What Coverages Does Watercraft Insurance Include?
As is true with auto insurance policies, watercraft insurance policies contain different combinations of coverages. In fact, since Massachusetts doesn’t have minimum requirements for watercraft insurance, there isn’t even a uniform set of basic coverages that all policies contain.
There are, however, some coverages that many insurers offer within their watercraft policies:
- Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
- Medical Payments Coverage
- Comprehensive and Collision Coverage
- Property Damage Liability Coverage
- Coverage for Fuel Spills
- Coverage for On-Water Towing
- Coverage for the Recovery of a Sunken Boat
- Coverage for a Boat’s Trailer
What coverages a boater ought to select depends on their particular situation. The type, size, and value of their boat, their personal financial situation, and where they go boating can all impact which coverages a boater wants, as may many other considerations.
Boaters who have small, inexpensive boats might also want a policy in order to get liability coverage. In some cases, owners of small boats might already have liability coverage from their homeowners insurance policy or an umbrella insurance policy. Not all homeowners and umbrella policies include boating accidents among their covered incidents, though. Boaters who don’t have liability coverage through one of these policies, but still want it, usually have to procure the coverage via a watercraft policy.
Do Boat Policies Cover Collisions with Rocks and Other Obstacles?
Some boat policies include coverage for collisions with rocks and other obstacles, such as logs or submerged debris. When offered, this protection is usually included in a policy’s comprehensive coverage.
Do Boat Policies Cover Boats Wherever They’re Taken?
While policies that let boat owners take their watercraft almost anywhere are available, many boat policies restrict where they’ll provide coverage. These restrictions are sometimes referred to as “navigational limits.” Depending on its terms and conditions, a boat policy might only provide coverage for a boat while the boat’s within:
- The State of Massachusetts
- A certain distance of its port of origin
- A certain distance of shore
(The last limit is usually only relevant when boats are taken out on the ocean).
How Can Boaters Get Boat Insurance?
Boaters who want help finding boat insurance should contact an independent insurance agent. An agent will be able to help assess a boater’s particular insurance needs, and an independent agent can request quotes for policies that meet those needs from different insurers in Massachusetts. With several suitable quotes to choose from, boaters will be able to pick a policy that’s good for them.
