Boat Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
These are a few of the more common questions we get on boat insurance. If you have a question that isn’t listed, please chat online with us or call 1-800-236-2453.
I don’t use my boat often, do I really need boat insurance?
The best way to look at it is this: it only takes one incident to demonstrate your need for boat insurance. It may feel like you don’t need coverage if you only use your boat a few times a year, but in reality, each time you are on the water you are at risk of an accident. Since you can never tell when you may need insurance, it’s important to protect your boat – no matter how much or little you use it.
Plus, even if you aren't worried about covering your boat, you should (at the very least) have a liability only policy. This type of policy will protect your assets in the event that you are held liabile for bodily injury or damage to someone else or their property in an accident.
How much coverage do I need?
There isn't a good way to answer this question. Each boat, person, location and situation is different, so we can't really give you a "ballpark" figure for how much coverage you need. You need to evaluate your comfortable level of risk when protecting your boat, assets and passengers. Your best option is to call one of our boat insurance specialists at (800) 236-2453. They can walk you through the process of selecting a policy that is right for you.
Do I need to insure my boat in winter?
It may seem that since you’re not using your boat in the winter, you don’t need boat insurance. This is a risky way of looking at insurance, and one that we have seen cost far too many people far too much money. Just because you’re not on the water doesn’t mean you're not open to damages to your boat. Things can happen in storage that can end up costing a lot of money to repair. If you don’t have insurance in winter when your boat is in storage, you will not have any assistance in paying for the repairs. That’s why it’s so important to keep active insurance coverage on your boat year round.
How do I file a claim?
At Markel, we understand that no one wants to submit a claim, so we do everything we can to make the process as painless as possible. Simply submit your claim online or call us at (800) 236-2453, and we’ll take it from there!
Does it cost more if my kids water-ski?
No way! We know that is one of the main reasons people buy boats, so we’re certainly not going to charge you extra for it.
Do you cover pontoon boats?
We sure do. You can get a quote for your pontoon insurance right here.
What kind of fishing equipment is covered?
Your rods, reels and tackle are automatically covered under your personal effects coverage, up to the limits purchased. In the event that coverage isn’t sufficient, we also offer a replacement cost coverage option. Contact one of our specialists at (800) 236-2453 to find out more, or visit our fishing boat insurance page.
Do I have to wear a life jacket to be covered?
While we don’t require you to wear a life jacket in order to be covered, we strongly recommend it. We’ve seen far too many cases where, had the person been wearing a life jacket, they would have avoided serious injury or death. That’s why, even though we don’t require it, we encourage our customers to wear their life jackets every time they are on the water.