Tag: marina

Categories
Insure My Boat

Does the Mooring Have an Impact on the Insurance Rate?

Location and type of mooring can have a significant impact on the risks a motor-driven or sailing yacht faces.

Boat Mooring Rope

Plus, the moorings can have an influence on the insurance rates quoted by underwriters. Most insurance policies provide coverage while the watercraft is afloat in use and laid-up on moorings, including launching and hauling.

Different moorings can make a noticeable difference in the price, terms, conditions, and limitations imposed by the insurance company.

Here are four of the common mooring options for vessels:

Marina berth

A safe and reliable mooring is in the marina berth, but this is the most in demand option up and down the country; therefore expect higher costs and longer waiting lists. Plus, having a boat moored in a marina berth 12 months of the year gives more freedom in use. Other types of moorings can limit the usable time in the water.

Also, other benefits might apply for the insurance policy, such as no loss of no claims bonus should an accident of loss take place while the vessel is moored up in the home marine berth.

Dry sailing

Dry sailing is a practical choice for many types of dinghies and similar small sized vessels. Storing the boat on dry land is certain to protect against the difficult conditions on the water, but there are greater risks of theft and/or vandalism. For this reason it is essential to put in place the proper security measures to ensure the craft is safe throughout this time. Certain types of crafts, such as 12-18-ft speed boats or similar will need to be locked in secure premises when not in use — but the specific requirements will be noted on the insurance schedule.

Swinging mooring

The exact location of this type of mooring is certain to have an impact on whether or not it is acceptable to leave the vessel in the water year-round. Certain regions will have restrictions in place to lift ashore or moor elsewhere for the most difficult months. A swinging mooring should be laid to a professional standard, properly maintained, and regularly inspected. Plus, the company involved in inspecting the mooring should have enough professional indemnity coverage in place. The use of a chain or rope strop will vary with the location and exposure of the mooring.

Laid up

A lay-up period is often stipulated in the policy schedule for those vessels moored in the more exposed waters. This is intended to protect the vessel from the worst of the winter condition. Alternatively, a vessel can be moved to a more secure mooring (afloat) throughout the winter, such as a protected marina or boatyard.

Mooring Covers

Give a vessel laid-up on moorings extra protection by using purpose-made mooring covers. A high-quality cover for the docked boat is certain to provide reliable protection against constant sun, rain, or wind exposure. A preferred type of material is cotton or cotton poly blend which has the ability to keep moisture out because of its breathable properties. Plus, storage and trailable covers are also available to match the specific needs.

Categories
Boat & PWC Rental

8 Helpful Tips for Boat Rental

Boat rental can offer a variety of benefits: fun and adventure on the water without the cost of maintenance, docking/storage fees, monthly loans, etc. Plus, it might not be necessary to tow the vessel to the launch site.

Boat Rental

Renting a boat gives the perfect option to try out a different lake or type or class of vessel at minimal expense. The rates to book a preferred type of boat for a daily or longer outing is significantly less than the ongoing costs of ownership. A multi day rental is usually a quite cost-effective option.

Below are eight tips to help with hiring the next rental boat:

Why choose that rental company

Any well established boating destination or lake is certain to have several boat rental companies offering a choice of boats for hire. Just conduct a search using the phrase ‘boat rentals’ and add on the preferred region or lake. A large marina might be worth investigating to see if it has a choice of boats to rent out for several days.

Decide on the type and class of vessel

Rental boats will closely relate to the local waterways and experienced gained. A fishing boat is great for the major fishing sites, a pontoon or deck boat is perfect for larger groups or parties, and a Bowrider is a practical choice for the longer tours. Let the rental service know the planned cruising itinerary and they should be able to provide a boat that closely matches.

Moving from location to location

A rental company might be based on the sea or river front which makes it easy to use the local waters. A boat waiting in a marine slip is certain to be the easiest option to get underway. Alternatively, a trailerable boat gives the option to move further afield and explore areas that interest the most.

Do you have a qualified helmsman in charge?

Boat operators, states, and lakes can vary when it comes to classifying someone as qualified to take on responsibility for a boat. Anyone that has completed a boat safety course will help their cause and make it possible to be accepted as the person in charge. Make sure to check the rules and regulations published by the rental company to ensure you are able to comply.

Also, certain rental companies will be willing to provide free of charge tuition for the specific type of vessel that you will be hiring. This increases the chance of being able to safely operate the boat once out on the waters.

Get the vessel a visual inspection before use

Before setting off and accepting responsibility for the boat, make sure to give it a careful and thorough inspection. Inspect the boat for signs of loose or broken fittings, missing parts, prop damage, cracks in the windshield, dents, and scratches. Make sure any defects are noted before accepting the keys and leaving with the boat.

Is the vessel outfitted with the relevant safety equipment?

A further area to get familiar with is the safety equipment on-board. A life jacket should be available for each member of the crew and passengers on the boat and at the appropriate sizes (child to adult). Make sure you are aware of where everything is kept so that it is easy to access in the event of an emergency.

Is standard insurance protection in place?

A rental agreement should indicate the insurance limits and liabilities. Most of the boat rental agreements state the user is the sole person responsible for problems or issues that materialize whilst on hire. Check the agreement to ensure you are able to comply with the terms and conditions listed. Use an insurance agent to check the details if you aren’t entirely certain of what is noted on the form.

Limitations or restrictions in the rental agreement

Read the rental agreement to be certain you know what you are getting into. Limitations in the contract might relate to the distance traveled from the launch ramp or port. Usability options can vary – certain operators will ban the use of skiers or towable tubes. Night time boat handling might be limited. Plus, make sure to be aware of how forced cancellations are handled.

Categories
General Boating

9 Boat Safety Tips to Protect the Sailing or Motor-Driven Boat from Theft

Thefts and burglaries are on the increase in marinas and ports across Europe and North America. While most boat owners will reply on the protection offered by an insurance policy, there are several different steps that can be taken to help secure a vessel.

Boat Marina
A boat by nature is left unattended for extended periods of time; in a marine or home-port, whilst on day trips touring or cruising, or for months throughout the winter lay-up period. These extensive breaks give the would-be thief a tempting target. In a lot of cases, a boat might well be easier prey than a top of the range motor vehicle.

High-end electronics

Thieves often aim for the easiest target and are attracted by high-end electronics and communication systems. They are quite easy to remove and as these items are manufactured in high numbers, it is often easy to sell them on without too much risk. Ask at a particular yacht club or harbor to evaluate the potential risks in the local area. You might also be able to get information from an insurance company as they often hold data on problem areas.

Here are nine tips to safeguard the boat:

  1. Start by checking the insurance documents to establish the degree of coverage for theft of equipment onboard whilst laid up. If enough coverage isn’t in place, contact the insurance company to see what can be done. Read the policy carefully to understand what needs to be done to guarantee coverage is in place. If the insurance requirements aren’t met, the policy could effectively be worthless.
  2. Maintain a record of the serial numbers or identification codes to help identify a specific piece of equipment if unfortunate to suffer a loss. This record keeping applies mostly to the electronic equipment, outboard motor, and hull identification number (HIN).
  3. Along with the recorded serial numbers, it is also best to hold on to receipts for the items of equipment purchased and left on-board. These receipts might well be required by an insurance company if planning to make a theft claim.
  4. Use invisible pens to mark the expensive or portable items of equipment – these pens are great to put a specific mark or name and address on high-cost pieces of equipment. The writing would be invisible to the naked eye, but will show up under a UV light. Maintain a record of what’s marked and where. Marker pens of this nature can be found through police departments, security stores or insurance companies.
  5. A simple precaution to take is to ensure valuable items are kept out-of-sight from anyone outside the vessel. Make sure a boat is kept locked, use a padlock and chain if necessary.
  6. If possible remove the high-value or portable items of equipment from the vessel if left unattended for a period of time – for instance throughout the winter lay-up period. Hire a locker inside the club house or marina.
  7. Take photographs of the boat, parts, and equipment, such as the hull, interiors, rigging, deck, and valuable or easily removable pieces. All this information helps in the event of a loss.
  8. Install a high-quality alarm system, especially for the high-value vessel. Cameras, alarm systems, and lights can be great deterrents to thieves. Use stickers to indicate the presence of a security system. Fake cameras can be used as a cost-effective alternative to the real thing.
  9. If equipment is discovered to have gone missing, a first step should be to contact the police and then to contact the insurance company with all relevant details, including serial numbers and photo’s where applicable.