Boating Safety Course= Insurance Discount?

[Walleye2k]

Has anyone taken a USCG boating safety course and received a discount on your boat insurance? Curious how much you saved. I took a course in 1989 and am now planning on insuring a fishing boat registered in my own name. Also, any tips on insuring a boat or equipment within would be helpful.

[Nofish]

Hey Walleye2K,

You bet. Most insurance companies will give a discount for passing a safe boating course.

I too took the Coast Guards course. (at age 17)I didn't get my first boat until I was 19 or 20, but the certificate still saves me money to this day.( I'm about to be 36)

When you get the certificate saying you completed and passed the course take it to your agent. I recieved a 5 or 10% discount, I think.

As for tips for insuring your rig, videotape everything, and re do it every season or anytime you go nuts at the supply store or dealership.

Make sure you cover your boat for at least what you paid for it. A smarter bet would be to get full replacement cost.

Tell your agent that you want the type of policy that will allow you to gop out and buy that same boat, new, today. Some replacement cost insurance will only pay you for buying the same model and rigged the same, the same year as yours, today.

Also be VERY clear how you intend to use the boat. If you fish in a tournament , some Insurance policies will call that commercial use and your rig will not be covered for anything that happens at that event, or traveling to and from.

You may need some type of rider on your policy. If you are gouing to charter or guide, you will need a commercial policy. These are expensive. I carried a half mil in liability when I was a guide. (too small in todays world) My insurance payment on the boat was almost twice as high as the liability payment.

I guess when you guide, the insurance company figures you are actually going to use the boat. Most rigs spend 90 to 98% of their life on the trailer and around 60 to 70% of that (if you fish alot) is in the garage!

As for incidentals, have anything bolted to the boat on ther boat policy. Be sure to include the cover, tie downs and motor toter. Anything else, such as rods reels, tackle, locators (on a removeable mount), cameras and the like will most likely be covered on your homeowners or renters insurance, but check it out.

Expect your payment to be at least a couple hundred a year, easily. But it is a small price to pay if you go out to get your boat and someone else already has.

I use Allstate, but talk to your agent and be very specific and make sure she/he answers all your questions.

Good luck........R

[Walleye2k]

Thanx for the very informative info....the boat I bought is a 1993 Model, but my concerns were the electronics, trolling motors and misc that I have added. This greatly increases the $$ I have into the rig. Good fishing....

[Eye Dog]

For that replacement insurance, take a video of the boat, trailer and all equipment in the in the boat. Includeing your tackle (spread out) and poles with reels. Sounds like a pain but if you loose it will make a big diference. LOL. Eye Dog

[Otter]

Taking a course this Tuesday and Thursday 6-9 p.m. Allstate gives a 10% discount, so the saving adds up over the years.

[CJ]

American Family gives a 15% discount.