Insuring Personal Watercraft

Personal watercraft are not generally covered by homeowners or auto insurance, and where they are, the coverage limits can be fairly low. You may need to purchase a specifically designed policy in order to insure these vessels. The personal watercraft policy normally covers:

• Bodily injury
• Property damage
• Guest passenger liability
• Medical payments
• Theft

Typical policies include deductibles of $250 for property damage, $500 for theft and $1,000 for medical payments, although these may vary from company to company.

Liability limits generally start at $15,000 and can be increased to $300,000. This coverage will provide financial protection if your personal watercraft is involved in an accident.

Most policies also include water sports liability, which covers risks associated with activities such as waterskiing.

Consider buying an umbrella policy which will provide more liability protection. One million dollars in extra coverage costs about $300 a year and would extend to your home and auto insurance policies.

If you have several personal watercraft, you may qualify for a multi-boat discount on your insurance. Additional coverage can also be purchased for trailers and other accessories.

Be sure to speak with your insurance agent at Fox Insurance Agency about your specific needs 503-277-2300.

Personal Watercraft Safety

Sea Doos, Wave Runners and other personal watercraft are fun and so easy to use that you can get a false sense of security; however, each year they cause thousands of serious injuries.

To safely enjoy your personal watercraft, consider the following:

• Never follow directly behind another personal watercraft. Stay at least 100 yards behind the vessel in front, and no less than 50 yards to one side. Because these vessels can travel at a very high rate of speed, each rider must be able to react to sudden changes in order to avoid a collision. Eighty percent of all injuries and fatalities occur when two vessels collide with one another.
• Don’t jump the wake of a passing boat. You could misjudge its speed and cause a collision. Or you might end up in the path of traffic coming from the other direction.
• Stay alert! Be aware of what is going on around you. Steer clear of other watercraft, swimmers, divers, water skiers and fishermen.

Boat insurance quotes are one of the things we do best here at Fox Insurance Agency. Our agency partners with several insurers, and we can provide boat insurance quotes from different providers.

By representing some of the most reputable insurers, who are able to offer some of the most comprehensive policies. We can present you with options that are priced very competitively. Call Fox Insurance Agency today for more information 503-277-2300. We would love to discuss your needs.

We at Fox Insurance Agency wish you a fun-filled and safe boating season!

The information in this article was obtained from various sources and is not all inclusive regarding the subject matter. This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements, nor is it intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. The definitions, terms and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied. Content provided by Insurance Information Institute.