Ok guys being a new boat owner has got me really thinking about insurance on old blue.Honestly would like to stay away but am up in the air.But here is the bigger question do I insure my rods reels and tackle along with my humming bird and all those things is it needed ?
Even if the boat isn’t worth much you really should have liability insurance no matter what. You hit someone or have an accident you could be on the hook financially for years without insurance.
I would at least have liability? Wouldn’t leave my house without that.
Get it!
FDR
Even if the boat isn’t worth much you really should have liability insurance no matter what.
x1,000
Check out progressive. They give you an agreed value on your boat and everything in it. The premium isn’t bad. The only thing I don’t know about is how good the coverage is, I hope I never have to find out.
Its all in the risk/reward. You can easily go without and reap the benefits of putting < $200 a year in your pocket. If you continue to pay yourself and save the money for 10 years, you’ll have an outstanding pile of cash – a whopping 2K.
BUT, if you hit a log on Pepin and roll your boat or take the hull out – your out your boat, possible the engine, loss of gear, electronics, and liable for personal injury for any passangers.
Just an example I went through a number of years ago. Boat insurance was about $180/year with the extra riders for additional equipment, electronics, trolling motor, AND an extra rider for REPAIR costs. My Dyna Trak bass boat is no longer made. With the rarity of finding them, we added this $8.00 rider to cover repairs over replacement costs. Well, I stopped to eat on the way home from the miss and my boat was rear ended in the parking lot (hit and run). Never found the SOB that hit me and I had to claim on my insurance. Lower unit and it busted the glass on the gussets along with gel coat cracks. 2K lower unit, $4,800 in fiberglass repair, and another 500 in prop repair and misc. Paid my deductible and had a check within 4 days of the claim. I had a loaner while my boat was worked on and I only lost about 3 or 4 days between getting quotes, drop off and pick up. At less than $20/month a year, boat insurance is probably one of the most reasonable coverages you can have.
Additionally, when you look at your equipment – rods/reels, electronics, and so on, many think that their homeowners or renters insurance will cover. Those policies have strict limits and circumstances and often don’t come close to what you need. Example -All your rods are stolen out of your boat while you go in to pay for gas at the gas station – A renters or home owners may only cover up to 2k….or not cover at all. You need to ask very specific questions about “what ifs” to an Insurance agent to make sure you are buying what you think you are.
Randy, who do you insure through? I’m paying close to double what you are.
Justin Schneider Insurance.
651-253-6847
Excellent tourney fisherman and knows his shtuff about boating insurance.
I know many folks here on Ido use him including the host of a well known TV show.
I wouldn’t overthink this. Adding basic coverage for a modest fishing boat adds very little to your overall insurance bill. Call your current agent to get a price quote. I think my last fishing aluminum fishing boat added $80 a year to my overall insurance.
A good insurance agent is worth his/her weight in gold. I’ve already head two horror stories from people who bought quickie/slickie insurance policies on the interweb from GenericInsurance cheapie websites and then got hosed when they needed to use it.
The central problem with insurance is that when you NEED it, you REALLY need it!
Grouse
Lots of good advice(as always) As bad as would be to lose your boat and tackle the big thing is if you were in an accident on the water and seriously injured someone.
I wouldn’t even think twice about it, you should make a couple calls and have it by weeks end.
Take BK’s advice and call Justin.
A local guide literally just signed the check with Justin. Lost his lower end. Local guide said it was hassle free.
Local Cat Guide lost $1k in camera equipment. For the heck of it called Justin. It was covered!
Justin’s been around insurance and fishing for well, I don’t remember how long. He’s a straight shooter and if he can’t help you he’ll say so.
Might get the feeling I strongly support Justin. 
I paid for the year already, so next March i’ll hit up justin.
Feel free to give me a call Gabriel, I would be happy to assist.
In regards to the personal property coverage for your rods, reels, tackle and electronics, I currently have an endorsement available with one particular insurance carrier which grants us Personal Property coverage “Off-Premises”. This means that in the event you take your rods, reels, tackle or electronics out of the boat and bring them into a hotel room, garage or vehicle in an effort to further safeguard those possessions from a further loss, these possessions would still be covered in the event of a claim such as a theft (provided signs of forced entry were present). This is a nice endorsement for those looking for additional coverage for their fishing equipment.
Justin, are you an insurance broker?
Randy, who do you insure through? I’m paying close to double what you are.
This is my personal policy, NOT my business policy.
I am with American Family only because of great history with them and I have an agent that works as equally hard as Justin.
FYI – Justin bid all my insurance coverages that last time that I did my own review. Believe me, I was a ROYAL PAIN IN THE 
customer. I had about 6 pages of questions and fine combed through every stinking detail to make sure I wasn’t getting a low ball BS policy compared to what I wanted.
Besides my existing agent, Justin was the ONLY insurance rep that followed through on making sure he had equal or above coverage. Anything that was different (and there was a number of things) was highlighted and explained to my satisfaction. All the other reps I talked to were worthless. Low-ball $$ lacking the coverages I asked for. I had a very difficult time in making a decision and it was Justin that suggested I stay with AmFam since I had such a long term relationship and the dollars were nearly pennies apart.
To me, that spoke volumes to his character and I recommend him to anyone that needs an insurance review.
I looked up my policy on the old gal’
POLICY ISSUED BY: AMERICAN FAMILY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
BOAT 1
1991 EBBTIDE
BOAT MOTOR 1 1991 YAMAHA MOTOR 150HP
MOTOR 2 2006 MINNKOTA MAXXUM 70
SECTION I
COVERAGE LIMITS
BOAT 1
Actual Cash Value
MOTOR 1 Actual Cash Value
MOTOR 2
Actual Cash Value
Deductible Amount $250
SECTION
II
COVERAGES
Watercraft
Liability
Coverage
500,000
Medical
Expense
Coverage
1,000
ADDITIONAL
ENDORSEMENTS
WI
Amendatory
Boatowners
End.
(End.
418
(BO)
Ed.
6/00)
Personal
Effects
Coverage
Endorsement
(End.
485
Ed.
6/00)
6,000
Repair
Cost
Endorsement
(End.
486
Ed.
6/00)
Addl
Aggregate
Boating
Equipment
Cov.
(End.
507
Ed.
6/00)
6,000
Addl
Per
Item
Boating
Equipment
Cov.
(End.
507
Ed.
6/00)
3,000
TOTAL
PREMIUM 185.00
Justin, are you an insurance broker?
Yes Brian I am a broker so I work with numerous different insurance carriers. Although we have about a dozen markets available for boat insurance, I find that 3 of my carriers get the majority of our clients business due to the increased coverage options and claims service that they provide.
I’ll email you some numbers….I/m thinking about switching.
Justin handles my family and business insurance needs from start to finish and I’ve got nothing but fantastic things to say about the service he provides. More than simply selling me a policy he’s always looking for more comprehensive policies, lower rates and custom solutions that most other agents pass off as being not worth the hassle.
Right now I think Justin is handling my families home owner’s insurance, personal liability umbrella, life insurance and auto. On the business side of things I have worker’s comp, general liability, equipment coverage, fishing boat AND movie boat policies in place and he’s been a huge help with finding great custom solutions to our unique needs.
So yeah, I’d recommend him.
I paid for the year already, so next March i’ll hit up justin.
If you know you need to make the move, it may be better to cancel your current policy and take care of the issue now rather than risking your possessions and/or sacrificing coverage for the next 8 months. A potential gap in coverage could turn a good financial situation into a bad one without warning. Any unearned premium for the remainder of your policy period would be refunded to you (approximately 2/3 of what you paid). I’ll bet it won’t take more than an hour out of your schedule.
After all, you wouldn’t rely on a life insurance agent to insure a valuable classic car — Don’t rely on your home/auto agent to correctly insure a valuable boat and the possessions inside. This is NOT something you want to learn the hard way. Give Justin a call
$.02
LOL! Justin is your head big enough? No? OK then…
Two years ago I asked Justin a question about insurance. He came back with the same policy about $30 or so $ less expensive.
Price was not my question!
LOL! Justin is your head big enough? No?
LOL!
I sincerely appreciate the kind words and recommendations from all of you guys. I take a lot of pride in the products & services I offer and to see this level of support is humbling to say the least.
I THINK i’m good and covered for the year.
My insurance broker couldn’t answer a lot of the detailed questions i had though; so i may be ignorantly satisfied with my coverage.
I have the “deep water pro” package + extras from Allied.
I recently added coverage to my new (to me) boat after never having it on my old boats. It isn’t the boat I am worried about with the coverage, but my ass. $75.00/yr for liability for injury/damage seems like a good deal to me.
I THINK i’m good and covered for the year.
My insurance broker couldn’t answer a lot of the detailed questions i had though; so i may be ignorantly satisfied with my coverage.
I have the “deep water pro” package + extras from Allied.
I wouldn’t bank my financial future or a new boat out of pocket on ” I ‘think’ I am covered.”
Don’t take this the wrong way — You pay your agent enough $$ every year that “think” should be removed from your insurance vocabulary. A good agent will spend the extra time to show you exactly where your $$ is going to minimize your out of pocket costs. Get your policy looked at.
I would recommend justin also. Moved this spring and I think it was all of 2 emails effort on my end and he got everything switched over for us (home, auto and boat). He has always been able to explain any questions I had in terms that are understandable which is nice too. The boat coverage goes a long way, if I break it down I think it’s like 12 bucks a month on a 01 pro sport 1600. Heck I’m going to spend more than that to cross the river and(try to) shoot a deer in mn this fall.
Email sent, Justin.
Basic liability on my basic rig. Less than 100 a year through my allstate guy with all home and car insurance for multi policy discount
Check out progressive. They give you an agreed value on your boat and everything in it. The premium isn’t bad. The only thing I don’t know about is how good the coverage is, I hope I never have to find out.
I have Progressive on the boat adn my gear adn unfortunately had to file a claim. It was probably the most pleasant experience I have had with an insurance company. I actually got more money that I put in a claim for, they added the sales tax on the amount I lost.
I am really happy with them for all my insurance because of that experience.
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