Insurance

[dbpaul]

Hey Stu
How many members have had to have their boat inspected before a insurance policy was issued.
I have Progressive insurance and they did not require an inspection or a surveyors report before they issued my policy for the boat.

But than again I live in Washington. 


paulj   

[jgatherton]

I have had five boats over my sailing career of 40 plus years, both in UK and USA.  Never had an insurer ask for a survey before providing insurance.  But, never had a claim either!
John

[Terry Forshier]

Insuring here in florida i had to provide a survey and then meet any questioned issues in it in order to get insured. Even then it was outragiously high. Terry

[Jack Hutteball]

Paulj,

I am in Anacortes, Washington in Skyline Marina.  My insurer has never asked for a survey of of any of our 3 boats.  I am insured through USAA.
Jack

[MarkT]

On my previous boat I needed to get an insurance survey when I got an "agreed value" policy for the boat. They would have issued a policy without a survey but only a basic policy. If your boat has had a bunch of improvements and is in good shape then a policy for an agreed value makes for a lot less trouble in the event of a loss. After the experience of Isobel on the Chesapeake I can't say enough about BoatUS and what a stand up job they did for boat owners on the bay. I wouldn't consider insuring with anyone else.

Mark Tamblyn

[pablosgirl]

Hi Paulj,

We are also insured through Progresive on the Texas Gulf Coast and they did not ask for a survey before issuing the policy.

Paul

[Joe Kern]

I am insured through Markel as they are the only ones who would cover more than 125 miles offshore of Florida.  Arranged through USAA.  They did not require a survey.

[Exodus]

I am insured through Voyager and they did require a survey as well as requiring that all the findings of said survey were corrected.

On my old boat I had GEICO and they did not require a survey, but the policy did contain a "named storm exclusion". GEICO did not offer any policies that covered hurricanes so I went with a different company on the Catalina.

[Bill Asbury]

I'm insured with BOAT-US and they didn't require a survey.  Also have their unlimited towing coverage.

[Ken Juul]

We had to supply a survey to someone right after we bought the boat 10 years ago.  Can't remember if it was for insurance or the loan.  We too use Boat US, have heard there are some cheaper out there, but happy with the service I get so haven't investigated.

[mainesail]

Have always had an agreed value policy and all our insurance companies required surveys except on the 2005, which was purchased new, and the 2001 which was bought in 2003 they did require a pre-purchase survey though.

We have been with Acadia, Inamar, Amica and Boat US since 1996. IME the older the boat the more they require surveys. I need to supply one to Amica this coming year in order to maintain the agreed value of our hull. With all but Acadia they wanted us to bring "recommendations" into line before the policy was issued but most gave 3-6 months to do so.

In fact this spring we plan to up the value, due to major upgrades and additions, and Amica is requiring a full blown survey for this, not just a quickie insurance survey. If we don't change the agreed value a standard insurance survey is fine.

[Jim Hardesty]

I got bids from other companys.  I stayed with one company (State Farm) and one local agent (a boater that races scows on a small lake) for everything.  His claim was that having overlaping policies, ie personal libility, and boat liability that the package was less money.  If I remember right it was over $200 less than BoatUS.  Haven't had a claim so I don't know the problems.
Jim

[r_bond]

I'm with State Farm - no survey required, best rate found after shopping with several companies.  Had to get new insurance after Boat US wanted to double my premium following a claim after Hurricane Ivan.  Also had to fight with them over several items in my claim - very disappointing and frustrating experience!  BTW, State Farm's rate was cheaper than Boat US' "pre-claim" premium.

[Terry Forshier]

WE bought our C34 in 2006 and it was 18 yrs old. We went with boat US because progressive, (that has our fishing boat) would not insure over 30 foot boats at the time and State Farm, allstate etc would not take older boats (18 years) or boats that large. The only other option we found was a NY firm that offerd about the same deal as Boat US but had not rep in this area we could find. Boat US made us get a survey and then show we had done a couple small items that were noted on the survey. (not much of a cost) but still we had to conform.
Last year we were hit by lightening and filed a claim. Now my policy is up another few hundred dollars over last year. So close to $1800 a year. It is agreed value policy with large deductable. ($900). Boat US was very good on the lighting strike though and paid right up front on the estimate in cash but I had to handle the details of replacement gear. .

[Jack Hutteball]

Interesting... After reporting last October that we had never had to have a survey for our insurance on any of our 3 boats (all insured with USAA) I received a letter today saying that they require a survey before they will renew my policy which is up in July.  Also interesting is that they gave me only until the end of April (3 weeks) to do it.  I have not had any claims.  Any of you out there have USAA with a similar request?  Time for me to investigate other carriers?

Jack