Insurance Made Easy Helpful pontooning hints from the staff of the Pontoon Boat Guide.

Before you splash your new pontoon boat, you need to make sure that it’s properly insured. For recreational boating newbies — and, honestly, for quite a few more experienced boaters as well — the process of choosing the right marine insurance policy can seem like entering a labyrinth filled with fine print. It doesn’t have to be, if you keep a few tips in mind.

1. Determine your specific needs, such as budget, preferred deductible amount, pontoon boat type and value, docking or storage location and how you plan to use the boat.
2. Find a provider that has the experience and expertise to meet those needs.
3. Make sure you know the actual insurance company behind the offered policy.
4. Be wary of home/auto insurance bundles; consider a marine insurance specialist.
5. Consider the pros and cons of comprehensive agreed-value policies versus actual-cash-value policies.
6. Do your homework: Understand marine insurance principles, read the policy language (yes, including the fine print!), and talk to other boaters and industry professionals.
7. Remember that cost isn’t the only factor. A comprehensive policy may be better than a cherry-picked one. Every boater’s needs and situation are unique, and you need to make sure you have the right policy for you.

Here are a list of questions you might wish to use as you contact various insurance companies and research your options:

1. How long have you offered boat insurance?
2. How are claims handled? Are they handled by company representatives or contracted third-party representatives?
3. Are the representatives trained specifically on boat claims? (Bear in mind that marine insurance is highly specialized.)
4. Do you offer 24-hour-a-day customer and claims service?
5. Do you offer flexible payment plans?
6. Do you offer online quoting, purchasing and policy management?

It’s also worth investigating how much the company will allow you to customize your policy. Carriers often adjust values and alter deductibles; some offer liability-only policies; and there are policies that will protect your boat even when it’s not being used. Those apply when the boat’s in a storage facility, in your garage or on a trailer in the backyard.

Other variables can include cruising limits, liability limits, medical payments and personal effects. In short, talk to the providers. Tell them what your specific needs are and ask how they can best meet those needs. And don’t keep anything off the table.

For additional information about boat insurance, Discover Boating has an excellent FAQ on its Web site, with information provided by the National Marine Bankers Association. Print Article