Prep the Motor and Haul in the Anchor: But Don’t Forget Your Boat Insurance

It’s that time of year that most boat owners start dusting off the motors, untangling the fishing line and replacing old or broken equipment. Preparing the boat for a new season can be time consuming and require a bit of an investment, but you don’t want to be stranded on the water the first time out this year. You prepare your boat because you enjoy the relaxation and entertainment of being on the lake, river or ocean. You also have boat insurance for when all of those careful preparations are just not enough.

According to the United States Coast Guard’s Office of Boating Safety:

• There were more than 4,500 boating accidents in 2012.
• More than 650 people were killed during that same year in boating accidents.
• About 3,000 people sustained non-fatal injuries stemming from boating accidents in 2012.
• There were slightly more than 3,000 property damage incidents resulting from boating accidents, costing more than $38 million in repairs.
• The average 2012 boating accident caused more than $12,600 in damage.

Whether you own a fishing boat, pontoon, speed boat or yacht, chances are your household has made a considerable investment in your watercraft. Not only do you want a boat insurance policy that protects your finances from liability claims, but you want a policy that can help you make swift repairs for your boat so it can quickly go back on the water. A comprehensive boat insurance policy should include:

• Liability coverage, which can help pay for treatment for others if you cause them injury, and also help pay for any property damage you may cause;
• Collision coverage, which can help pay for repairs to your damaged boat;
• And comprehensive coverage, which can help pay for repairs to your boat if it is damage by fire, severe weather, theft or vandalism.

Most insurance providers will also offer additional coverage options, such as wreckage recovery or spill clean-up coverage, as well as accessories coverage that can help protect fishing gear and other nautical equipment you may own and store in your boat.

When you contact our knowledgeable agents, they can help identify your boat insurance needs. We can also locate and compare several boat insurance policies from a variety of providers, ensuring the policy you purchase will offer the best coverage at the most affordable rates. Contact us you hit the water this year.