On Wed, 01 Nov 2006 20:48:55 GMT, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message

Frankly you would be better off with a marine policy from someone like
Boat US.

I called my local State Farm agent who put me on to a Punta Gorda
agent, as required. Called the Punta Gorda agent and got this quote:
15k value 19' boat with 90hp
1k deductible.
2k personal property
100k liability
5k per person medical
Wind and flood is included.
$275 per year.

A coast guard boat handling license will get a discount, but I forgot
to ask how much and left a message for her to call me back.

$23. It's a boat safety certificate issued by the USCG auxiliary.

I do intend to get that license.
Then we chatted about boating down there. Not surprisingly,
she elevated my boat fever with her talk of her own experiences down
there. Her and her husband have an 18' Mako and go through Boca
Grande pass to the Gulf often when the weather is right. The pass
itself is pretty rough, but the Mako is fine in the Gulf in good
weather. I mentioned the CS is flat-bottomed and she said "uh-oh
I forgot that on the quote.
$313 per year.

Anyway, given that quote and since I've been satisfied with State Farm
for 30 years, my inclination is to go with them. But I welcome other
opinions about boat insurance.
$21 more per year will bump the liability to 300k.

--Vic

Check out BoatUS. You get a yacht policy. Covers oil spills, and is an
agreed value policy. They do not discount the value if total loss.

After more talk with the agent here's the upshot.
The policy is fixed value.
She didn't know about oil spills because she never encountered that
issue. Ever.
I didn't ask how long she has been insuring because I liked her, felt
she knew her stuff, and didn't want to be rude.
I told her that long-time boaters, some of whom may own big boats,
brought up that issue.
She insures *many* 30-40 footers, and it has never been an issue.
I told her that a number of boaters recommend BoatUS and she said I
should call them to cover the bases, but she gets a lot of switches
from BoatUS because of their premium hikes.
If I was still Oil King on my old destroyer pumping NSFO at 500gpm I
would be concerned about the environmental insurance. But it would
seem that that's what the liability side is all about anyway.
With a 19' outboard I'm not worried about it, unless somebody has a
horror story for me about a 19' outboard wiping out a bird sanctuary
because of an oil spill.
One thing this agent said to keep in mind is that if you want to lock
down every possible if and but you just may not get out of your own
way. Cute. And relevant.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm progressing in my education.
I will call BoatUS tomorrow and report back, mainly because I don't
ask for advice then ignore it out of hand.
But unless their premium is 100 bucks better, I'll stay with State
Farm because of my claims experience with them.

--Vic

--Vic