The Total Coverage Blog
The weather’s finally heating up after a long and drawn-out winter – and most everybody is in the mood to celebrate that fact. If you have a boat, chances are that means you’re getting her out of storage and hitting the lake, the bay, or even the ocean. That makes this spring the perfect time to discuss boating, jet ski, and other watercraft insurance.
The most common question we hear from boaters is: “Do I need boat or jet ski insurance?” While you don’t legally need it, you DEFINITELY SHOULD have boat insurance. We’re not just saying that because Unruh Insurance is an insurance agency, but because Unruh Insurance is owned by two boaters, Kent and Curt Unruh, both of whom have comprehensive boat insurance.
Kent Unruh keeps his boat at Raystown Lake, while Curt Unruh prefers taking his boat out on the Indian River every spring and summer. This makes Unruh Insurance double-qualified to answer all of your boat insurance questions.
Find out why you need boat or jet ski insurance as well as get the answers to your boat insurance FAQs.
From one boater to another, these FAQs should answer most things you need to know to enjoy your boat all spring and summer long – without putting yourself in major financial jeopardy.
Unlike car insurance, you aren’t legally required to have insurance for your boat, jet ski, or other watercraft insurance. However, it is an EXTREMELY good idea.
Boating insurance is recommended for two main reasons, both of which can save you thousands of dollars.
A lot of people don’t know this, but Pennsylvania requires persons born after 1982 to complete a brief boating safety course to be legal on the water. If you don’t complete the course, you can actually get fined.
Taking the course even if you aren’t legally required to can actually lower your boat insurance premiums.
While both types of insurance provide the all-important liability coverage, comprehensive boating insurance provides protection against a far greater number of sources for damage. When you have named-perils coverage, you get a list of damage that’s covered. On the other hand, when you have comprehensive coverage, you get a small list of incidents that aren’t covered – while everything else is.
Since comprehensive insurance is only incrementally more expensive yet much more inclusive, it is the best choice for serious boaters.
Right from the policy, named-perils coverage includes protection from the following sources:
Again, directly from the policy, our comprehensive boating insurance covers most losses except:
Basically, comprehensive coverage handles everything you can reasonably expect to encounter. For only a little extra money each month, it’s 100% worth it.
In a lot of ways, the process is very similar to how car insurance rates are calculated. The value of the boat is taken into account and so is the type of coverage requested.
Interestingly, your driving record on land also factors into your premium as well. The insurance companies figure that if you’re a safe driver, you’ll be a safe boater, too.
A lot of boaters assume their watercrafts are covered by their homeowners insurance policy – in most cases, they’re wrong.
Boats with 75 horsepower or less are covered for liability, but anything more than that and you need standalone boating insurance.
When towing your boat by car or truck, it is covered by your boat insurance policy in the event of damage, but the liability would be covered by your auto insurance.
At Unruh Insurance, we’re experts on all types of personal insurance – and boating, too. That makes us a fantastic resource when looking for boating insurance.
Contact us today to get your free boat insurance quote.