Insurance requirements for 17' sailboat?

Sep 5, 2018
214
Hunter 170 Northfield, NJ
I live in NJ.
What is recommended insurance on a simple 17' daysailer (a Hunter 170)?

Currently no motor.
 
Jan 19, 2010
12,918
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Liability would be all that I purchased for a boat like that. I added that to my State Farm bundle and I think it is about $200/year. Mine also covers environmental fines (since I do have a motor on mine) and the cost to float her if she sinks. But any damage to my boat is on me. What if you stop for lunch and your boat breaks free of a cleat and dings a $100,000 boat? Peace of mind is a good thing.
 
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Likes: Sumner
Jan 11, 2014
13,993
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Liability insurance is important. Along with liability medical insurance, lost property, uninsured boater. For a boat this size check your homeowners policy. Adding it under the homeowners may be the most economical solution.

Depending on what you paid for the boat, hull insurance is a toss up. If you paid cash and the boat is totaled, you're out the money you paid. If there is a loan and a lien on the boat, then the bank is going to want hull insurance.

Don't forget get towing coverage for traveling on the road. A flat tire can cause a lot of damage when the trailer goes out of control. Check your auto insurance for coverage.

BoatUS usually has very reasonable rates and if nothing else is a good source of information on insurance.
 
Mar 6, 2008
1,493
Catalina 1999 C36 MKII #1787 Coyote Point Marina, CA.
My 25 ft Hunter was automatically covered by my homeowner's insurance. No additional payment was required. Yes, State Farm.
 
Mar 26, 2011
3,956
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Look at your homeowners insurance policy. Often there is coverage provided optionally for a small recreational boat.
This. I've done that will several trailered boats.
 

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
I assume that at some point you will want to share your boating fun with family or friends including those who don’t know what they are doing and will represent a liability to you and their family should they become injured or worse. Therefore suggest you now pick up an umbrella liability policy that would provide you with plenty of insurance coverage and prevent you from having to sell your possessions and indenture the kids should you manage to get someone hurt or killed.
 
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Likes: Justin_NSA
Dec 31, 2016
319
Beneteau Oceanis 351 Charlottetown
Look at your homeowners insurance policy. Often there is coverage provided optionally for a small recreational boat.
Yup, I did that with my San Juan, as it was just an old boat, home owners insurance has covered included, boat value up to $2500, liability was 1 mill.
 

CarlN

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Jan 4, 2009
603
Ketch 55 Bristol, RI
Amica told me that my 17ft Hunter was covered for damage and liability by my homeowners policy for no charge -- there wasn't even a requirement that I had to tell them I owned it. As with any boat, be sure you have enough liability coverage. It's painful to even think about -- but what if a child of a guest fell off and drowned or was hit in the head by the boom? I have an umbrella liability policy that provides extra liability coverage on all the boats, cars, and house. It doesn't cost much.
 

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,722
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
+1 on checking with your homeowners insurance. If you need additional coverage I *highly* recommend BoatUS. They did me right as rain.