Now that spring is here many of us have or will pull the power mower out of the garage/shed and get it ready for the coming months. In my case that means digging it out from the back of the garage and checking the oil level. Then I put it in the driveway, fire it up, and let it run at idle for 15-20 minutes. If I'm feeling ambitious I may get the blade sharpened, but unless something is wrong with it that's about all I do. A riding mower has a few more steps but it's still fairly easy.
But a boat, even a small one, is a lot more complicated even if stored in a secure facility. Start with checking the hull for damage. Then there are controls, motor(s), batteries, anchor, moors, life vests, and various electronics to make sure are in proper working order. Once it's back in the water (not always a sure thing) it must be inspected for leaks and other systems checked and repaired/replaced if needed. Not to leave off the crucial motors and sails. The bigger the boat or ship, the more that needs to be checked and prepped.
ACE Recreational Marine Insurance has just created a Coming Out of Lay-up suggestion list for your boat/ship owning clients and potential clients. It covers the prelaunch inspection inside and out, while it's being launched, and before the first voyage. A list of common maintenance items is also included. A leading provider of yacht insurance for decades, ACE has been offering the comprehensive policies available for both private pleasure and select charter usage. The Yachtsman®/Boatsman® Policy provides all-risk protection for a wide range of pleasure boats and yachts of all sizes and values, including select occasional charter opportunities, along with many unique benefits and features that are in the marketplace. Some eligibility info:
Yachts (27' or greater and up to $5 million in value) - Yachtsman®/Boatsman® Policy
Length: Minimum 27' - no maximum
Hull values: No minimum - $5 million maximum
No high performance vessels (refer to our Performance Policy)
Pleasure use
Owners/Named insured must be 21
Vessel owners should be experienced in similar size/type vessels. Refer first time boat owners or those making a jump of 12' or more.
Condition and Valuation surveys required at 10 years of age for salt water risks. 20 years of age for fresh water risks.
Lay-ups - afloat or ashore
Available in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, and limited availability for permanently moored Florida risks: Florida eligibility is only available for preferred vessels over $1 million in value with a permanent, full time captain employed
Small Boats (under 27') - Yachtsman®/Boatsman® Policy
Length: no minimum - less than 27'
Hull values: no minimum - no maximum
No high performance boats (refer to our Performance Policy)
Bass boats acceptable. Pontoon boats on inland waters acceptable.
Pleasure use
Owners/Named insured must be 21
Some boating experience is desired - refer first time boat owners
Available in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, and Florida
Elite Yacht Policy ($5 million in value and above)
The Elite Yacht Policy® is ACE's exclusive program to fulfill the specialty insurance needs of luxury yacht owners with vessels valued at $5 million or greater. Exceptional yachts require specialized insurance protection and the Elite Yacht Policy provides significantly increased benefit levels for a broad range of coverage, along with many other valuable and unique policy features.
Additional programs available through ACE include:
Personal Watercraft (PWC)
Owners/Named insured must be 21
Licensed driver
Personally Owned
Pleasure Use only
No more than 2 unrelated owners
Speed up to 60 mph
Seats 2-3 people
7 ft. up to 16 ft. in length
No modifications
Water-jet propulsion
Owner and Operators must have clean MVR (0-2 points)
MVRs required if operator < 25 years old
Charter boats up to $5 million in value - Charter Policy Maximum of 6 passengers
No USCG inspected vessels
Owners/Named insured must be 21
Length: Minimum 27' - no maximum
Hull values: No minimum - $5 million maximum
No high performance vessels (refer to our Performance Policy)
Copy of owner's or hired Captain's license required
Condition and Valuation surveys required at 10 years of age for salt water risks. 20 years of age for fresh water risks.
Lay-ups - afloat or ashore
Available in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, and Florida
Performance boats 55 mph up to 100 mph - High Performance Policy Maximum speed: 55 mph up to 100 mph
Pleasure use
Owners/Named insured must be 21.
Clean MVRs required
Surveys required when vessel is 10 years or older.
Racing excluded
Not available in Florida
Log into www.bigimarkets.com and choose the specific product under the Personal products menu to look at full coverage details or to submit a quote.
By Elif Wisecup, Director of Marketing of Big I Advantage®
See for yourself why Janice, Julie, and Steve - the characters in this fun animated short - love DocuSign. As a Big "I" member you can access an exclusive 20% discount on eSignature from DocuSign for life as long as you remain a Big "I" member in good standing. Learn more at www.docusign.com/IIABA.
In 1910 Pierce-Arrow created what is considered the first Recreational Vehicle, the Touring Landau. It could be outfitted with multiple storage compartments, a water tank, sink with running water, toilet and even a phone to communicate with the chauffer. Other custom features were an icebox, and even hot water. If you're anywhere near Afton, Oklahoma you can pick up this restored 1917 Packard Twin Six Motorhome for a mere $99,995. The early RVs didn't have a lot of features one associates with modern versions. Modern RVs and bus-conversions can be custom fitted with practically anything, including a movie theater. Last July a gold plated eleMMent Palazzo sold for a reported $3 million. This double deck monstrosity is actually driven from the second level, has a Master bedroom (including ensuite), pop-up terrace, top speed of 93 mph, and can even clean itself! Some custom jobs can be quite creative such as this bicycle driven RV.
Most RVs fall somewhere between those extremes and that is where National Interstate is best. National Interstate provides coverage for motor homes, professional bus conversions, medium duty tow vehicles and converted medium duty tow vehicles with a value up to $2 million; and travel trailers and 5th wheels with a value of up to $200,000. For more information on availability and covered recreation vehicle types, including eligibility requirements for all categories, please see the Recreation Vehicle Categories Supplement in the Product Resources Section at Big "I" Markets.
Some types of commercial usage of recreational vehicles are acceptable, with the exception of those rented or leased to others. If an insured uses their recreational vehicle for commercial purposes, they must purchase additional coverage to avoid the commercial usage exclusions in the standard policy. All commercial risks must be approved by National Interstate.
The gold-plated RV is outside their scope (do you blame them) and NI consider RVs over 19 years old only on a case by case basis. The Touring Landau and the Packard Twin Six would be considered under our Collector Car program. We're not even going to try on the bike-camper.
The purpose of this webinar is to provide information about a very important element of coverage critical to building service providers, contractors, insurance agents, claims adjusters and subrogation units.
At the conclusion, participants should be able to: understand the primary purposes of CGL PD coverage and exclusions; understand the grant of coverage found in the language of these exclusions; understand the distinctions between ongoing vs. completed operations within the context of the exclusionary language; understand the historical significance and current application of "broad form property damage" and better serve insurance purchasers, particularly in the service and construction industries. VU webinar questions can be sent to bestpractices@iiaba.net.
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Remember that you can view the following webinars 24/7 by checking out the BIM Webinar Library. To do that log onto Big "I" Markets and click on "Publications".
Personal Liability Trends - Fireman's Fund
TravPay
Commercial Lessor's Risk
Affluent Homeowners
Travelers Select Products (series)
Travel Insurance
Community Banks
XS Flood
Real Estate E&O
RLI Personal Umbrella
Affluent Homeowner
"Oh, by the way...Flood Sale"
Habitational
Non-standard Homeowner
Student Housing
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BIM WEBSITE TRAINING WEBINAR
For all you folks who recently registered for Big "I" Markets, remember you can participate in a webinar from the comfort of your office to help you learn how to navigate around the system. Every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. EST we'll show you how to navigate the Big "I" Markets platform, including how to submit a quote! Register for the webinar by sending an email with your name and company name to bigimarkets@iiaba.net. Include "Website Navigation Webinar" in the subject line or body of your email. A recording of this webinar can be found under "Publications" after logging into Big "I" Markets.