Got a Boat? Better Get Insurance!

April showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring the reminder that warm days are approaching; days that are meant to be spent on the water, in what is for many their prized possession: a boat.

While most adults are paying close attention to rising costs of their daily trips to and from work, or watching the housing market to be certain they aren't losing value in their homes, boat aficionados have other concerns. In fact, according to a survey of over a thousand boat owners that was conducted by Progressive Insurance Company, almost half of them bought their boats before they purchased cars or houses.

While that's great for the boaters, and most boat owners say that their biggest concern is finding time to sail, there is a bigger issue looming on the horizon. You see, most boaters purchased their vessels before they finished college (19%), married (28%) or had children (30%), and in those carefree days of sailing off into the sunset with a bottle of Chablis and a group of laughing friends, the last thing on their minds was insurance. In fact, according to that same Progressive survey, while most boaters (70%) are aware they need insurance, even when their boats are in dry-dock, almost a third – 29% - said they have no insurance at all.

A spokesperson for Progressive, Dominic Mediate said, "A great experience with your boat can quickly turn bad if you're not properly insured. Things like 24/7 claims service and specialized coverages such as Emergency Towing and Labor and Total Loss Replacement are designed to help get boaters back on the water fast in the event of a loss."

Since 20% of boaters say they would never sell their boats under any circumstances, and 6% said it would take the threat of physical harm to give up their weekend cruising, boat insurance is obviously something they all need to consider.

Most major insurers sell boat insurance, either through an off shoot of their auto coverage division, or as part of a special line that may also include insurance for ATVs, snowmobiles, and other recreational vehicles, but boaters should shop around, because – just as with car insurance – different companies offer different packages and different premiums.

If you own a boat and you don't have insurance on it, contact your insurance agent or start your online shopping today. You wouldn't leave shore without a life preserver; why would you launch without financial protection?

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