Before putting your boat back on the water, be sure you put your insurance back on your boat.
This is the time of year when many boat owners are pulling their watercraft out of winter storage, pulling off the protective tarps and getting ready to hit the water!
But before that first fishing trip, be sure you and your watercraft are properly protected. Consider this:
· Every 150 minutes, someone is injured or killed in a boating accident
· Almost 50 percent of boating accidents are due to inattention, inexperience, speeding or boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol
· Collision with another boat is the most commonly reported accident
These statistics suggest that proper training in the operation of watercraft can help prevent injury and loss.
Another precaution you can take is to purchase liability protection for your boat or watercraft. Boat, or watercraft insurance can provide peace of mind for potential liability, protection for accidental loss or damage to the boat itself, and medical expense coverage for guests other than family members who may be injured while on your boat.
We would be happy to provide a quote on the cost of boat coverage, and let you know about any discounts and safety/experience credits that may be available.
Taking Friends and Family Out on the Water? Be Careful
You take care of your boat. What about those aboard? Here are valuable safety tips to protect your crew and guests.
Every boat owner knows the amount of love and labor required to properly maintain the vessel and its equipment. But the hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries incurred each year by passengers and crew seem to indicate more focus is needed on safe boating and protection from harm.
Whether your day of boating involves a cruise around Lake Michigan or a lazy day on the Chain O' Lakes, the Insurance Information Institute offers these safety tips:
· Everyone on board should wear a life jacket
· Even on the water, there are road rules. Know and obey marine traffic laws, and learn various distress signals
· Stay alert. Look out for watercraft, swimmers, floating debris and shallow waters
· Load your boat carefully. Don’t overload, and distribute the load evenly. In a small boat, don’t stand up or shift weight suddenly. In any boat, do not allow passengers to ride on the bow, seatbacks or gunwales
· Driving under the influence is as dangerous on water as on land. Do not operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Many more safety tips and educational opportunities can be found at the U.S. Coast Guard’s website.
Don’t forget that if the worst happens and injuries occur, your best personal financial safety net may be the liability and medical coverages found in your boat insurance policy. Before taking your boat out on the water, schedule a time with us for a complete review of your current boat coverage.
Contact us for all of your insurance needs!
Illinois and Wisconsin residents, at R Hobbs Insurance Agency, we can work with you to make sure you've got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at (847) 680-0888 or send us a note at chris@rhobbsinsurance.com. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what's important to you is protected!
