Thursday, September 6, 2007
There is no right answer when someone asks which boat insurance company is the best. There are so many choices available that it is hard to determine the very best. It really all depends on what the specific needs of the person wanting to insure the boat are.
Facing the facts, there are pros and cons about every insurance company that you will deal with. After all, insurance companies are in business to make money, not to pay it out. This means that they will do anything in their power to not have to pay for claims, as this is the way they make money. If they do happen to pay for a claim then they will raise the rates on your insurance to help cover the loss or they will simply cancel the policy, whichever best suits their needs. For an insurance company to cancel a policy they have most likely determined that the policy is too much of a risk to continue to prevent any further claims. Having a policy cancelled can make it difficult to get insurance elsewhere.
BoatU.S. has been insuring boats, and only boats, since they opened in the late 1960's. They are said to offer some of the lowest rates and best coverage depending on the craft covered. Their web site offers free instant quotes.
National Marine Underwriters is another strictly boat insurance company. They offer insurance in the 48 contiguous states with some limited territory extensions from time to time. In business since 1983, they offer lower rates and comprehensive coverage for all risk factors.
Progressive Boat, a division of Progressive Auto is one of the cheaper boat insurance companies but they are said to not offer nearly as many services and less comprehensive coverage. They do offer free online instant quotes and their staff is said to be one of the most knowledgeable and friendly groups in the business.
American Boating Association is also an option in the boat insurance world. They offer competitive rates that are comparable to Progressive Boat but they are a little shy in the services area. Free instant online quotes are available. Quotes are also available by telephone but it you should expect a long wait on the line. Their staff is professional and friendly.
To determine the best boat insurance for you then go to a site that offers multiple quotes from several different insurance companies. This will provide you with the best basic information about several companies at the same time which will save you time versus calling all the individual insurance companies.
Many sites offer guaranteed rates if you accept one of the quotes they provide but this is not a widely accepted practice. Keep in mind that insurance companies are not necessarily bound to a quote they provide. Insurance companies will want to verify all information provided to them before making a policy available for purchase. This is required to protect against insurance fraud, which is quite commonplace in this world sadly enough.
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How can I get a lower boat insurance rate?
Many people believe that it is best to stick with one insurance company for all of your insurance needs. This can be true in certain instances but not always, which can be especially true for boat insurance.
To get the best rates you will need to do some research and maybe a few other things as well. Knowing the most about insurance and what factors are used to determine an insurance rate is the best way to get the lowest rates possible. There are predatory insurance agents in this world that thrive on ignorance to get people to accept policies that are too inclusive for their needs thereby increasing their commission. This is not an accepted practice by insurance companies but it does happen. Only through education will you be truly protected from such happenings.
First off you should think about taking a boater safety course. Insurance companies will offer discounts to those who complete these courses. This works to protect you and the insurance company. The insurance company knows that people who complete such courses become safer operators of boats thereby decreasing the risk of accident due to the operator's error and causing loss for the insurance company. Even if they did not offer a discount a boating safety course is still a good idea especially for the new and inexperienced boater. You never know when something might occur that may require quick thinking.
Secondly you should contact your current insurance company that covers your home and car. Most times these companies will offer deep discounts when insuring other items such as boats. Call or go online and get a quote but do not accept any policy just yet. There is still much to do.
Use the quote you received from your normal insurance company as the base rate then start calling other companies. Tell them up front exactly what your needs are and get the rock bottom quote from them. Continue to do this until you have exhausted all possibilities. Then sit down and compare all of the quotes. It is not necessarily true that the lowest quote will be the best. Some companies offer extremely low rates but coupled with low coverage amounts and services. This may cost you in the long run especially if you need to file a claim and find out that the problem is not covered.
Do not be afraid to ask for a quote that covers all of your insurance needs and not just your boat. You may find that you will save lots and lots of money if you offer to bring all of your business to the company instead of just one thing.
If you are pressed for time you can always go through a multiple covering insurance agency. They will be able to get quotes from several different companies a lot faster than you can. Be sure that the agent is someone that you know you can trust. If not there is the possibility that you will not get the information that you need and only the highest quotes will be given to you in hopes of boosting a commission.
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Charter boat insurance basics
Maritime law broadly defines the responsibility of charterboat operator as being responsible for all damages resulting from "negligence". This all-encompassing definition leaves the operator exposed to the possibility of costly and endless court cases.
This why the value of selecting a charterboat insurance policy which protects your legal rights, property and that ensures damages to your boat are reimbursed, can not be underestimated.
How can you identify which components should be in your policy? First, identify all your business activities and the risks involved in operating your charterboat business. This information will help you decide the types of components, the range, and amount of coverage needed.
Hull and Machinery Clause
This refers to the coverage of the vessel, and all its' parts. Its' main purpose is to quickly get your business and boat operational after accidents. If you afford to pick a policy, which covers the following damages your charterboat, can sustain:
· Combustion, sinking or collision of your boat.
· Deck machinery, boat engines, and electronics.
· Coverage for an engine that breaks.
However, the following are not included in the hull and machinery component: Damage to your engine due to inappropriate use or neglect, wear due to every day use of the boat or reimbursements because your engine broke down.
Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Clauses
These clauses enable you to pay passengers and other people who could have suffered personal injuries or property damage caused by your vessel.
The basic clauses you should consider are the following:
Coverage limit
How much is your business worth? A wise agent will tell you, the best coverage limit is one that you can get. It does make sense since marine P&I policy covers you on a per incident basis, not for each person.
Shore excursion
If your insurance policy doesn't have this clause, your passengers are not insured once they get off your boat.
Crew coverage
You must pay coverage for each crewmember, or you will be liable for the uninsured crewmembers' injuries in the performance of their duties.
Passenger medical payments
A good clause to have, for you're protected from irate passengers who even if they have suffered minor injuries, will file for big damages.
Personal effects
The loss of clothes, fishing equipment or cameras might seem a minor inconvenience, but not to the passenger who suffered the loss. This clause ensures that you are properly covered and your passenger's leave happy.
However, talk to your agent so that you know what items are covered in the personal effects clause and if these are appropriate to include.
Remember, the right charterboat insurance policy for you is one that insures both your boat and charterboat business.
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