Sport Today

Recent posting on boat insurance lead me to compare my current
insurer, State Farm, with BOAT-US.  For the exact same coverage
on my 1988 16 ft. fishing boat, State Farm is $112 per year
while BOAT-US is $180 per year (not including the membership fee).
Shop around!

MJG

I did, that is why I switched from State Farm ($419) to Boat/US ($193
w/ membership) for a '85 Hunter 28.5 Sloop.  Boat/US would only allow
me to declare a value 20% higher than the East Coast market value,
independent of sail inventory and additional equipment.

This seems to fit the pattern I've seen. Boat-US seems to be higher
for small power boats, but MUCH lower for medium-size sailboats.
Perhaps it has to do with the liability thing, which can be much
higher on a fast runabout versus a slow sailboat. It's just
quite a bit more difficult to maim someone at 5 knots on a big
ocean than at 30 knots on a lake full of water skiers.

Greg

The United States Power Squadrons offer a group insurance program
(I think through St. Paul Mutual??) to USPS members.  My abbreviated
market search from 3 years ago yielded the following estimates:

[previous insurer, forgot name, for good reason]: ~$700++ per year
State Farm: ~$314/year (I carry auto and homeowners with State Farm)
USPS: ~$307/year, discounts for claim free years (premium is $287 this year),
        and full replacement cost (not depreciated cost) for the first 5
        years on a new boat.

The above amounts are for property damage, trailering damage, and substantial
liability on a 1989 23 foot sunbridge cruiser with 275hp I/O.  Layup is
October 1 to April 1.  The boat is covered on inland lakes and the Great
Lakes.  If I move it from the midwest I must let the insurer know, and I
may get charged an additional premium.

Note that most insurers will give a discount (typically 15%) to boaters who
have completed a boating safety course.  The course is a  nice way to stay
in touch with boating over winter when the water is so hard the boat draft
is zero.  (I know there are rumored to be areas of the country where this
phenomenon is unknown, but God intended boaters to go through the work
of laying up and winterizing yearly.)

Other discounts may accrue for Loran, Halon, CO sniffer, VHF radio, or
other safety equipment.  I recommend asking.

Bob Niemi, Astronautics, Madison, WI

Martin, please call Boat-US back. They had to make a mistake. I've been with
        them for 6 seasons, and every year I shop for the best price. No one
        has ever beet there price.

        paul