boat insurance what for?

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Apr 8, 2010
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Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Regarding the comments about marinas requiring insurance coverage...
Here in the NW United States we have witnessed quite a few large marina fires in the last five years. While most of them are caused by poor shore power hookups and do involve fuel-filled power boats, the effect is that all of us must show proof of insurance.
One could argue that this is all due to "a few bad apples" spoiling things for the rest of us, and that might well be true, but drinking bitter tea will not change this reality.

Then, there is the problem of poorly maintained boats, sail and power, threatening to sink at their docks.
Requiring insurance coverage is, to some limited extent, a way for the marina to get owners to pay some attention to their craft. The insurance company may well require a long-overdue survey, too. :(

I should note that the only real coverage that moorages look for is "wreck removal and pollution abatement". Those few words can cover a 100K claim on 10K value boat, though.

Speaking to the comments about marine insurance, as opposed to patching coverage onto your home policy.... I started out with a marine policy with an agreed-upon value on our first 20 foot sailboat in '76, and have maintained this practice ever since then as we moved into a 26 foot racer/cruiser, and finally into our present 34 footer. I insure with BoatUS, although I'm sure that there are other worthy choices out there, too.

Besides budgeting an annual ins. premium payment, I lump much of our preventative maintenance (like new standing rigging and having the keel rebedded, to name two larger-ticket items) into "insurance."

Sorry to ramble on so long about so little...
:)
L
 
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