Boat Insurance and ballast systems

(unclejessie) · (unclejessie) **Join Date: Jan 2004** 04-19-2005, 12:57 PM

Have any one you had your insurance company ask on a form or in person if you modified your boat in any way? I am wondering... do I fes up and say I have a custom ballast system that adds another 800 lbs of water and includes hoses, pumps and check valves? I bet they will raise my rate, but I am concerned they won't cover me. If they raise it $100 a year, I can live with that. If they say "no way" will we insure you with that ballast system... then I am screwed...

(uga33) · (uga33) **Join Date: Jul 2003** 04-19-2005, 1:24 PM

I wouldn't worry about it. The insurance company will only get involved if the boat was damaged by a fire, tree falling on it, hitting a submerged object, thief, etc. If something were to happen in result of the ballast such as: stress cracks, structual problem, I would be more concerned what your boat manufacture would say. All inboards have lifetime hull,deck, and stringer warrranties but may void if you exceeded the limits. Just my .02

(guido) · (guido) **Join Date: Jul 2002** 04-19-2005, 1:30 PM

I wouldn't tell 'em anything. Worry about it if they day comes. The only time they'd question anything is if it caused the boat to sink, then they may not be so happy. Just my .02

(unclejessie) · (unclejessie) **Join Date: Jan 2004** 04-19-2005, 2:12 PM

Thanks guys.

zboomer 04-19-2005, 2:33 PM

Possibly shady advice. What if the boat sinks, and they find out you were overloaded? Might be grounds to refuse the claim.

That being said, I've never had an insurance company ask that question.

(seattle) · (seattle) **Join Date: Mar 2002** 04-19-2005, 3:47 PM

Ballast system can't sink a boat. Water seeks it's own level. The worst the boat would do is sink to the surface of the water. Lead, sand, cement, ect. might be difficult to explain.

(aidan) · (aidan) **Join Date: Feb 2004** 04-19-2005, 9:04 PM

Our Moomba got hit @ 30 MPH towing , we knew the boat was total loss so we went to storage yard and told the guy we needed to get some stuff off the boat. We took tower, batteries, AMP's, Sub's, Deck, Pergo Switch, Prop, the insurance guy didn't say anything when it came for him to inspect the boat. They wrote it off as total loss.

(suckbuthavefun)

There is no way they can deny coverage for a sunken boat because of a ballast system unless there is an exclusion for it. Read the policy,but I highly doubt you will find anything.

(boarditup) · (boarditup) **Join Date: Jan 2004** 04-21-2005, 6:34 AM

Most insurance companies have an exclusion for boats operated outside of federal or state regulations. If you are overloaded, it may be a cause to deny coverage. The clause is usually reserved for claims involving BUI or felony cases. Like Tim said, read your policy.