Boat Insurance Specialists in Massachusetts

Boating in New England Lakes or along the Massachusetts Coast This Summer? Make Sure You're Covered! 

2020 Saw an Increase in Boat Usage on New England Lakes. In 2021, We Expect the Same.

Boating in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and other New England states is an incredible way to spend time in the warm summer sun. As New Englanders we have a limited season due to our harsh winters, but when the sun is out and the ice is off the water, we love the lake life!

Unfortunately, boating accidents are not uncommon, which is why we need to make sure we are properly insured before venturing out on the water. Just like you should always have the necessary safety equipment onboard, most boaters in Massachusetts ought to also have boat insurance. Whether you're touring the Boston area on the Charles River or you're venturing into the heart of New Hampshire on Lake Winnipisaukee, boat coverage - including liability and personal watercraft coverages - is important. 

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What is Boat Insurance, and How is it Different From Personal Watercraft Insurance?

Boat insurance is a lot like auto insurance , but it’s designed specifically for boats and boaters. Many of the coverages that boat policies provide are even similar to those that auto policies offer. You may also hear boat insurance referred to as personal watercraft insurance - they are not different coverage types, just different names for the same thing.

If you're a boat owner, there's a high probability that you need to have this coverage. Imagine riding up the Connecticut River in beautiful Western Massachusetts and a log floats into the hull. How will you pay to repair the damage? What if somebody is hurt during the accident? What coverage do you have with your other personal insurance coverages?

Boat insurance could help remedy those situations for you, and Charles River Insurance knows how to find the best coverage at the best price.

What Coverages Do Watercraft Insurance Policies Provide?

The coverages that a particular watercraft insurance policy provides will depend on the policy’s terms, conditions, and exclusions. Exact coverages vary. Nevertheless, there are many coverages that are available through most policies.

Some of the coverages that watercraft policies provide are very similar to auto insurance coverages. For example, a watercraft policy might provide:

Other coverages that watercraft policies frequently provide offer protection from boating-specific perils and incidents. Drivers of cars don’t usually need the following coverages, but boaters might:

Because not all boaters have the same insurance needs, many of these coverages are offered as optional protections. When selecting what coverages to purchase, boaters should take into account the type of boat they have, how big their boat is, where they go boating, how they use their boat, and what the value of their boat is.

Do You Need Boat Insurance in Massachusetts?

One way that boat insurance is different from car insurance is that it is not a requirement to have. However, to protect your investment and to make sure you are covering liability gaps, you should certainly consider boat insurance before hitting the water this year.

Residents who don’t have coverage through another insurance policy (see below) may be leaving themselves dangerously exposed if they don’t purchase a watercraft policy. Without the protections of an insurance policy, they may be liable for any damage they cause, not have coverage for their own boat or watercraft, and be held financially responsible for any injuries that people sustain in a boating accident they cause.

In a few cases, residents may have a little coverage through their homeowners insurance policy. Some homeowners policies offer coverage for small boats, which typically must be under a specific size, can’t be too valuable and don’t have an engine.

Even boaters who have coverage through a homeowners policy, however, may want to get a separate watercraft policy. For, the protections offered for boating incidents that homeowners policies offer are usually minimal. If a boating accident results in significant property damage, serious injuries, or a fatality, the financial consequences could easily exceed the limits of a homeowners policy’s coverage for boating incidents.

How Can Boaters in Massachusetts Get a Boat Policy?

Boaters in Massachusetts can get help finding boat insurance by contacting an independent insurance agent who serves the state. There are agents located throughout the state, from coastal towns to inland cities, who have the knowledge necessary to help boaters with their insurance needs.

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Framingham Office

5 Whittier Street, #4 Framingham, MA 01701 Phone:  508-656-1400

Leominster Office

29 Main Street Leominster, MA 01453 Phone: 978-343-6946

This material is for informational purposes only. All statements herein are subject to the provisions, exclusions and conditions of the applicable policy, state and federal laws. For an actual description of coverage, terms and conditions, please refer to the applicable insurance policy or check with your insurance professional. The illustrations, instructions and principles contained in the material are general in scope and, to the best of our knowledge, current at the time of publication.

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