Category: Boat/Watercraft Insurance

As the weather warms, so does the number of boats traveling on the water. Boating season is a fun and relaxing way to spend a day. However, some boat owners are unsure what is excluded from their boat insurance policy. Contact H. Dean Allison Insurance of Altoona, PA, as their staff can review and explain what your policy does not cover.

How Boat Insurance Works

Boat insurance protects the policyholder from financial demise. It could mean paying for medical care for bodily injuries or repairs to the boat following an offshore accident. Also, your investment is protected if the boat is stolen from the dock or stored away for the winter months. The policyholder selects the coverage for their boat. Thus, you play a role in what is excluded from the insurance policy.

What is Not Covered in a Boat Insurance Policy

Boat owners need to read their insurance policy before signing an agreement. It will give you a better perspective on what is excluded from the policy. The owner is solely responsible for the boat’s maintenance. Thus, the normal wear-and-tear that occurs during a boating season is not covered. Insurance companies believe boat owners are responsible for repairing and removing all gradual deterioration, mold, and weathered damage from the extended time in the water. 

Boat’s Defective Mechanical Parts Excluded

Most boat insurance policies will not cover replacing a defective mechanical part on a boat. But the coverage will pay for all repairs caused by the part. Usually, this section is called machinery damage exclusions on your boat insurance policy. The coverage provided does vary as the wording may include "improper use." Ask your provider for clarification on whether you see this phrase in the policy agreement.  

If you are new to the boating community, call H. Dean Allison Insurance in Altoona, PA. Our staff can create a boat insurance policy that meets your needs. We understand the state’s requirements and what needs to be covered. You will be protected while traveling on the water. Call and schedule an appointment today!

If you own a boat or other type of watercraft, you know it’s fun to be out on the water. If you live in the Altoona, PA area and own a boat, you’ll find boat insurance at H. Dean Allison Insurance that meets your needs. Boat insurance will protect your investment in your craft. If your boat is involved in an accident, boat insurance will protect you from the financial or legal consequences of that accident.

Boat Owners Need to Stay Safe

Boat owners need to know how to protect themselves and others. For example, if you want to enjoy alcoholic beverages and you’re of legal age, it’s essential to know Pennsylvania’s laws about Boating Under the Influence. 

Boating Under the Influence 

Just as it’s illegal to operate a car under the influence of alcohol, it is also illegal to operate a boat while using alcohol; those laws were enacted in 1985. The legal limit for alcohol is 0.10% BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) (1). However, impairment may affect you before that limit. 

If You Are Suspected of BUI

If a waterways conservation officer believes you are under the influence, they will ask you to perform a field sobriety test. If your test leads the officer to think you are under the influence, you will be asked to take a chemical sobriety test. Those results will determine whether you are charged with a crime. 

Call Us for an Appointment Today

H. Dean Allison Insurance has been serving the Altoona, PA area for a long time. Whether you need a new policy or have questions about insurance, contact us at H. Dean Allison Insurance today.

Purchasing your first boat can be exciting. But, after purchasing a boat, there is one important thing you should do. You should insure your boat. While you are not required to carry boat insurance to legally operate a boat in PA, you may be required to carry boat insurance if your boat is financed. Additionally, many marinas require you to carry boat insurance to store your boat.

Here at H. Dean Allison Insurance, serving the greater Altoona, PA area, we can help you with your boat insurance needs, including learning about the different types of insurance available. 

Types of Boat Insurance

Agreed Value

When it comes to boat insurance, there are two primary types of insurance. This is an agreed value policy or an actual cash value policy. An agreed-value policy means that you and the insurance company agree on the current value of the boat, and if there is a loss, you are paid out based on this agreed-upon value. This is typically only an option for newer boats.

Actual Cash Value

An actual cash value policy takes into account depreciation and the age of your boat. This is how much the insurer values your boat. Most boat policies are actual cash value policies. 

Add-Ons

In addition to an agreed value or actual cash value policy, you can have add-ons to your policy. This includes things such as specialized coverage, consequential damage, towing, and cruising extension coverage. An insurance agent can help you to understand what each of these terms means and if they may be something you should consider adding to your policy.

Reach Out To Us

While you may not legally be required to carry boat insurance to operate a boat in PA, it is smart to protect your investment in the boat and to protect your finances in case you cause an accident with your boat on the waterways. Here at H. Dean Allison Insurance, serving the greater Altoona, PA region, we would love to help you find the right insurance policy for your needs. Reach out to us today to get started.

When winter comes to Altoona, PA and surrounding areas, many boat owners lay up their boats in a boatyard or at their own private docks or land. It will be many months until boating season begins again, so should you cancel boat insurance during the off-season? H. Dean Allison Insurance advises boat owners not to cancel.

Here’s why:

Leased Boats Are Required to Have Year-Round Coverage

If your boat is leased, the creditor almost certainly has a caveat written into their terms that requires year-round insurance. This is to cover their losses, not yours. It may seem wasteful, but it’s not.

You Want to Protect Your Own Investment, Too

Even if you own your boat outright, you’ll want to keep coverage in the off-season. Boats are a big investment, and it would be a shame to lose it all just because you chose to cancel insurance during the off-season.

Accidents Happen Out of the Water

Altoona PA is landlocked and unaffected by things like hurricanes and tidal waves. But boat accidents happen out of the water all the time. Consider the ramifications if something unexpected happened at the boat dock. If you’re paying for over-winter boat storage, the facility’s liability insurance would pay for the damage. But what if their insurance lapsed? What happens then?

Theft is Always a Possibility

The odds that someone would steal your boat may seem slim, but boat theft is more common than you might think. Your boat insurance will protect you against this possibility, too.

Boat Damage During Storage

The equipment on your boat is covered with boat insurance, too. So if something happens during the winter season – something freezes and breaks, or the grandkids accidentally break something while playing on the boat – your investment is still covered as long as you keep the insurance coverage.

Contact Us Today

If you’re looking for boat insurance for a new or used boat in or around the greater Altoona, PA region, H. Dean Allison Insurance is ready to help. Contact us today for more information.