Setting up your boat insurance can be a tricky task. If you aren’t familiar with the process, you might be a little overwhelmed with the industry-specific terms that are used in the paperwork. The following are some of the more commonly used words and phrases you’ll want to understand before you sign up.
Agreed Value
When you have this policy type, you and the insurance company come to an agreement about the value of your boat and its hardware before you start out with the policy. If you experience a total loss of your boat, this is what will be paid out from your policy. It’s the opposite of actual value, which means compensation for the current market value when you make a claim.
Blue Water
This is the determination of your vessel’s navigational territory in waters that are more than five miles from land. On the other hand, brown water is the determination of navigational territory within five miles of the coast.
Date Restrictions
Under some policies, you’d only have insurance coverage between certain dates. This may lower your payments for those months when you likely won’t be able to use your boat due to the weather conditions.
Lay-Up Period
This is the time period when you won’t use your boat. If a lay-up period is part of your policy, stay aware of the dates.
Pollution Liability
If this is part of your policy, you’ll have coverage if your oil or fuel discharges into the water.
Towing Liability
You should have this coverage if you expect that you’ll pull or tow anything behind your boat.
If you need further information and clarification on these terms and to break down anything else in your policy documents, be sure to talk to an agent from Shavano Insurance Agency LLC of the San Antonio, TX area. Contact us and we’ll do our best to make the whole process easier.
