USAA/PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE

Oct 4, 2008
142
Hunter 36 Mulberry Cove Marina
After 11 years with this company I became frustrated dealing with the most incompetent people in the insurance business. I have been coastal cruising for the last 11 years and decided this year I would untie my lines and go to the Bahamas. I checked with USAA/PROGRESSIVE for coverage and this is what I found "
Coastal Navigation coverage:
A coastal navigation limit of 75 miles may be included for all listed watercraft at no additional premium. A coastal navigation limit of 125 miles is available for additional premium for powered boats at least 26 feet in length with 2 primary engines, and sailboats at least 26 feet in length with at least one inboard engine. The 125 mile coastal navigation limit extends coverage from 75 miles to 125 miles from the coast of the United States and Canada, and includes the territories and territorial waters of the Commonwealth of Bahamas that exist 125 miles or less from the coast of the United States. Territories and territorial waters of other countries are not covered."
Now I own a Hunter 36 with a 27 h.p. YANMAR. This is the reply I received from the agent when I requested the 125 mile coastal navigation coverage "Dear Mr. Mcdonald, I understand your frustration with coverages, they can sometimes be tricky to understand. I have reviewed your policy and hopefully can give you a good breakdown of the explanation of the Coastal Navigation coverage.
1. The system states this is a Hunter sailboat and by definition, the sails are the main source of power for a sailboat whether you have additional motor(s) or not.
2. Due to the above statement, our system does not allow us to add a motor onto the policy. If this was a different type of boat whose main source of power was by a motor, such as a fishing boat, it would be a different story.
3. The policy has low horsepower listed because most boats have trolling motors, but that is the only motor field we can code.
4. Progressive does not offer the 125 mile Coastal Navigation coverage for Sailboats. We do however offer the 75 mile which you currently have.
I hope this was helpful. Thank you for being a Progressive Customer.
Sincerely
Lisa G.
Progressive Processing Specialist"
Needless to say I cancelled my policy. If you have USAA/PROGRESSIVE you need to take a good hard look at your policy because you might find yourself sinking if you have a claim.
 
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Oct 6, 2007
1,023
Hunter H30 1982 Chicago IL
Wow, that really is idiotic. It sounds like a misinterpretation by the agent. Did you try bypassing that agent and going up the chain of command? Did you find the coverage you want with another company? If so, who?
 

Rick D

.
Jun 14, 2008
7,132
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
IF you have the patience, please copy your post and send it to the VP of Marine Underwriting. Clearly the guys have a problem and they need to hear about it. Either the website hasn't been updated or the underwriter hasn't a clue.
 
Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Lisa: I have been a member of USAA since 1967 and find it has declined in quality over the years. When it went from officer only membership to enlisted/officer it created a problem with the young enlisted drivers being much higher risk members. NCO's/officers only would have been a smarter move in my opinion.
Addressing the use of USAA and/or Progressive: for our boats that didn't work well either and I opted to use BoatUS as they have the real expertise regarding boat insurance. I have had claims with BoatUS and they came through like we expect them to. I use USAA for my cars but not anything else. Hope this insight helps. Happy New Year! Chief
 
Oct 4, 2008
142
Hunter 36 Mulberry Cove Marina
Yes, I spoke with at least 5 different agents moving up the chain so to speak ending with the Specialist on this matter. She is the one that provided the final letter.
 
Dec 2, 1997
8,709
- - LIttle Rock
I've been a USAA member for more than 40 years, and for all that time they've insured everything I own EXCEPT my boats! USAA has never even wanted to insure anything but ski boats, fishing boats, jet skis etc--and they do a very good job of that. But what you--or the owner of any boat big enough to have a cabin-- need is a YACHT insurance broker. I have no idea where Mulberry Cove is, but it doesn't matter...yacht insurance brokers aren't limited by geography. And the best one I know is Al Golden, IMIS (International Marine Insurance Services) in Md...they're independent agents who represent several of the best yacht insurance companies... I've known him and his son Gary for more than 20 years...give him a call: 800-541-4647 and tell him I said hi!
 
Oct 4, 2008
142
Hunter 36 Mulberry Cove Marina
Thank you. I have been a USAA member for 38 years and they did not hesitate to cover my Hunter 36 when I bought it 2005. I was confident in the reputation of USAA and notified them of the issue. To date I have not heard from them.
 
Jan 11, 2014
11,323
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Also a USAA insurance, banking, and investment customer and a very happy one at that. Find their service is good and fees low but they offer boat insurance, not yacht insurance. So, my boat is insured through BoatUS. Yacht insurance, especially offshore insurance, is a different kettle of fish than auto, home, and inland boating insurance.

Try BoatUS or Chubb yacht insurance. Yacht Insurance in the United States - Chubb Either company will know the yacht (not boat) insurance business.
 
Apr 8, 2010
1,942
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Having been only a lowly Third Class PO... it's a wonder that USAA insures my two vehicles at all. Now if only I were an actual "officer and a gentleman", who knows to what great insurance heights I might aspire to!
:)

Our boat insurance has long been with BoatUS. No claims ever, and hope for the best if and when anything happens... now that they have converted to lizard insurance.
 
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Oct 22, 2014
20,995
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Having been only a lowly Third Class PO
Was a USAA insured for 20 years. When my dad passed away, a charter officer, they were very helpful. When I learned they ignored my veteran status and then failed to respond when questioned I checked out alternatves. Found better prices and more coverage Car, home, rental, and Boat insurance with coverage out to 200 mile off shore for my sailboat. Farmers Insurance. Looking at alternatives can be positive.
 
May 24, 2004
7,129
CC 30 South Florida
They are automobile insurers and their marine expertise is in the trailerable runabouts. Get a Yacht insurer.
 
Oct 6, 2007
1,023
Hunter H30 1982 Chicago IL
Yes, I spoke with at least 5 different agents moving up the chain so to speak ending with the Specialist on this matter. She is the one that provided the final letter.
Rasselas36,

Now I understand your frustration. As has already been said, you need a company that specializes in insuring yachts; not small boats and everything else.

Boat U.S. was highly recommended to me by other boaters because they specialize in boat insurance. I've been with them for almost ten years now. No complaints, but then I haven't had any claims yet either....and really hope not to. Like others, I was a bit leary of the gecko moving in, but so far so good. I haven't seen any changes from that to date.

Let us know which company you decide to go with. My bet is that you'll end up with better coverage than you had or even knew you could get.
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,667
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
I've been with USAA since I got my license back around the time of the buggy-whip conversion. They simply can't be beat for auto, homeowners and banking too. However they will NEVER get my boats policy because they know nothing about insuring large vessels.

IMHO USAA teaming up with progressive was a joke and BIG mistake on the part of USAA. It really de-legitimizes the companies 100+ year track record. I used to have my motorcycle & antique cars insured with USAA, and I no longer do. They dropped bikes & subbed out antique autos. Bikes were subbed out to Progressive. PROGRESSIVE SUCKS and there is NO comparison between real USAA insurance and Progressive. Progressive is so bad it is not even laughable and it horrifies me to think USAA thought this was a good partnership..

I am hoping USAA does not continue down the path of weak partnerships but when you are simply the best at what you do everything else tends to suck....
 
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May 1, 2011
4,189
Pearson 37 Lusby MD
When I purchased my boat, USAA gave me a choice of Progressive or Markel America. I opted for Markel America as they represented the better value and seemed to understand boats. I've only had to use the insurance on two occasions for short tows back to my slip. Been with USAA since 1977.
 
Oct 4, 2008
142
Hunter 36 Mulberry Cove Marina
Maine Sail,
I could not have said it better. USAA is a fine company with a great reputation but Progressive tarnishing that reputation.
 
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Jun 8, 2004
10,024
-na -NA Anywhere USA
IF each of want to send me a personal email but be professional, then maybe a detailed professional letter from me to the CEO of USAA is in order. I have my insurance with them as a member of 40 plus years and I use to be an adjuster and then investigator for Liberty Mutual. I do not own a boat but have been concerened with Progressive for boat insurance as their policies do not address off shore or the larger boats. As for Lisa, I will leave that up to the ignorance or arrogance of Progressive. I learned how to address letters and even had the Commissioner of IRS send an apology letter along with one from GE. Will not go into the reasons but maybe it is worth a try if you want this to be addressed as USAA overall is a good company.
 

HMT2

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Mar 20, 2014
899
Hunter 31 828 Shoreacres, TX
We have Progressive Boat Insurance on our H 31. We sail mainly off the Gulf Coast and in Galveston Bay so the 75 mile limit is not a problem for us... yet. I will say that we have found the cost to be a good value and on the one occasion we had to file a claim it was handled quickly, efficiently and fairly. We were very pleased with the service. As a bonus the deductible was only $100 because of their disappearing deductible. I'm not trying to start an argument about Insurance, but I'm not shy about sharing negative experiences with companies I deal with so I believe I should share the positive ones as well.
 
Jan 11, 2014
11,323
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Looking back over the initial post, it appears that the OP was trying to buy something that USAA/Progressive doesn't sell. I can understand the frustration and inconvenience when a chosen vendor does not carry the product you want to buy, but it is the seller's choice about which products to sell. For what ever reason, USAA/Progressive does not see the large vessel and offshore market as one they want to be involved in. It may or may not be a wise choice. If they have looked at this market, they probably determined that it would not be profitable.
 
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Oct 4, 2008
142
Hunter 36 Mulberry Cove Marina
CD & DL, All I wanted was the coverage I was entitled and eligible for -- nothing more nothing less. The agents would not even attempt to explain the Progressive Coastal Navigation Coverage. I would love to get this information to the President of Progressive and USAA. Of course a letter from me would be handled like the hundreds of letters they received on a routine basis.
 
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