diverdennis

Hello all,

With all the improvements we have made it is time to upgrade our insurance coverage. The amount we require cannot be obtained until we get a survey. I know about www.marinesurvey.org and www.boatus.com/insurance/survey.asp but who would be the best one forour all aluminum Marinettehere in Lansing, Michigan?

Thanks.

__________________
"Surface Interval" - 1975 28' Marinette Express
Single Chrysler M360 (275HP, repowered in '87)
(All new Interlux Brightside paint (Trilux 33 on bottom))
~~~~~ELECTRONICS~~~~~
Raymarine E120 multifunction display (v4.29), Raystar 125 GPS, DSM300 sonar,
4KW radome (RD424), S1G autopilot (with AST) and ST8200 control head.
SIRIUS marine weather receiver, Floscan 9000 GPS interface,
Ray54 DSC VHF radio, Navionics Gold - West Great Lakes.
Overboard and engine compartment color video cameras
~~~~~STEERING SYSTEM~~~~~
Seastar hydraulic with Raymarine type 1 pump, 24 volt stern thruster (Navigator)
25hp Mecury kicker motor on a 90 degree rotation mount
Click here for all the equipment details and here for the complete photo album.

Click to enlarge picture.

diverdennis

Got some info from THT member pau-hana:

You have 2 options regarding insurance:

1) Liability only: this coverage is, as it states, liability only. Essentially, it covers others against the damage your boat may do to the, but offers no coverage for your vessel. Survey is NOT required, as the material condition of your vessel is of little concern to the insurer.

2) Hull & Machinery coverage: this is often referred to as "full coverage" insurance. Coverage includes:

Hull, machinery, personal effects onboard, medical, pollution,Jones Act, and more.

A marine condition and valuation survey (with the boat out of the water) is almost always mandatory to obtain this type of coverage. If the boat is not more than 10 years old, or over 26' in length, I can obtain coverage without the survey. In your situation, a survey is even more critical, as you have invested time and money into her restoration, and a survey will document the restoration and ascertain a truer value for you.

The surveyor you choose should be affiliated with either NAMS (www.namsglobal.org ) or SAMS (http://www.marinesurvey.org/index2.html). These organizations hold the highest standards for marine surveyors, and their surveys never have any challenges by the various insurance markets.

In short, haul the vessel, get the vessel surveyed, and then shop around for the best coverage that makes sense to you. Cheaper coverage isn't always the best value, nor is the most expensive. Every policy is tailored to the parameters of the vessel owner, and a boilerplate template of coverage shouldnever be used.

Thanks Peter