While boat insurance isn’t legally required in many states, it’s always important to maintain the coverage you need to protect your boat from losses. Your vessel likely represents a major investment worth protecting with a comprehensive policy. Boat coverage comes in many forms to protect you against physical damage to your boat and liability if you are involved in a boating accident. Boat coverage is an affordable way to guard against the risks you face while on the water.
What Does Boat Insurance Cover?
A boat policy comes with two basic forms of protection: liability coverage and physical damage coverage. With physical damage coverage, you are protected against damage to your boat due to common perils like fire, storm, theft, collision, sinking, capsizing, stranding, and explosion. A standard policy covers your boat hull, motor, boat equipment, and trailer.
Liability coverage protects you if your boat causes damage to someone else’s property or injuries. This includes damage caused by contact with your vessel or a situation caused by your vessel such as a large wake. Boat liability coverage protects you against lawsuits, judgments, and costly legal fees.
Optional Boat Coverage
Along with standard liability and physical damage coverage, you can customize a boat policy with additional forms of protection:
Watercraft medical payments coverage to pay for medical expenses if you or someone else on your boat is hurt in a collision
Emergency service to pay for towing, fuel delivery, and labor
Wreck removal
Repair cost to cover repairs on your boat, equipment, motor, or trailer
Uninsured watercraft coverage protects you if you are involved in a boating accident with an uninsured boater
Personal effects coverage protects personal belongings and fishing gear if they are lost, stolen, or damaged