Boat Insurance - on the water and on the road

[Neil C.]

Really glad to hear that E-Numbers will sail again Phil. It's obviously been a torrid time.

If you don't mind me asking, how does the insurance situation work out? We all go towing our boats about all over the place, but when I come to think about it, I'm sure I recall something in my boat insurance policy about "The vessel will not be insured whilst being transported by road" or similar. That would then mean that it should come down to the car insurers. But I for one have never mentioned towing a boat to my car insurer! For a non-fault accident like yours I guess it gets even more complicated, trying to extract payment out of the other driver's insurer. I must go and look at my boat policy documents again!!

[Will_Lee]

+1. Really good news!

[andy_paterson]

I've now got E Numbers in the shed, - it wasn't quite cut in half by the straps.  It needs a few big holes to access the insides, but the damage does seem to be localised, without any springing of bulkheads etc. A  complete repaint will be needed  to hide the repairs which will be from one end to the other. Waiting now for the insurance approval after I've sent the quote for repair -  a bit less than a new one.

So don't use kevlar - or it would definitely be a write-off with massive internal delamination instead of localised breakage.

[JimC]

I dunno, with such widespread damage I might be happier with a whole new boat... At least if it were a SMOD I would be I suppose: I don't know quite what I'd think if a boat which represented much of my own work were stuffed so badly: I don't know I'd want to repeat all the work even if there were big insurance compensation: you can never get the time back, but I also don't know that I'd be happy having a new boat where someone else had replicated all my work, even if they had done it better than I could: there'd be something missing somehow. Just a nightmare either way. Good luck to all...

I suppose we shad be glad it happens so rarely. I could have lost Halo once when someone pulled out on us when I'd just picked up the shell, which I suppose wouldn't have been too bad, and then a second near miss when we did two circles on ice on the way to the Graham Grand Prix, but fortunately encountered nothing solid.

[phil_kirk]

Our boat insurance did cover whilst towing and they are seaking compensation from the third party's car insurance.

If your boat insurance doesn't cover whilst towing you would have to claim direct from the third party's car insurer.  Much more easily done if you have lots of evidence. pictures of the damage, formal quotes for work required or items to be replaced.

If the accident is your fault and you are not covered by your boat insurance then you take the risk and therefore the cost of repair replacement.
I have asked Andy to check the other internal structure when cutting in to make the other repairs to give peace of mind.

We are pleased that we succeeded in building a strong boat that appears to perform well.  This was achieved by thinking each step through and getting advice from other members of the class.  We would not like to build another boat our selves for a while but are quite happy to offer a day or two of our time to others who wish to home build.  We feel that level of support is sufficient to get another home builder going with the confidence the develop their skills further.  A good investment in the classe's future.

If you are planning a home build it takes bloody ages. If you are doing it for the first time it takes even longer.
 

[Neil C.]

I really need to check the boat policy. A write-off of our old boat, although upsetting, would be manageable in cash terms. But if I inadvertently pull out onto a roundabout into the path of a fast-moving Bentley Continental, and he destroys his front end by running over the boat and trailer, it might be beans on toast for the family for a few years.

[Neil C.]

Come to think of it, the predecessor to 'The Ashes' trophy, for boat destruction, was the 'Renault 5 Trophy'. It was named after Cheese B.B. got heavily smashed up the rear by a runaway R5 while sitting in a motorway service station car park. Simon Roberts was standing next to it and was lucky to escape injury, but his crew Joe Barker got badly bruised when the boat jumped sideways and slammed into him. I think CBB needed a big repair to one of the rear quarter areas/ bottom/ false floor.

[Neil C.]

Holy Cow! (or other non-publishable expletive)

Couldn't be bothered going out to the garage to get the Cherub insurance policy out of my sailing bag, but I did dig out the 12 Footer policy documents from the study drawer:

Noble Marine fully comprehensive policy.

"Section 2 - LIABILITY TO THIRD PARTIES

EXCLUSIONS - No claim shall be allowed in respect of:

b) accidents arising whilst the Insured Property is in transit by road."

That is a potentially very serious situation. I'm going to have to make sure my car insurer will take on that risk (funny feeling they won't).

I suggest you all go and take a look at your documents!!

[JimC]

EXCLUSIONS - No claim shall be allowed in respect of:
b) accidents arising whilst the Insured Property is in transit by road."

I think/hope you might be over reacting... I think that's Noble Marine excluding themselves from paying a share of the bill if you're to blame for a road traffic accident. If you're not covered for third parties on the motor insurance they'd have to put a ban on trailers as part of the policy. Not that its ever a bad thing to double check, insurance companies being what they are...

[Graham Bridle]

checked mine, I went to Bishop Skinner cos Noble were too expensive, so for about £100 less, mine says ...

The insured vessel is covered:

• Being transported by road, rail, air or ferry. This cover only applies to vessels up to 30 feet long (no Third Party liability exists during this time)

[daryl_wilkinson]

mine never leaves the boat park space so I'm OK 

it does make me laugh that whilst I was chuffing up and down the M4 & M5 to Mikes to sort things out I made sure I insured the boat ( with Noble as it happens ) and the dam thing wasn't insured anyway! What a laugh (not) 

Now happily insured with Bishop Skinner. Although the Mirror is with Noble (this will have to change) and the old boat is with 'Insurance for Dinghies', so i need to check, but as it is only insured for club racing ( they do bronze, sliver, gold cover ) I doubt it is covered when being trailed.

[Banshee Ambulance]

When I had my 405 I was insured with Noble. My housemate, who kindly drove the boat back from an open, wisely insisted that it was insured fully comp. Unfortunately, he drove through a car park gantry and took the mast off the trailer. Noble told me to sort it out with super spars and paid up with no problems. This was a few years ago though.

[Neil C.]

I think/hope you might be over reacting... I think that's Noble Marine excluding themselves from paying a share of the bill if you're to blame for a road traffic accident. If you're not covered for third parties on the motor insurance they'd have to put a ban on trailers as part of the policy. Not that its ever a bad thing to double check, insurance companies being what they are...

Jim - I reckon you're right. I've looked at this again, particularly after noting that Graham's policy also excludes Third Party liability during transport by road. Noble are only excluding Third Party liability during transit by road. Section 1 of the policy ("The Insured Property"), insures against "All risks of accidental loss or damage". Whilst it doesn't specifically mention trailing, nor are losses incurred on the road specifically excluded in "Exclusions" either. I looked up my car insurance policy (Aviva). They do insure me for liability to Third Parties caused by my car "and any trailer" (presumably including ones with boats on).

So if the guy in the Bentley drives into the back of my boat (his fault), then I can claim repair fees from Noble, who will in turn retrieve the costs from his car insurer. On the other hand, if I reverse the boat into his parked Bentley, smashing up the front of his car, and crush his legs in the process since he happened to be sitting on the bonnet at the time, and he just happens to be a professional footballer, Aviva will pay for the repairs to the Bentley and the £10million damages claim for personal injury and loss of earnings. Noble will pay for the repair to the gantry on my boat. I think.

Might be safer to take up golf.

[Phil Alderson]

I have heard that there are significant problems if your trailer, or load become detached from your car, as you are no longer towing it so your car policy no longer covers it.

[JimC]

I was going to say that sounds a bit far fetched, but then I thought, hang on, we're talking insurance companies here.
I also noted that my boat insurance doesn't cover me for anything if I'm negligent, under which heading not tying the boat on properly probably comes anyway. Wouldn't be suprised if there are similar limitations in the car policy too.