Insurance for small boat owners
We know you chose your small boat carefully to suit your lifestyle. That’s why our specialist small boat insurance team will work closely with you to get to know you and what cover you’re looking for.
This will help us find you cover that takes all of your individual needs into account.
Our features and benefits
- Cruising ranges can be tailored to your individual requirements
- No excess on claims whilst moored in a UK marina
- Road transit up to 9 metres with the option to extend
- Up to 25% no claims bonus protected
- In-house claims team to support you from start to finish
- Discount for RYA members.
Including protection from the unforeseen
- Accidental damage including fire and theft
- Personal accident cover
- £5 million third party cover
- Legal liability cover can be added to your policy.
Get a quote for small boat insurance cover
Call us or request a quote today – our experts are always on hand to support you.
What's covered in our small boat insurance policies?
We’re always transparent about what’s included in our small boat insurance cover. But if you’re not sure what kind of cover you need, our friendly team is always happy to help.
We take your personal requirements into account to provide you with the level of cover that’s right for you.
What is insured?
Please note this list is not exhaustive – refer to your full policy documents for details.
Cover for you and your small boat:
- Loss or damage to your insured property by one or more of the following: accident, fire, theft, malicious damage and vandalism
- Loss or damage occurring during hauling out, launching and lifting by crane, including fitting out and overhauling
- Loss or damage whilst in transit by road included as standard for vessels up to 9 metres in length
- Legal liability to third parties and non-fare paying passengers ‒ £5 million as standard
- Your legal costs in settling or defending a claim, solicitor’s fees and other expenses relating to official enquiries or a coroner’s inquest
What's not insured?
- The cost of repairing or replacing any part that is lost or damaged because it is faulty
- Loss or damage caused by insects, marine borers, barnacles, marine growth, fungi or molluscs
- Any liabilities incurred whilst your boat is being used by, or is in the custody or control of any person employed in the marine trade in conjunction with their business.
Get a quote for small boat insurance cover
Call us or request a quote today – our experts are always on hand to support you.
Very diligent service finding the right insurance product for my needs. Reliable, good communications, friendly and professional. It's no wonder this is one of the best marine insurance companies.
Jeremy
Why insure your small boat with us?
Our team is different because we understand the different lifestyles of owning a small boat.
Having our small boat insurance experts do all the hard work lets you get back to the water with confidence and peace of mind. We’re proud to offer:
- 40 years of marine broking experience, backed by the world’s leading insurance broker and risk adviser
- Real people giving you a personalised service
- A diverse team passionate about boats
- Market value and agreed value policies
- A trusted partner of the RYA
- Quality products backed by A-rated insurers
- The flexibility to buy the way you want – online or over the phone
- Access to our friendly team who is always on hand to help, especially if buying online isn’t quite right for you.
Our promise to you
We take small boat insurance seriously, so you’ll always know you’re in the right hands. We promise to:
- Represent your interests at the time of a claim to get you the very best outcome
- Provide proactive risk management advice to protect your boat
- Make it easy for you to make changes to your cover throughout the year.
We'll go the extra mile when you need us to
Our dedicated team loves to answer your questions and go the extra mile wherever they can. And we’re not just boat experts, we’re also experts in:
- Finding solutions to fit clients’ complex needs
- Explaining conditions and exclusions so you don’t fall foul of them
- Explaining the risks to new boat owners
- Walking you through the whole process of insuring your small boat.
Still not sure what small boat insurance you need?
No problem, we'd love to talk to you about your needs. Call our experts today.
Frequently asked questions
While it is not usually a legal requirement on most waters, having appropriate cover makes sound financial sense. Marine mortgage companies for instance insist on compulsory insurance as part of their money lending process. However, there are two stand-out reasons why boat insurance is important:
- Firstly you have to protect your capital investment against loss or damage which ultimately could result in a large and costly repair bill if the worst were to happen.
- Secondly having adequate boat insurance can help to protect you against any third party liability for injury or damage caused by you or your vessel. Third party liability is usually the most frequent claim we receive when it comes to boat insurance.
From a small dinghy to a large super-yacht or a super-fast Jet Ski, each type of vessel will attract a different level of risk, so just like car insurance - boats are usually categorised according to their vessel type and risk.
It goes without saying that a Sunseeker with powerful engines that costs a million pounds will be far more expensive to insure than a smaller, much less powerful craft.
A yacht will also have a different risk assessment than a dinghy or a jet ski, so insurers will factor in the type of the vessel and any potential repair bills before calculating the premium.
In general, the actual size of the boat isn't as important as its value, how easily it could be stolen and the potential for damage. If your boat is trailer-able and spends a large amount of time safely tucked away on your drive, you'll probably pay a different premium than if it was stored at a marina.
The area in which you keep and use your boat will also have an influence on the level of premium you pay and may have restrictions on cover that are subject to local weather conditions.
Finally, the experience of the owner / users and the type of use i.e. whether it is used privately, as a charter or racing vessel and of course any previous claims experiences are all taken into consideration when calculating the premium.
The level of premium is obviously important but it should not be the sole deciding factor: you should try and strike a harmonious balance between costs vs. benefits.
All policies are different, so make sure you choose one that provides the cover you want and need. Handy tip - assess the most expensive parts of your boat and check that your policy provides cover for damage to these, as well as what deductions may apply in the event of a claim.
- Are any replacement costs issued on a new-for-old basis?
- Exclusions - make sure you look out for any exclusion in your policy. All policies have them, so check your wording very carefully.
- Ensure that the policy covers any cruising grounds you wish to sail into.
- Finally, make sure the insurer is authorised and approved by the regulatory body of the country in which they are based; here it is the Financial Conduct Authority.
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