste. its one of the things that you should never use, however dont get caught without it because your grandchildren will still be paying the bill

 

[wired247]

Re: Boaters Insurance

So if there is somewhat at the dock or launch ramp, do you wait 50 yards out waiting for them to leave?

95 times out of 100 I'm the only putting in or taking out. 2 or 3 rigs up in the parking lot with the same guys out there fishing every day. Not much traffic in these parts. None of that jet skier nonsense either. EPA doesnt make it out here much . Running into someone else is maybe not quite impossible but its as impossible as anything is. Thats really the only reason I could see justifying the expense but I'm not in a high traffic area and bumping into another boat or especially another person isnt really something I see happening. Your situation might be different and thats all good and well but I don't think I'm wrong in thinking that the majority of boats out on the water don't carry liability insurance. Mines always been one of them. Some of you have strong feelings about this. Strong feelings are good I suppose.

 

[wired247]

Re: Boaters Insurance

By the way, that is some beautiful scenery! What I'd give to take the boat on some water with a backdrop like that in your first picture!

Thats looking West. Heres looking East. Its a little prettier.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Boaters Insurance

95 times out of 100 I'm the only putting in or taking out. 2 or 3 rigs up in the parking lot with the same guys out there fishing every day. Not much traffic in these parts. None of that jet skier nonsense either. EPA doesnt make it out here much . Running into someone else is maybe not quite impossible but its as impossible as anything is. Thats really the only reason I could see justifying the expense but I'm not in a high traffic area and bumping into another boat or especially another person isnt really something I see happening. Your situation might be different and thats all good and well but I don't think I'm wrong in thinking that the majority of boats out on the water don't carry liability insurance. Mines always been one of them. Some of you have strong feelings about this. Strong feelings are good I suppose.

You won't see the E.P.A or D.N.R untill it is to late.( Meaning after the spill ).

 

[MTYPockets]

Re: Boaters Insurance

In Arkansas we have to have a minimum of 50K liability insurance if motor is 50 HP or more before you can register your boat. You see a lot of pontoon boats with 40 Hp on them to keep from buying insurance.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Boaters Insurance

Thats looking West. Heres looking East. Its a little prettier.

Mt. Shasta?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boaters Insurance

I can see Jim's point about homeowners insurance. I will still have it for peace of mind and because I would not want to start all over if a tornado or fire level it. But your risk of you house injuring another person or someones property is very slim.

Happens all the time.

What happens if someone slips and falls on your porch, or a slippery floor, or down the steps?

Or the neighbor kid climbs up onto your garage to get his frisbee, then smashes his teeth on the garbage can when he jumps down.

Or how about if someone just claims they got hurt on your property?

The insurance is nice to have, if only to cover the legal fees.

 

[wired247]

Re: Boaters Insurance

...

 

[wired247]

Re: Boaters Insurance

Mt. Shasta?

Mt Hood

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boaters Insurance

the only time you don't need to get a boat policy is if the boat is already covered under your homeowner's policy. EVERY POLICY IS DIFFERENT but some I've seen don't cover liability for "boats" and then define "boats" as having a motor, and being over a certain length nad HP. So for me, my canoe and 13' with an 18hp was not a "boat" and was covered. The larger motorboat needed a policy.
Bottom line, I have insurance COVERAGE for all boats even the ones that aren't a "boat."

If you don't have homeowner's because you rent, you need renter's insurance, if nothing else, to get the liability coverage. Ever see the bills to reapir, repaint and recarpet an apartment from a simple grease fire with no structural damage? then see if your small boats are covered.

If you have a boat of any size and use it in populated waters, or take children tubing, etc., then you really should get an umbrella policy for another million at least. Be sure your underlying policy is large enough to "reach" the umbrella, often $350K to $500K. Having only $300K for the type of boating I describe is kidding yourself that you are covered.

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Boaters Insurance

Happens all the time.

What happens if someone slips and falls on your porch, or a slippery floor, or down the steps?

Or the neighbor kid climbs up onto your garage to get his frisbee, then smashes his teeth on the garbage can when he jumps down.

Or how about if someone just claims they got hurt on your property?

The insurance is nice to have, if only to cover the legal fees.

Tresspassing.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boaters Insurance

Not USAA.

That's because USAA doesn't even have boat insurance. They broker you through Progressive.

You should be able to find liability insurance easily. I did (with the aforementioned Progressive) on my old boat.

Look, I'm not going to try to convince you to have it. I, like you, boated mostly on an unpopulated lake and never really even thought about it. I did then start boating in busier areas and had the thought of "all it would take is for my boat to accidentally poke a hole in one of these expensive go-fasts at the ramp" or something and I'm out major $$$$ and hassle.

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: Boaters Insurance

If you don't have any assets, rent your house...maybe you have nothing to lose anyway so that is why you choose not to have insurance. If you have any assets at all, its a no brainer to have it for how little it cost. Again, I am talking the liability portion here...not the loss of the boat. Self insuring the boat is not an issue at all.

and in which case....you shouldn't own a boat! :facepalm: friggin save! lol

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Boaters Insurance

That's because USAA doesn't even have boat insurance.

They have boat insurance but are not writing new policies anymore. New policies are with Progressive.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Boaters Insurance

and in which case....you shouldn't own a boat! :facepalm: friggin save! lol

Very true!

 

[kmarine]

Re: Boaters Insurance

Where I boat we have had three seperate fires over the course of 5 years. Two resulting in totall loss of vessel. Not to mention the additional damages covered by insurance. Other boats, docks, and dont forget the cost of enviormental rcovery from fuel and oil after the boat burns and sinks. You are Liable for damages resulting in casualties beyond the value of your own property. The insurance is not merely for the replacment of your property.