Liability Insurance

[Fly Rod]

The Coast Guard is proposing to exspand the number of conditions that a state may require owners of undocumented vessels [boats] to comply with when applying for vessel number certificates from the state.<br />Current federal laws and regulations limit conditions to proof of ownership and/or payment of state or local taxes. The proposed rule , however would allow states to additionally require proof of liability insurance as a condition for obtaining vessel number certificates[numbers on your bow]<br /><br />According to boat u s Akansas recently became the first state to mandate liability insurance. Arkansas's liability requirement applies to personal watercraft and all boats with 50hp engines or greater.<br />States that don't conform will probably lose federal boating safty funds if this becomes law.<br />The Coast Guard is seeking comments on this rule before April 13th. For info contact Audrey Pickup 202-267-1077 or e-mail apickup@comdt.uscg.mil

 

[rolmops]

Re: Liability Insurance

Hello Flyrod.<br />I just read your post and got to think about it a bit.<br />Last year in Rochester a drunk boater ran his speedboat into a pier and killed both himself and two other people.I am sure he is not the only drunk in a boat. I would feel a bit safer if I new that my family would be provided for, just in case a drunk would decide to take a shortcut through me. <br />So yes, liability insurance on a powerful boat seems a good idea.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Liability Insurance

Good evening Rolmops !!! <br />How ya doing???<br />I have a million bucks worth of liability.<br />Yup! I think you are right about allot of drunks on the water.<br />You can go down to the town landing on a weekend and watch the drunks trying to put there boats on the trailer. Should take the movie camera and then send the film to "The funniest movie show"<br />In Arkansa they are only requireing $50,000.00 Not much to leave a widow or mistress with kids!!!

 

[neumanns]

Re: Liability Insurance

Kinda a Double bladed sword,...Cuts both ways.<br /><br />I carry insurance also, but I'll admit not sure I want it legislated. Wouldn't mind knowing that yahoo over there being a moran had coverage also.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Liability Insurance

Is there no law that brings Drunks etc to Court should they be caught. <br />Here we must be licienced to use any boat with over a 6hp motor, and the boat licience is an endorsement of your car drivers licience. The two are the same.<br />The water Police or any other constable of the law can bag you for breaches of the boat code just like if you were driving a car. That includes, should they suspect you of drinking, you get to blow in the breath-a-lizer, and if you are over, that's it pal, you loose your licience for both boat and car, plus the fine and all else<br />Boats and grog don't mix.<br />For me 3rd Party Public Liability Insurance is included in the Boat Insurance for $5m.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Liability Insurance

Thanks for the reminder, I need to pay my boat insurance!

 

[Link]

Re: Liability Insurance

Had to think about this for a moment. The idea of not having insurance never accured to me before. But here in WA they don't require proof of it to license your boat so I suppose you would not have to buy it?? <br /><br />neumanns <br />

Kinda a Double bladed sword,...Cuts both ways.<br />I carry insurance also, but I'll admit not sure I want it legislated. Wouldn't mind knowing that yahoo over there being a moran had coverage also.

Guess I kinda agree with neumanns on this.<br />Right now there in only one company in my area that will insure my boat so I've always just paid the bill when it came in.<br />(14 FT river sled with 90 HP pump)<br />Like LubeDude thanks for the reminder... been meaning to stop by to see what replacement insurance would cost. When I do I'll check if it is also liability insurance.

 

[Toad2001]

Re: Liability Insurance

I carry 2MM liability, and feel liability should be mandatory (boat size/power within reason). I think what you'll find though, and I could be wrong, is that my coverage would be void if I were drunk (you'd sue me not my insurance co., for damages in that case). Thats why you need insurance to protect yourself from uninsured boaters, which is usually included in a comprehensive plan.<br />At least thats the way it works where I live.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Liability Insurance

rolmops, Just because there is a law that would mandate insurance, it most likely would not be enough coverage to be meaningful, just like the minimun mandated auto insurance now. SO you better carry your own insurance if you want your family to be taken care of. Don't forget to get underinsured and uninsured boater insurance too. And what makes you think an irresponsible boater would have insurance. Its just another source of income for the insurance companies and the lawyers. You know those personal injury lawyers can't collect their hard earned 33.333333% if the loser has no money. Next they will be mandating airbags in our boats.

 

[Bigfun]

Re: Liability Insurance

Bydriving/riding in a car you should accept the risks involved same with a boat same with getting out of bed. More laws equal less freedom, take cars for example, seatbelt laws, phone laws, speed laws, car constrution regulation. The last thing we need is for the insurance, attorney, and govt. pinheads to have another reason to jump in bed together, and guess who gets skrewed? And if you can afford boat liability insurance you certainly can afford a good life insurance policy.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Liability Insurance

If liability insurance for boats does become mandatory how would it get inforced.<br /><br />Scenerio: You go to your boat insurance company,you ask for liability insurance you give them a payment on amount owed, insurance company gives you policy, you take that to where you register your boat, you get your registration. Insurance co. sends you monthly bill, you don't pay,"cancelled" now you are uninsured and still operating on the water.<br />I don't know about in other states but there are 300,000 uninsured motorist in Mass. because of the above scenerio. The only way that you get caught is if you are pulled over for a violation.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Liability Insurance

Right now I am thinking a mandatory safty course for all operators would be more appropriate along with increasing peanalty's for mishaps. Just seems to me liability would not address there underlying motives. Provided there course was acessable and not to overbearing,...(I think I should head for cover now)

 

[NathanY]

Re: Liability Insurance

I live in Arkansas, as all of you know, and the boat insurance thing is really no big deal here, to me atleast. On my 16ft Starcraft, 65hp Merc, for state minimum liability, I pay $69 a year. I only use the state minimum because the lake I fish is an idle only lake, and I have idled into plenty of docks and hve not hurt the boat.<br /><br />If, however, I was going to fish the big lake, I would get the better insurance and it would still only cost me 150 per year, and that covers everything, even theft.

 

[ChrisMcLaughlin]

Re: Liability Insurance

Flyrod,<br />Ditto here in Florida. It just chapps my a** that I have to carry uninsured motorist to cover me against these fools.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Liability Insurance

Where can I get uninsured boater insurance to cover me if I am hit by a boat while I am swimming in the lake? I can't. So therefore, all boats should be banned.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Liability Insurance

I really hate to have the government mandate anything. But after watching about 1500 PWC act like idiots, and the potential serious danger that comes with overcrowded lakes and rivers, and the "I got money, I got a big boat, get out of my way mentality that is growing on the waterways today, I do have some concerns.<br /><br />I carry a 2M (personal umbrella) liability, and everything I could think of through boatUS. Enviromental cleanups of an accidents can cost huge $$. And it doesn't have to be your fault. I couldn't get a straight answer out of allstate on what they would cover.<br /><br />I consider it just good judgement to be properly insured. Like everyone, I am prone to the occasional boner and don't want to compound my problems by not being prepared. I have never filed a claim, but that isn't why I carry it.<br /><br />I would consider it irresponsible not to have it. JMHO

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Liability Insurance

Trblshtr!!

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Liability Insurance

Trblshtr!!<br /><br />I know what your saying!!!The uninsured is in my cost of a thou for insurance.<br />That's part of the cost of going boating!!!!

 

[Link]

Re: Liability Insurance

Well I called the insurance company today. Allstate in my case. It covers liability, Medical (but not enough) Comp and Collision and they will cover for replacement cost of the boat if it sank. But that will be a extra charge. When I'm finished with the boat, they said to bring it down and they will take pictures then contact the manufacture to get a replacement cost. The total cost will still be under a hundred a year. Small price to pay IMO. Been meaning to call them for years. See good things do come out of this iboats forum I also have additional coverage for the boat through our Auto and home insurance. Now I need to get back to work to pay for it <br /><br />Link

 

[steam_mill]

Re: Liability Insurance

Here in Canada, there are no mandatory insurance regulations for boating insurance. We do mandate that all operators born in 1983 or later and those operators that operate any motorized vessel under 12 ft (to get the PWC operators) must have an operators card. Yes this means I need a license for my 12 ft tin boat with a 50 year old 7.5 on the back but don't need a license (until 2009) for my 90 hp 16 ft bowrider.<br /><br />I have insurance, both theft/comprehensive and libaility for my bowrider.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />If I hit someone/something I don't want to be on the hook for damager. When I had a 30 year old boat I carried only libility for the same reason. I can't afford to be sued and pay out 1 million dollars.<br /><br />For this reason, I think that boat insurance should be mandatory. I would be pissed if a crazy PWC operator nailed by dock/head/dog etc. and did not have insurance.<br /><br />Just my thoughts....<br /><br />Joe