Does Boat Insurance Cover Storm Damage?

Does boat insurance cover storm damage?

If your boat is damaged in a storm, boat insurance can provide protection if you carry physical damage coverages on your policy. Physical damage coverages are optional, unless you’re financing your boat, but they pay to repair or replace your watercraft if it was damaged due to a weather-related incident.

How does boat insurance cover damage from a storm?

Boats frequently experience damage during storms, and your boat insurance policy’s physical damage coverages can pay for damages to your watercraft resulting from covered perils such as a windstorm or hail. If you have a liability-only boat policy, any damages to your watercraft won’t be covered.

Learn more about boat insurance coverages.

Example:

During a thunderstorm, your boat crashes into the sea wall. Your boat insurance policy can pay to repair your watercraft, minus your deductible.

Does boat insurance cover hurricane damage?

Your boat insurer may pay for damage to your boat caused by wind and hail from a hurricane, unless explicitly stated otherwise in your policy. Contact your boat insurer to see how you’re covered in case of a hurricane.

Does boat insurance cover a sinking vessel?

Your policy’s physical damage coverages can pay for removing the boat from the water as well as damages to your watercraft. Depending on your policy, your insurer may pay you the fair market value of your watercraft or the agreed value. Your boat insurer may also offer optional coverage for personal belongings lost or damaged in a boat accident.

Pro Tip:

Note that your policy may restrict boating beyond a certain geographical area. If your boat sinks while out of the agreed upon range, your insurer may not pay for the removal or damages. Check with your insurer to see if boating is restricted in certain locations.

Will insurance cover a leak in the boat's hull?

Typically, boat insurance can cover damages caused by a leak in the hull if you carry physical damage coverages. That also applies if the leak is a result of storm damage or another covered peril. Note that your boat policy won’t cover the actual leak or any other issues due to wear and tear or lack of maintenance.

How does boat insurance cover damage you’re liable for due to a storm?

Property damage liability coverage covers any damage you cause to someone else's dock, boat, property or structures.

Example:

During a windstorm, your boat crashes into the marina’s dock. Liability coverage on your boat insurance policy may pay for the repairs to the dock, up to your policy’s limits.

How can I avoid my boat getting caught in a storm?

If you're a new boat owner, learn how to prepare for hurricane season. Always check weather reports in advance and keep an eye on the horizon for unexpected weather. Here are some indications that bad weather could be approaching:

Flat clouds getting lower and thicker
Sudden drop in temperature
Flashes on the horizon
Dark clouds to the west or southwest
Puffy clouds that rise vertically

Please note: The above is meant as general information to help you understand the different aspects of insurance. This information is not an insurance policy, does not refer to any specific insurance policy, and does not modify any provisions, limitations, or exclusions expressly stated in any insurance policy. Descriptions of all coverages and other features on this page are necessarily brief; in order to fully understand the coverages and other features of a specific insurance policy, we encourage you to read the applicable policy and/or speak to an insurance representative. Coverages and other features vary between insurers, vary by state, and are not available in all states. Whether an accident or other loss is covered is subject to the terms and conditions of the actual insurance policy or policies involved in the claim. References to average or typical premiums, amounts of losses, deductibles, costs of coverages/repair, etc., are illustrative and may not apply to your situation. We are not responsible for the content of any third-party sites linked from this page.