One of the more important concerns for boaters to be aware of is the condition of the motor, especially if you haven’t used your boat much during wintertime.  Mechanical failures can be very expensive and ruin an entire season of boating enjoyment.  So if you experience a breakdown, will your current boat insurance policy cover your loss? In some cases, mechanical breakdowns aren’t covered.

Is Your Boat ready for the Season?

Maintaining your boat’s engine is just as important as the preventative maintenance you have done on your vehicles.  It’s also the key to that boat engine lasting as long as it’s supposed to.  Therefore, you need to be aware of any noises, smells, and/or vibrations you haven’t noticed before.  Should something suspicious occur, your best course of action is to have a trustworthy mechanic inspect your engine for any potential problems.  This could save you a lot of money and time on the water in the future.

With many Floridians increasing the amount of time spent on the water, you should go through your boat maintenance checklist immediately if you haven’t done so already to ensure that your engine is ready for the season.  In addition to going through your list, it might be a good time to review your current boat insurance policy should your renewal date be approaching.  Just like the old adage says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Mechanical Breakdown Coverage – Eligibility Factors

Some boat insurance companies now provide coverage for mechanical breakdowns or failures.  This helps to pay for repairs to or replacement of an outboard motor’s lower unit or a stern drive motor’s lower and upper units, provided your vessel is eligible for this particular coverage.  Eligible vessels typically include:

  • Boats and yachts powered by inboards (maximum twin 420 hp engines)
  • Boats and yachts powered by outboards (maximum twin 225 hp motors)
  • Boats and yachts powered by stern drives (inboard/outboard)

Some companies require boats and yachts to have a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty and been used 11 months or less from the start date of the warranty period.

Furthermore, there will be certain vessels that categorized as ineligible risks including:

  • Any high performance vessel no matter what type of warranty it has
  • Boats and yachts as well as personal watercraft that are used for commercial purposes, as racing vessels, or for or for any other type of use other than private pleasure boating
  • Boats and yachts as well as personal watercraft that have been altered or modified by someone other than the manufacturer
  • Outboard motors that were not installed by the dealer or manufacturer

As with any type of waterborne vessel, be sure to check with your insurer and find out if this particular coverage is available.

Call 1-800-585-1665 today to request a quote from InsureAnyBoat.com