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Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 7:03 am
by Mel85CJ
Hey all, I was wondering who everyone uses for insurance for their pontoon.

I just got our state farm agent to add our family's pontoon boat on there, but it just seems like it is pretty high.

They charge me $537 a year to insure the boat and the trailer - with the boat being valued at $12,000 and the trailer being valued at $2,000. The boat is only in the water from May-Sept. We have a 1985 24' Flotebote with a 2014 Yamaha 90hp 4 stroke ob on it (the value is really in the motor).

The tricky part about our boat is that it stays at our family's cottage, so a wide variety of people drive it throughout the summer.

Thanks
Melanie

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 7:39 am
by dbltrblpapa
I also have home and auto with State Farm but they are way high when it comes to toys. I have gone to Progressive for boat and motorcycle coverage. I haven't looked lately but when I originated the policy on my boat you could tailor the coverage for seasonal use.

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 7:55 am
by solidhadriel
When I purchased my boat, my dealer has ties to an insurance company that they refer their customers to 'Norman Spencer'. My brother however uses and recommends Boat US as they were the cheapest when he was shopping for his boat. I ended up getting a quote from Boat US and Norman Spencer, but ultimately went for Norman Spencer because of the extra perks I received thanks to my dealer.

For reference, I pay $357 annually for the following:

$33,000 for Boat & Equipment ($300 deductible)
$2,500 for Emergency Towing
$3,500 for Trailer ($250 deductible)
$300,000 protection & liability
$300,000 uninsured boaters
$939,000 Contamination Spill/Pollution

Boat US offered a very similar quote (coverage wise and cost wise), but not as many perks.

Hope this helps.

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 7:58 am
by ron nh
That's a terrible price. most use progressive or boat us. for me, progressive cost $144 a year on a $33,000 total value replacement for 12 month coverage. It is covered for everything, I made sure.

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 8:00 am
by Mel85CJ
Wow... that kicks ass compared to mine
I just looked at my declaration page
$12,000 for the boat
$1,000 for the trailer

$500 deductible
$300,000 watercraft liability
$1,000 watercraft medical (each person)

No mention about towing, uninsured boaters, contamination etc.

Thanks, I am going to check them out!

Melanie

solidhadriel wrote:When I purchased my boat, my dealer has ties to an insurance company that they refer their customers to 'Norman Spencer'. My brother however uses and recommends Boat US as they were the cheapest when he was shopping for his boat. I ended up getting a quote from Boat US and Norman Spencer, but ultimately went for Norman Spencer because of the extra perks I received thanks to my dealer.

For reference, I pay $357 annually for the following:

$33,000 for Boat & Equipment ($300 deductible)
$2,500 for Emergency Towing
$3,500 for Trailer ($250 deductible)
$300,000 protection & liability
$300,000 uninsured boaters
$939,000 Contamination Spill/Pollution

Boat US offered a very similar quote (coverage wise and cost wise), but not as many perks.

Hope this helps.

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 8:12 am
by solidhadriel
Just did a progressive quote, and it was $386 for the same set of options I currently have (max everything). So Boat US or Progressive would definitely be cheaper than your current insurance.

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 8:19 am
by ron nh
The other good thing about boat us is that most insurance companies call them for water towing, If you have them you're at the front of the line, if not, you're not.

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 8:40 am
by NonHyphenAmerican
$300 a year through American Family.

That's Boat, Motor, Trailer, Accessories, and a Balloon Liability Rider for $1 Million.

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 9:41 am
by robertm
I found SF, Progressive and Boat US are ridiculously high. Try Foremost. They ended up being less than half the cost of Boat US for the same coverage.

http://www.foremost.com/

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 10:24 am
by Adams7955
I have farmers and just purchased a 2016 Avalon 23ft with 115 Yamaha. My insurance is $300 a year

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 10:33 am
by Reiner
I use AAA for all my insurance.

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 10:40 am
by robertm
Looked up my coverage:

54k stated value boat/motor minus 1%
$750 towing
$1500 equipment minus $100
4k trailer minus $250
300k liab/ uninsured
$2000 med/person

Total was $277 with Foremost.

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 11:09 am
by FLOUNDERPOUNDER225
Check with Charter Lakes Ins. They have been far and above the best for my boating situation, they only do boat insurance, they killed the other policy I had with progressive on previous boats and quoting our new tri-toon, more coverage, less money. Worth a phone call: http://www.charterlakes.com/

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 1:48 pm
by OldePharte
Interesting spread.

My BoatUS is $283 for $40k boat & equipment, plus all the other goodies. Although I did notice that both the liability and med pay includes pet coverage.

There could be some cost differences for inland lake versus near shore.

Re: Insurance?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 2:24 pm
by ron nh
It also may be regionally different as well. I contacted progressive lately for an estimate on $55,000 value for boat and trailer, It was only going to jump to $198 a year. I wonder if they take into consideration other stuff that auto insurance does IE; credit rating and driving record?