Yes you are right my thinking did Morph as the conversation moved
along. The first example I can see could be construed as use for hire.
The more important question for me then became... What about the
afternoon out with a client or co-worker and in this case Boat US would
void the policy as well if the fuel was reimbursed by a company.

Short answer... I will not seek reimbursement for fuel for any company
while insured by Boat US. I just thought that since I know many other
people that use thier boats this way they should understand the risk.
The worse possible time to find this out is after a claim has been
opened.

Now the only other question is... What if I stop at a crab house and
someone picks up the check and expenses it? Is that construed as
business use since the boat was the means of conveyance... Does this
ever end? Are you ever really protected?

Thanks for the input


Reginald P. Smithers wrote:
wrote:
Fog Dog wrote:
Let's close this out but I do believe there is a misconception
regarding this topic. This is personal use. I am in control of who goes
on the trip. Where I take them.

The source of the confusion would be your statement from May 21:

"my company has offered to cover the fuel expense
if I were to make myself and the boat available for employee and
customer outings while there."

"If" creates a condition. "We'll pay you $X
if you do Y thing" constitutes a hire. When the party demanding Y
service for $X is your customary employer it just slightly more
obvious. The fact that you're physically steering the boat doesn't make
it personal use.

As I said up thread a ways, the best of luck to you.

Chuck,
While you may not have convinced Fog Dog that he is placing himself at
risk for a major lose, you did educate many others who were lurking.

The odds are that Fog Dog will not have an accident, and if he does it
will not be enough to warrant a close inspection of the situation, but
it still was a great informative thread, heck, I guess Fog Dog is a more
informed boater today, than before he asked the question.

Heck, he now knows to say he was just bring some friends along for a
boat ride.

--
Reggie

That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Fog Dog wrote:


Now the only other question is... What if I stop at a crab house and
someone picks up the check and expenses it? Is that construed as
business use since the boat was the means of conveyance... Does this
ever end? Are you ever really protected?


I'm no attorney, but if I were sitting in the jury box I would ask
myself the following question:

Did Fog Dog convey this party to the crab house because the party
offered, in advance, to buy him a crab dinner, or did Fog Dog
unconditionally convey the party for a purely social purpose? Was
payment of the dinner tab a condition of the boat ride, or was Fog
Dog's passenger so overwhelmed with gratitude that he/she spontaneously
and without solicitation snatched up the dinner check and insisted on
paying the entire bill?

As a potential juror, I would place a lot of weight on those particular
considerations. :-)