Insuring Your Rigid Inflatable Boat: Complete Guide
Sailing on crystal-clear waters with your semi-rigid boat offers an unparalleled experience, but this adventure requires more than just navigation skills. The tranquility you seek also requires adequate protection!
This is where boat insurance comes into play. In this article, Orca Retail offers to answer your questions about the world of insurance for semi-rigid boats, exploring obligations, costs, types of available insurance, and more!
Is boat insurance mandatory for semi-rigid boats?
For individuals
Sailboat, motorboat, or semi-rigid boat, you have no obligation to insure your pleasure boat. However, it is still preferable to take out insurance for your semi-rigid, especially to ensure financial coverage in case of an accident. Grounding, shipwreck, hitting a rock, storm, sailing at sea is not without risk when you go for a ride with your semi-rigid boat.
For professionals
If you use your boat professionally, you must take out boat insurance, unlike leisure boaters. You must at least be covered under the professional liability insurance. You are covered for all bodily and material damage caused to a third party.
The same goes for sports navigation. For competitions, you must be covered for liability. In case of damage to an opponent's boat, for example, your insurance covers the repairs. Mooring a semi-rigid in a port also requires a liability insurance certificate.
What are the costs of insurance for a semi-rigid boat?
In general, the cost of an insurance premium is usually estimated at around 1% of the boat's value.
On average, the price of insurance for a semi-rigid is around 100 € per year with the minimum coverage. For comprehensive insurance, prices rise to 400 €/year.
However, several factors can influence the price of your contract. Indeed, the amount of the insurance premium depends on specific criteria, including:
- The age of your boat
- Its market value
- Its dimensions
- The number of selected coverages
- The engine power
- Your maritime accident history
What types of boat insurance are available?
If you wish to insure your semi-rigid boat for your sea and river outings, there are three types of coverage: third-party insurance, comprehensive insurance, temporary insurance.
- Liability insurance covers you for damage (material or bodily) caused to a third party.
- Comprehensive insurance for pleasure boats covers the total loss of the semi-rigid, material damage to it, but also bodily accidents on board in addition to damage caused to a third party.
- Temporary insurance guarantees a boat for a short period, for example, if you rent a zodiac for the day.
What is the best insurance for a semi-rigid boat?
It is difficult to determine the best boat insurance for your inflatable. The coverage depends on your needs (boat rentals, sports practice, etc.). Do you prefer minimal coverage? Good coverage for your sea outings? Coverage for your passengers? For some, the best insurance is the cheapest. For others, it will be the one offering the best coverage in case of a claim.
Comparison of insurance for semi-rigid boats:
- MAAF: Civil liability, Individual marine, Assistance to people, Assistance to the boat, Legal assistance.
- ALLIANZ: Civil liability, Land damage and losses for the boat, Total or partial theft (including accessories), Damage and theft of the trailer, Assistance and rescue costs at sea, Individual marine in case of death, temporary or permanent incapacity of the pilot and passengers.
- Groupama: Civil liability, Defense and recourse, Assistance for the boat and people on board.
- MAIF: Compensation following a climatic event if your boat is less than 5 years old and your engine less than 3 years old, Damage to the boat and its equipment following a climatic event, Loan of your boat, Assistance for your boat and passengers, Legal information on the Internet, Defense recourse.
- MMA: Civil liability, Crew protection, Legal defense in criminal and recourse, Search costs at sea, Individual marine (medical expenses, permanent disability, death), Removal costs.
- MACIF: Civil liability, Criminal defense and recourse, Legal protection, General assistance, Quay assistance.
What coverage for a semi-rigid boat?
Like any boat, the coverage for semi-rigid boat insurance is varied. Here is a non-exhaustive list of coverage offered by insurers as part of a comprehensive contract.
Coverage for the boat
- Hull insurance for repairs of damages suffered during navigation.
- Total or partial theft coverage.
- Loss and damage coverage.
- Hidden defects coverage if the boat shows anomalies.
- Coverage for assistance and towing costs at sea.
- Coverage for refloating or removal of wreck costs.
Coverage for equipment
- Engine theft coverage.
- Theft coverage for passengers' personal belongings.
- Theft or damage coverage for navigation and safety equipment.
Coverage for embarked people
- Coverage for medical expenses due to an accident.
- Repatriation coverage for injured people.
- Search and rescue costs at sea.
- Payment of a capital sum in case of death, disability, or total or partial incapacity.
Additional coverage
- Legal protection for criminal defense and appeals following a disaster.
FAQ on semi-rigid boat insurance
Do you need a boat license for a semi-rigid?
Driving a boat with an engine power greater than 4.5 kW requires holding a boat license. For more information on this topic, please refer to our article: "Which boat license to get for semi-rigids?".
What insurance for renting a semi-rigid boat?
If you rent an inflatable boat, you have several options to insure it, you can subscribe to the insurance offered by the rental company or to a temporary insurance contract.
How to insure your boat online?
More and more insurance companies offer online boat insurance subscription. For this, you will need to complete the administrative information and answer a few questions about the boat to be insured. You will also need the registration card of your inflatable boat or the registration certificate, the signed sales contract, your boat license, and a bank account number for the payment of contributions.
What to do in case of a disaster with my semi-rigid boat?
In case of a disaster, it is essential to act quickly to ensure optimal coverage by your semi-rigid boat insurance. Here are the steps to follow:
- Contact your insurance: Immediately inform your insurance company of the disaster and help them assess responsibilities if a third party is involved.
- Make a detailed declaration: In your declaration, be sure to include the following information: Location of the disaster, date of the incident, type of disaster (accident, theft, vandalism, weather damage, etc.), and a detailed description of the observed damages.
- Attach the necessary documents: Such as purchase and repair invoices, photos of the damages, a medical certificate in case of injury, etc.
In case of theft, also file a complaint with the competent authorities and provide the complaint report to your insurer.
Conclusion
Insuring your semi-rigid boat is not just a formality, but a crucial guarantee for navigating serenely. Whether you are a passionate sailor or a sea professional, understanding the nuances of boat insurance is essential to protect your investment and ensure your safety as well as that of your passengers. Worry-free navigation begins with wise foresight!
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