Do You Need Boat Insurance for the Winter?

Boating season is officially over. This may mean you are thinking about canceling your boat insurance policy for the winter to spare a few bucks. After all, what could happen to your boat while it's kept securely for the winter? However, you should consider the pros and cons that come along in doing this.

The truth is, a lot of things can happen to your boat even if it is in storage for the winter. You might be stunned to know that a lot of claims that were made are during the colder months when your boat is out of the water. Boat insurance in New Zealand is really important year-round. During winter you may get storm damage and vermin infestation, you really don’t want a family of possums making a home in your boat over winter.

Most of the claims we have here at Mariner are for fire, burglary, vandalism, and storm damage, all of which can happen at any time of the year. Truth to be told, your boat is easier to steal or vandalize when it is in storage rather than when it is on the water. You might also be storing your boat in places you don’t commonly check on. If you don’t have comprehensive insurance that pays for damages caused by circumstances other than collision, then, things like this won’t be covered by your insurance company.

We get many claims for fires in garages, or indeed homes that spread to the boat. Strangely, a lot of these happen in the winter.

Some people think that they wont go boating in the winter, but a great day dawns and off they want to go! But would you go with no cover? Is it worth the risk to forsake your cover? You really do want the best boat insurance cover, don't you?

These are just a few of the possibilities that could happen if you decide not to have boat insurance cover for your boat during the months it isn’t in the water. However, it is always wiser to keep your coverage even during the off-season. If you cancel your boat insurance during the off-season, you are taking a gamble that nothing bad is going to happen. But it does - that’s why you have cover.

Also, at Mariner if you have had a continuous policy with us for a while, you may get a better deal in the long run rather than just ringing up to cover your boat over the summer.

Is saving a few bucks really worth the risk?

Looking for the right cover on the water in New Zealand in 2021?

No matter what your plans are on the water in 2021, Mariner Insurance is here to support you. We have been offering Kiwis specialist marine insurance in New Zealand for over a decade with cover for all types of boats and watercraft. Just talk to us about what you’re doing on the water, and we can tailor one of our insurance policies to fit.