Houseboats, especially if older, steel hulled or in the process of or already restored can be difficult, if not impossible, to get insured. Many people have had romantic notions of living on a houseboat during their Golden Years and have put a lot of time and money into making their dreams come true, only to find that getting insurance is next to impossible.
So, if you haven't already bought that fixer-upper or the houseboat of your dreams, then look into the insurance aspect first. Certain locations, such as hurricane prone areas, may require a quite hefty premium with high deductibles, so even if the seller currently has insurance, it may not be easy to get in your chosen retirement waterway, lake or bay. Also check with the marina that you plan to use. Most marina's have specific insurance requirements in order to protect their interests. Then, find the agent first and then set out on your search armed with the criteria that will allow you to make a well-informed decision when making that purchase.
Now, if you've already got the houseboat and are restoring it, or have spent the last number of years restoring it, you may find that you have more work to do. Most insurance companies will require a current marine survey and then proof that all of the 'recommended repairs' have been completed. Marine surveys are priced depending upon the size of the craft and the company, so you might want to shop or get recommendations from other houseboat owners.Remember that there are hundreds of steel-hulled houseboats that are currently insured, so if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
When shopping and buying insurance for your houseboat, you should ask a number of questions to make sure you are getting the coverage you expect and need. For example, Marine Survey's are required and some insurance companies require them more often than others. Some policies also have navigation limits, so be sure you know what your limits are. Winter storage may also be an issue. Most policies have a 'lay-up- period, so know what dates those are and adhere to them. As with automobile insurance, you can choose the levels for property damage and personal injury. Be clear on what you are getting here. Deductibles are most often 1 to 2% of the insured value of the craft, so make sure you know how much you will be liable for in the event of a claim. Some policies don't allow for living aboard. If this is your plan, then make sure you are upfront about it. The last thing you want is for your claim to be denied because witnesses can testify that you live there. Also make sure that if you have a dinghy, fishing boat or personal water craft, it is covered along with your houseboat and make sure you are aware of the stipulations. You may be required to carry additional insurance for when you are operating those additional crafts as opposed to towing them or having them stored on deck.
You can check with the your local companies in your area for the type coverage you need. Good luck in your insurance search and happy house boating.
When Joseph is not daydreaming about being out on the boat, he can be found working in his gardens. One of his favorite gardening websites is Garden Harvest Supply, which offer quality garden tools like the Lambert vegetable seed planter which allows you to plant and fertilize your seeds all at the same time. They also have the wolf garten system of interchangeable garden tools, which saves you from purchasing seperate tools.
