Boat Insurance for Florida Watercrafts
Serving Boaters from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast, the Keys to the Panhandle
Florida might be called the Sunshine State, but it’s just as famous for its water. WorldAtlas estimates that there are 8,436 miles of coastline—the second-highest of any state. The Orlando Sentinel also estimates that the State is home to at least 30,000 lakes, while the University of Florida counts approximately 1,700 rivers and streams. Plus, the million-acre Florida Everglades are the largest subtropical wetlands in the U.S. If you own a boat, then Florida is the place to go to enjoy it.
Still, boats are expensive purchases, and you’ll want to make the most out of yours. That means being able to repair or replace it if accidents occur. Boat insurance can help you do just that. Dakkak Insurance is a Florida-based, full-service agency, and we know the way to meet the insurance needs of boaters under the sun.
Does Florida Require Boat Insurance?
Though Florida boaters have to receive special training and must register their vessels, the State does not require them to buy boat insurance. However, it’s never a good idea to go without coverage.
Boat insurance is supposed to help you pay for the costs of damage, injuries or other losses related to wrecks or other mishaps involving your vessel. It is a critical asset that you can use to protect your personal and financial security in case problems arise on the boat.
Why Do I Need Boat Insurance?
 Consider just some of the reasons you need boat insurance:
- A boat is a motor vehicle, so it’s already a valuable piece of machinery. It could sustain costly damage in wrecks or from other unavoidable hazards. Insurance can help pay for the damage.
- A boater who makes mistakes could also cause significant losses to others. The right insurance could be you compensate them for the damage, if the accident was your fault.
- Certain marinas will require you to buy coverage before you can rent dock space.
It’s always better to get insurance, rather than deal with such issues later. With it, you won’t have to shell out hard-earned money trying to repair damage that you didn’t anticipate.
Your Coverage Options
Within your boat insurance policy, you can get various types of coverage, such as:
- Liability Insurance: Coverage will pay for the property damage or injuries you cause others if you cause a wreck. It might pay for third-party vessel repairs and medical costs. It might also include coverage to help you pay for pollution cleanup and salvage removal following a sinking.
- Guest Passenger Liability Insurance: When you let a friend pilot your boat, this coverage ensures they are covered by liability limits as much as you are.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Insurance: Another boater might hit your boat, and they might be liable for the damage. Yet, if they don’t have liability coverage, your own policy can cover you.
- Physical Loss Insurance: If your boat gets damaged in a wreck, sinking or other hazard like a fire or weather, this coverage can pay to repair or replace the vessel and damaged accessories.
- Medical Payments: If you or your passengers get hurt, coverage can help pay your medical bills.
- Equipment & Personal Effects Insurance: Should fishing gear, cell phones or other personal items be lost in an accident, this policy can help you recover some of the lost costs.
- Towing: If you need to be towed to port following a breakdown, this coverage can pay.
- Roadside Towing Assistance: This coverage can help you out with towing the boat if your car gets stranded while you are hauling the boat on its trailer.
If you have special equipment for the boat, like jet skis, speak to your agent about whether your policy will cover these items. Additionally, some boat policies will include trailer insurance, though you might also be able to insure this item under your car insurance.
What will it cost?
Your boat’s value, its location, and your history of insurance claims are among the many factors that might influence your rates. Betterboat estimates that the cost of boat insurance is about 1.5% of the boat’s value. So, if you have a $25,000 boat, you might pay about $375/year for the policy. In Florida, the average annual rate is $611, according to ValuePenguin.
Why Choose Dakkak Insurance?
Dakkak Insurance has one goal—to provide dedicated, world-class insurance services to any Florida boater. We’re proudly a family-owned and -operated business, so to us you are family, too. We believe in making it easy for you to get a quote, enroll in new coverage or change your existing policy at the drop of a hat. So, don’t hesitate to put your trust in us, and let us help you get boat insurance today.
|
Want to Learn More?
Click to the link below to hear from our industry experts on all your insurance policy needs, tips, frequently asked questions and more.
|