BayCoast Insurance is proud to provide exceptional service and solutions to our neighbors right here on the South Coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We have more than 20 years of experience in the ever-changing insurance industry, and our clients trust us to help them determine the policy coverages that are Just Right® for their lifestyle.
This includes boat insurance .
To help ensure smooth sailing, it’s important for boat owners to understand what boat insurance is and what a standard policy offers. For more on that, let’s learn about the coverages you may expect to find in a typical boat insurance policy.
4 Common Coverages Found in a Boat Insurance Policy
Liability
Consider this: If you cause a boat-on-boat, boat-on-rock, or boat-on-dock accident, you are likely to be held accountable for the medical expenses of anyone injured in the crash, including your boat’s passengers, as well as any accidental damages to someone else’s boat, dock, or other property. It is the liability portion of your boat insurance coverage that may help you pay for the accident-related pain and suffering of others, the repair costs of other people’s property, and your legal defense fees in case you are sued. In addition, if your boat spills gas or oil because of the accident, liability coverage may help you take care of the costs necessary for the cleanup, up to the limits of liability in your policy.
Collision and Comprehensive for Boat, Motor, and Trailer
According to the United States Coast Guard, grounding is the fourth most common type of boating accident. It is also a situation that can significantly damage your boat. You’ll have to pay for the repairs out of your own pocket unless you have collision coverage. This part of a standard boat insurance policy usually covers any damage to your boat, motor, trolling motor, trailer, and permanent and portable boating equipment if you collide with another watercraft or object, regardless of who is at fault.
Another leading cause of boat losses is fire. Whether a fire on your boat originates from your vessel’s electrical system, a neighboring boat that went up in flames, or a fire in the storage facility where your boat is kept, the comprehensive coverage in a standard boat insurance policy is designed to help you repair or replace your boat. In addition, this coverage may help you pay for damages to your boat caused by theft, vandalism, or extreme weather.
Medical Payments
Consider this scenario: You’re out on the water and your boat experiences a jolt when it slams against the swells, tossing your passengers around the vessel. Now, a few of them need medical attention. If you had to pay for this medical care out of your own pocket, you could be looking at tens of thousands of dollars in expenses. However, if you have boat insurance, which includes medical payments coverage, you will likely get some help paying for their hospital bills, ambulance rides, X-rays, and more. This coverage typically applies regardless of whether your passengers injure themselves when on, boarding, or leaving your boat.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Unfortunately, there are many boaters out on the water who lack the experience and focus on safety that you have. If a novice rams into your vessel while you’re out on the water with family and friends and they haven’t invested in boat insurance (or have minimal coverage), who will pay if your passengers sustain injuries? When you have boat insurance, your carrier typically will come to the rescue in this scenario and medical expenses for those injured in the accident should be covered by the uninsured/underinsured motorist portion of your boat insurance policy. This coverage also typically applies if your boat is involved in a hit-and-run and you have no information about the person who caused the crash.
Whether your favorite boating pastime is sailing around Mount Hope Bay or you prefer spending the day fishing out on South Watuppa Pond, we hope this information is a gentle reminder that the joys of boating do come with risks. From electrical fires and groundings to vandalism and boating collisions, there are many incidents that can disrupt your boating plans for a long time if you do not have the financial protection that boat insurance offers.
If you’d like to learn more about boat insurance , the team at BayCoast Insurance is ready to help you. Contact us today at 508-491-3100. We’ll work with you to tailor a boat insurance policy that will help protect you and your watercraft so you can enjoy your time out on the water.
