Although not in the generally considered by the general public, boat insurance is more than likely the oldest type of insurance in the world. A boat, just like all vehicles is liable for an insurance policy, under the Marine Insurance Act. With car insurance plans there is usually an excess to deter people from claiming on small dents and scratches but with boat insurance the excess is considerably larger to avoid the same problem. So the major difference between boat insurance and car insurance is the amount of coverage a policy provides.

Almost all states make the standard boat insurance a requirement so it is important to abide by the law and obtain boat insurance as soon as you become a boat owner. Houseboats are a strange case because although they are not generally moved that are required to have an insurance policy which covers pleasure boats like cabin cruisers, sailboats and ski boats etc. A speedboat for instance, is capable of high speeds requires a much different type of insurance than a small fishing vessel would because of the potential liability for the insurance company that comes with a speedboat compared to a fishing boat.

Most boat insurance policies should cover your boat, the motor, and the trailer used to transport the boat, but Actual Cash Value boat insurance policies finance replacement costs, minus depreciation at the point of the loss. In the event of total damage, second-hand boat pricing directions and additional funds are used to decide the estimated market rate of the boat. If you require insurance to cover for additional situations like emergency services to your vessel, repairs, boat trailer and wreck removal for instance then it is possible to take out an Optional Insurance Cover. Partial damage repairs on the other hand are calculated by working out the full charge to restore the boat minus deductibles.

Jim Dawson West Marine Insurance...

A better boat insurance plan is the Agreed Value policy which is where both the vessel owner and the insurance company agree on a value for the boat and should it be written off, then this amount is paid out in full. Another benefit of Agreed value policies is that old items are replaced with new, irrespective of the value of the items being replaced. However, Agreed Value boat insurances policies require a cash value to be given on many onboard items such as sails, outboard motors, dinghies for instance and these will need to be agreed before the policy commences.

Most boat insurance policies can be broken down into two main areas; value of the property lost or damaged and that of liability. Liability insurance is there to cover against claims by another person that the insured vessel caused damage or injury to a third party. At an early stage it is worth trying to employ the services of an insurance agent who has experience and a reputation for locating the best boat insurance and settlements for his clients. Equally important when searching for a boat insurance policy is to have one with good legal backup should it be necessary as a liability claim that is covered under the boat insurance policy be brought against you.

Jim Dawson West Marine Insurance

Shopping for insurance.(boat-and-trailer insurance): An article from: Trailer Boats…

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