Boat insurance 

REMINDERS WITH NEW SEASON ADVICE SPONSORED by CRAFTINSURE

Whilst it hasn’t been an easy start to 2021, there’s good reason to believe that more normal sailing activities and events will get back on track this year and so we’re reminding boat owners to check that their insurance is still in place or to reinstate cover if it lapsed during the past year. 

If your boat is back in the club dinghy park, bear in mind that you will almost certainly be required to have at least Third Party liability cover in place as a condition of membership. 

Even whilst parked there’s the risk that your boat could blow over and damage adjacent boats. If the hulls are stacked they should be secure but left on a trolley, they should be tied down. We are aware that some take the wheels off trollies at events and then tie the upturned hull to the trolley which sounds good practice.

If you’re planning to take your boat on the road in 2021 when possible, do carry out a thorough check on your trailer if you have one, especially as it may not have seen much use for a while. As well as tyres and wheel bearings, check for corrosion, especially around the hitch lock area, and make sure the hitch mechanism is sound. 

Securing straps also need to be assessed to decide whether they need replacement. As well as normal wear and tear, they can become brittle due to exposure to ultra- violet light over time, as one of the Craftinsure team discovered when moving his RIB a few years ago!

Lockdowns may well have provided a good opportunity to refurbish boats and prepare well for a new season but as always, a good pre-launch check will help avoid problems once on the water. Something as simple as not having an effective device to prevent the rudder being lost or a missing clevis pin can result in a claim and perhaps worse, a DNF!

It’s now over 10 years since the partnership with IODAI began. The scheme continues to support the Association whilst providing a convenient great value insurance option.

In case you aren’t familiar with Craftinsure, here’s a quick guide to some of the benefits you may find helpful:

• Immediate quotes and cover – your policy is emailed to you as soon as you purchase
• Easy online access to your policy records online – you can view a copy on your smartphone when you need to provide proof of insurance at an event.
• Automated renewal process to help ensure cover doesn’t lapse unintentionally. 
• €5m Third party cover, including for when you hire or borrow a boat of a similar class
• No deductions for wear and tear when replacing broken parts – ‘New for Old’.

For more details or an immediate quote, visit www.craftinsure.ie or call 01 282 4633

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