Boat Insurance

Our boat insurance policies take into account a number of factors including the size, value and use of your craft. 

Boat insurance is designed to protect your vessel, other craft and those on your boat. This can include cover against financial loss in the form of damage to your boat, a third-party claim against you from another boat owner for damage caused to their craft, or in the worst case, injury or fatality to you or one of your passengers.

Levels of cover that can be added include wide-ranging cover and third-party liability. Wide-ranging cover protects your boat if it suffers fire, theft, vandalism or accidental damage, while third-party liability provides financial protection if you have an accident involving another vessel. It compensates for any damage or injury incurred by that third party.

Our boat cover can be tailored to suit your needs, depending on the type of craft you have and what you will be using it for. Accidental damage is available across our policies to protect you from bumps and scrapes.

Boat insurance is designed to cover physical damage to equipment including the hull, sails, machinery, furnishings, on-board equipment and trailer. To ensure you purchase the policy that suits you and your boat best, verify the most expensive parts of your vessel and ensure that not only does the boat insurance policy you are taking out offer cover for damage to them, but also that you are aware of what deductions you will be faced with if you claim.

Standard boat insurance policies normally include:

• Accidental damage, including fire, theft and malicious damage, sinking, stranding, collisions and salvage costs

• Damage to the engines

• Damage caused while your boat is being transported (though there may be length limits, so always check your policy)

• Damage caused during lifting and launching

• Damage to or loss of your boat due to latent defects

• Damage caused by frost

• Cover for personal items

Most policies also offer flexibility in terms of boat management, allowing anyone else to which you have granted permission to sail your boat to remain covered by your boat insurance. However, some polices do state that cover is void if your vessel is chartered, so if you are keen to do this, check whether this is acceptable.

As usual, all policies will vary, so ensure you choose the right one for your particular needs.

Although boat insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK, evidence of third party insurance is compulsory at most marinas, harbours and in recognised mooring areas. If you’re considering investing thousands of pounds in a boat, you’ll no doubt want to make sure you’ve got the right insurance cover in place to protect it.

Boat insurance isn’t a legal requirement on all waterways, but the high value of boats themselves and the potential for injury make it a risk not to have it. Additionally, many marinas require a minimum of third-party cover if you’d like to use their facilities.

If you are towing your new boat by to its mooring location by road, you should also ensure you take out your boat insurance beforehand. Any previous owners’ cover does not extend to you, and although your car insurance may cover your boat while on the journey, there are often restrictions depending on the length of your boat.

If you’re a new boat owner, it’s a good idea to seek some training. Reputable insurers like you to show you’ve reached a certain level of competence, either gained through years of experience, or following completion of a course, such as from the Royal Yachting Association.

The level of coverage you need will depends on a number of factors, particularly how and where you are intending to use your boat. Should you use your craft for more particular or competitive purposes, such as racing, you can add specialist cover to your policy for greater peace of mind and increased protection.

Our boat insurance policies cover a variety of different risks, depending on the type of craft you have, its age and size, and how and where you use it. Therefore, it’s difficult to give an average cost.

Please see the page for your specific craft from the list to find more details:

• Canal and narrowboat
• Canoe and kayak
• Dinghy
• Jet ski
• Motor boat
• Paddle board and windsurf
• RIB
• Rowing scull
• Small boat
• Yacht

Watch our guide to the types of motor craft we can insure, to help you understand what is the right cover for you.

Find out the precautions to take to ensure you stay safe when using gas on your yacht.

Once it reaches 30 years of age, we will need to see a survey detailing the condition of your narrowboat. This can coincide with your BSS certification. Thereafter, you will need to provide us with a survey every five years going forward. If this is not provided to us prior to renewal, we will be unable to provide you with a renewal quotation. 

It is always recommended that you check your policy documents for a comprehensive list of exclusions but typically boat insurance does not include cover for:

• Wear and tear
• Deliberate acts of negligence or recklessness
• Operating a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Individuals not wearing ‘kill-cords’ on crafts which require them, such as jet skis