MANY SMALL BOAT ENTHUSIASTS AND PADDLERS FIND THEMSELVES UP A CREEK WITHOUT INSURANCE
Canoes, kayaks and rowboats account for less than one percent of total boating accidents according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard. This may give paddlers a false sense of security about their need for boat insurance. However, other figures provide a more complete picture.
While the total number of accidents involving small boats may be relatively few, accidents involving canoes, kayaks and rowboats represent 26 percent of all drowning-related deaths. Coast Guard statistics show there is also considerable risk of being overturned in a small boat. One‑out of‑four boats involved in an accident where a boat capsizes is a canoe, kayak, or rowboat.
Theft can be a problem for small boat owners as well. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau approximately 1,000 watercraft are stolen every month costing boat owners and insurance companies $40 million annually. Most are less than 20 feet long, and most are stolen from trailers while parked in driveways, on the street or at motels.
Paddlers should consider these risks when deciding whether they need insurance. Without insurance, the cost of repairs or injuries will probably come straight out of the owner’s wallet.
Some small boat enthusiasts may think their homeowners insurance policy provides adequate protection. While a homeowners policy may offer some coverage for a small boat, it’s advisable to double check the limits. Oftentimes they are minimal limits and may not provide enough coverage for the boat and its contents. More importantly, homeowners policies do not usually provide any personal liability coverage for a boat.
When considering a separate boat policy, owners should look for insurance that provides the following types of protection:
Physical damage coverage that will help protect your boat while it’s in storage or being transported as well as provides protection against theft, vandalism, storm and fire damage;
Medical payments coverage for the boat owner and passengers; and Personal Effects Coverage to help pay for physical loss of belongings such as fishing equipment.
Depending on the type of boat you own, the type of coverage purchased, the state in which the policy is written, and the company offering the insurance, you may be eligible for discounts on your insurance premiums. Some companies may offer discounts if they carry both your auto and your boat insurance with the same company.
Finally, you may be eligible for a boating education discount if you take an approved boating safety course. To learn more about boating safety courses in your area visit Allstate’s Web site at www.allstate.com or contact Allstate Agent Kevin Gwozdz, located at 5721 Covington Road in Fort Wayne. Agent Kevin Gwozdz can be reached at 260-436-2787.
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