United Agencies Guide to Understanding Boat Insurance

When it comes to insuring your boat, it can be confusing and challenging, especially if you’ve never had boat or watercraft insurance before. In fact, new boat owners are often surprised to find out it might be better to separate their boat insurance from their homeowners’ policy, depending on their situation.  While there are some exceptions, some homeowners’ policies limit or don’t cover marine-specific risks such as salvage work, wreck removal, pollution or environmental damage.

Some homeowners’ policies do, in fact, include perfectly good coverage for smaller boats and motors, usually with a horsepower limit of from 25 to 100-horsepower. While homeowners’ riders are normally adequate for these boats, it is important to understand what happens if there is damage to your vessel and how any insurance claims would be paid.

Also, most homeowners’ insurance riders apply only to use in inland waterways, lakes and rivers. Coverage seldom extends outside a coastal inlet or along the beach! If you plan to boat outside the inlet, you definitely need an experienced marine insurer and United Agencies can help.

There are many facets to understanding boat insurance and we address important information such as insurance factors, types of insurance, details about your boat or craft, kinds of policies, types of coverage, discounts, and more.

Learn more about how we help insure boats and other watercraft. Visit our United Agencies Boat Insurance Guide, which is a helpful reference in understanding how boat insurance works.