Do You Insure Your Trailer Sailer?

[Ray Bowles]

After reading a post about stolen engines on Mac 26's I wondered if most people insure their boats.
I insure my 1982 San Juan 23 for about $130 a year. That is for the boat, trailer, motor and gear.
On an earlier C22 that was in an accident that ruined the trailer and chewed up the boat bow I was glad I did. I do it through my home/auto insurance company.
What do other trailer sailors do?
Ray

 

[pupluv]

I have only liability insurance on my Macgregor 25. It costs $50 a year for $300,000 of insurance from the AAA.

 

[jdratlif]

We have our O'day 25 and trailer insured. We have the boat wrapped in with all of our other insurance for a price that doesn't hurt to write a check for. I feel insurance is a must for the toys you care about.

 

[rgranger]

liability only.

I have a $700 Briggs & Straton OB and paid only $800 for my boat & trailer. I probably have another $2000 in her and a lot of sweat equity but I could do it again so ... liability only.

r

 

[rpell1@msn.com]

My Chrysler 22 was insured for all of the 15 years I owned her. Over the years, due mostly to foul weather and one burglery, I collected about $2,500 in claims and a great deal of peace-of-mind. As far as I'm concerned, it was worth every penny of the roughly $3,200 in premiums. This breaks down to a net cost of about $46 per year!!
Seems like a no brainer.

 

[tkaser3210]

After reading a post about stolen engines on Mac 26's I wondered if most people insure their boats.
I insure my 1982 San Juan 23 for about $130 a year. That is for the boat, trailer, motor and gear.
On an earlier C22 that was in an accident that ruined the trailer and chewed up the boat bow I was glad I did. I do it through my home/auto insurance company.
What do other trailer sailors do?
Ray

I have owned 5 trailer sailers over 25 years, and have insured all of them through BoatUS. The one claim they covered more than compensated for all the premiums paid.

 

[dscribner]

How much are you willing to pay out of pocket for a salvage? Or a fuel spill? Or if you collide with 2010 Hunter 36? Those are the questions. Your boat and trailer are probably insured as you're towing, but liability after you launch is the key.

 

[kenn]

We belong to a yacht club, and they require insurance. It's also prudent if you're going to cruise and maneuver around busy marinas alot.

We pay around $150 for $1m liability and modest theft/salvage/replacement coverage. I believe we also have some theft coverage via our home insurance, and I believe there's coverage on the trailer from auto insurance when we're towing her.

 

[Slade]

Yep..always carry insurance. Have experienced thefts, burglaries, and seen too many accidents with trailers to not carry liability.

Pay about $135.00/year. In my experience, if I have to use it just once it'll be worth it.

 

[timebandit]

A lot of marinas won't let you overnite without insurance.

 

[sinnettc]

$15K worth of boat, motor, sails, trailer? Yup, for sure!

 

[doehunter]

I've been wondering the same thing.
I understand and agree, that it makes good sense to carry insurance, but are there regulations that require it? For instance from the Coast Guard or individual states?
When I finally do get my mac, I will probably launch at public ramps. I don't intend on hanging around the marinas. I think chances of me hitting another boat are pretty slim.
Jim

 

[rgranger]

I've been wondering the same thing.
I understand and agree, that it makes good sense to carry insurance, but are there regulations that require it? For instance from the Coast Guard or individual states?
When I finally do get my mac, I will probably launch at public ramps. I don't intend on hanging around the marinas. I think chances of me hitting another boat are pretty slim.
Jim

Dohunter

If you just get liability (damage to another's boat or salvage and environmental spill etc.) and don't insure your boat for loss or theft, the rates are reasonable. I think I pay about $130/year through State Farm. Like you, I am a trailer sailor so theft is less likely, and my boat is just not that expensive to replace if it is lost.... but... I have had an experience (different boat) where the wind was blowing so hard the dock plank to which my cleat was attached, tore lose, the second dock line lasted only a few minutes and my boat drifted off. Luckily it blew up a cove and somehow managed to miss the other 50 boats it passed on the way. When the call came in that my boat was missing... I was glad I had insurance.

 

[Ray Bowles]

Doehunter, I also sail off the trailer and that was the reason I asked this question. We have in the past had our boat in a marina and ins. was required. The loss we did occure was while the boat was in transit on the trailer from home to the marina. The insurance covered the recovery of the boat off the payment, damage to the boat and they totalled the trailer. It was only a $5,000 boat and $2,500 trailer, but for a cost of $130 a year it would be dumb on my part to run naked.
The reason I asked this question was the response at the time of the accident 4 years ago, on this site, was that "why would you insure a vessel for such a small amount." I thought that most trailer sailors probably do insure their boats. Thanks for the answers.
Ray

 

[caguy]

Our mastup storage at MDR requires $300k in liability. Cost was $130 at Progressive (couldn't resist Flo the Progressive girl). It's comforting knowing I can totally destroy half of the boats in mastup getting to my space. According to Progressive they also cover 100% towing. I clarified Sea towing and they confirmed.

 

[doehunter]

sorry to be butting in on someone else's thread.
I'm pretty convinced. It's really for the best. I'm sure that when I finally get my Mac, I'll be setting down with the insurance guy.
Assuming they want it checked out first. How much does that cost and how do you find the guy? (what's the word?)

 

[caguy]

They never asked to check my Mac 25. The whole thing was done on line.

 

[Ray Bowles]

Doehunter, As Caguy says it's not checked out. I have insured 4 sailboats under 26 feet, with trailers, all having an insured values of $20,000 or less without any inspections at all. You simply talk it over with your home or car insurance agent and answer their questions about boat size, motor size, serial numbers etc. The cost for liability, collision etc has been under $150 for us.
When we lived aboard and sailed our 1990 Island Packet 38 we had to have a insurance survey and it's required inspection. It was valued the same as a average valued smaller home thus requiring the inspection.
Check with you home/auto agent about a policy for a boat in the price range you are looking forward to and I think you will be surprized at the easy and cost for coverage.
Ray

 

[biorapper]

I've had my 26s for bout 7 years now with no insurance. Never had a problem, but after reading this I am considering liability.

 

[kenn]

You simply talk it over with your home or car insurance agent and answer their questions about boat size, motor size, serial numbers etc. The cost for liability, collision etc has been under $150 for us.

Same experience here. Everything was done over the phone. One way to keep costs down is to agree upfront about a reasonable replacement value. I think we agreed upon a cap of $5k for our little boat which is often available used for $3k to $6k. This doesn't include contents.

In this litigious world, $150 a year is good value for up to $1m in liability coverage. We've all spent more on dinner and a show...