Hi
We have our boat on the East coast of the USA. Due to heavy losses, our insurance company (Topsail) have stopped insurance for the USA. How do others manage? Any other insurance agencies doing insurance in the USA? Can we use a USA insurance company? Can we do just third party insurance?
Thank You.
Brian Reynolds
INGA

Brian, Check out Markel Insurance - now part of Gowrie Group. We've had excellent service from them (including a large claim resulting from a lightning strike.


Bill Balme

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Brian.Reynolds - 7/31/2019

Hi
We have our boat on the East coast of the USA. Due to heavy losses, our insurance company (Topsail) have stopped insurance for the USA. How do others manage? Any other insurance agencies doing insurance in the USA? Can we use a USA insurance company? Can we do just third party insurance?
Thank You.
Brian Reynolds
INGA

Hi Brian,
I have just called my ins co, The Gowrie Group, formerly IMIS, and they tell me they are aware of Topsail terminating contracts and will talk with you about possibilities. They are aware you are a UK boat, but not any other details, just that a UK boat might be calling. 410-827-3757. I work w/ Rachel, but I suspect that any of their people will do. Feel free to use my name as a referral and, since they specialize in cruising boats, you might mention the OCC.
Let us know how it works out.
My best, Dick (Richard more formally to the ins co) Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

Brian
We are British and are cruising Canada and USA. Last year we switched from Topsail to the US Company Merkel (Gowrie Group) and we were very happy with them. However, we have been unable to renew with them as the law has changed and they can no longer write insurance for boats that are neither US flagged nor owned by a US resident. We shopped around and got an extremely competitive quote from Admiral Marine based in the UK.
Simon

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Simon Currin - 7/31/2019

BrianWe are British and are cruising Canada and USA. Last year we switched from Topsail to the US Company Merkel (Gowrie Group) and we were very happy with them. However, we have been unable to renew with them as the law has changed and they can no longer write insurance for boats that are neither US flagged nor owned by a US resident. We shopped around and got an extremely competitive quote from Admiral Marine based in the UK.Simon

Thank you all for the information. I will follow up the suggestions and report back.
Brian Reynolds
INGA

+x

 

Simon Currin - 7/31/2019

BrianWe are British and are cruising Canada and USA. Last year we switched from Topsail to the US Company Merkel (Gowrie Group) and we were very happy with them. However, we have been unable to renew with them as the law has changed and they can no longer write insurance for boats that are neither US flagged nor owned by a US resident. We shopped around and got an extremely competitive quote from Admiral Marine based in the UK.Simon

I tried to fill in the form at Admiral Marine and when I got to the question of where my boat's home moring port is I wrote that the boat will not be mored there for the next 12 months.
This make the script crash with "You have an error in your SQL syntax;" 
Whwn trying to start over it immediately gives the same fault. 
Kind a bad.
/Hans

Just found out that GEICO will no longer insure boats in the Caribbean.   Scrambling to find a replacement carriers using my broker at IMIS.

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lawrenceclough - 2/7/2020

Just found out that GEICO will no longer insure boats in the Caribbean.   Scrambling to find a replacement carriers using my broker at IMIS.

Hi Lawrance
I had trouble getting insurance for the East coast of USA. I am now insured through Admiral. I could not get a quote online bud did so by phoning.
Previously I was with Topsail and they stopped covering the USA but I think they still covered the Carribean.
Hope this helps.
Brian

Brian
I am pleased you got sorted with Admiral. I got an unsolicited call from Admiral’s MD the other day and we chatted for an hour about insurance issues. He was very knowledgeable and informative.
Simon

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Brian.Reynolds - 2/10/2020

+x

 

lawrenceclough - 2/7/2020

Just found out that GEICO will no longer insure boats in the Caribbean.   Scrambling to find a replacement carriers using my broker at IMIS.

Hi Lawrance
I had trouble getting insurance for the East coast of USA. I am now insured through Admiral. I could not get a quote online bud did so by phoning.
Previously I was with Topsail and they stopped covering the USA but I think they still covered the Carribean.
Hope this helps.
Brian

Hi,
we have been with Admiral since we left the U.K. in 2008 and they have been very good. Even with a very expensive rock in Maine that hit the keel. The change in Bluewater sailing insurance is due to the Underwriter’s, having had larger claims. Bluewater sailors tend to claim for loss of mast, grounding or total loss. So when they compare that against marina based yachts we are expensive. So it’s not going to get better, with larger yachts undertaking World Crusing, insurance companies are going to be harder to find and more expensive.
Michael, Joint Bluewater Secretary