Marine insurance
For boats in BC, from small runabouts to cruisers and sailboats. Every quote starts with where you actually take the boat.
What I look at for you
- Navigation limits: lakes, sheltered coast or open water. Going outside them can leave a claim unpaid.
- Moorage and storage: a marina, a buoy, a trailer at home or winter storage all look different to insurers.
- Your experience: time on the water and your Pleasure Craft Operator Card affect which insurers will quote.
- The trailer: usually insured separately from the boat, and it needs ICBC plates on the road.
- Liability: damage or injury your boat causes others, which home policies rarely handle well.
- Charters: taking paying passengers needs a different policy from pleasure use.
Before you call
Rough values are fine to start. If the boat has had a survey, have the report handy too.
- The boat's year, make, model and length
- Engine type and horsepower
- Where it's moored or stored
- Where you take it
- Your boating experience and PCOC
Questions people ask me
Does my home insurance cover my boat?
Rarely in a useful way. Some home policies extend a small amount to small boats, often with limits on length and horsepower, so most boats need their own marine policy. I can check the wording on yours before you rely on it.
What if I take the boat past my navigation limits?
A loss outside your limits may not be covered at all. If you plan a longer trip, like crossing to the Island or heading up the coast, tell me first. Limits can often be extended for the trip.
Do I need a PCOC to get insurance?
Insurers ask about it, along with your experience. Newer operators and faster boats get a closer look. If you're new to boating, say so and I'll place the quote with that in mind.
Tell me about the boat and where you take it, and I'll come back with options. If you're buying a boat, call me before you close the deal.