Sea Insure

Claims Stories

Run Aground!

Its one thing to just run aground. It really takes some effort to run this far aground!

It goes without saying that knowing your local waters, staying within the channel markers, reading your chart and staying sober are just good seamanship – and could have helped avoid these claims.

But the real lessons here have to do with how the boater’s insurance will handle the claim.

This boater's policy was the least expensive when he shopped proving that you get what you pay for. This is a summary of the claim:

Damage to vessel: $3,000
Vessel salvage: $5,000
Restoration of wildlife sanctuary: $25,000
Fuel spill cleanup: $10,000
Total: $43,000
Insurance Payout: $3,000

While the policy paid for damage to the boat, it did not cover salvage, marine environmental damage, or fuel spill so the owner of this boat (not pictured…for good reason) was left with huge out of pocket expenses for this one incident.

Same Claim – Different Results!

This boater had virtually the same type of damage as with the previous claim, but the difference is that the owner’s insurance policy covered salvage, environmental cleanup, and fuel spill. So aside from his small deductible, he paid no other expenses.

Mechanical Breakdown - Salt Water Intrusion

Inboard cylinder engine. Evidence of water intrusion in 2 cylinders.

This engine is raw-water cooled. Saltwater circulating through the engine caused corrosion creating holes in the valve guide bores. A close up below of the corrosion:

If your policy excludes machinery breakdown chances are you could be paying for a new engine out of your own pocket.

Unlike most, our policy does not have mechanical breakdown exclusion.