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With boats being about the oldest form of transport still being used, it is not surprising when you realise that boat insurance has been available in varying forms for thousands of years. All marine vessels as quoted by the Marine Insurance Act must have insurance before they are allowed to sail. With car insurance plans there is usually an excess to deter people from claiming on small dents and scratches but with boat insurance the excess is considerably larger to avoid the same problem. Overall, the only difference between automobile insurance policy and that for a boat is the amount it is covering.

As soon as you become a boat owner in America, most states will require you to have a boat insurance policy in force. Houseboats are a strange case because although they are not generally moved that are required to have an insurance policy which covers pleasure boats like cabin cruisers, sailboats and ski boats etc. If you are an owner of a speedboat for example, your insurance premium will be higher than for that of a fishing boat owing to the potential for a larger claim.

Actual Cash Value boat insurance policies cover the cost of the vessel replacement les any depreciation form the time of the boats loss whereas most boat insurance plans will pay for the replacement of the craft, the engine as well as the trailer. Usually when a boat has been damaged beyond repair, its current market rate is calculated using second hand values as a guide. Optional insurance usually includes coverage for reasonable repairs, emergency services to your boat, motor, or boat trailer, and wreck removal. Whereas partial damage costs are worked out by calculating the entire charge of the restoration less any deductible items.

To guarantee the value of the boat should it happen to be an insurance write off then an Agreed Value boat insurance policy can be taken out where the boat owner and insurance company come to an agreement about how much the vessel is worth and compensate to this value. Agreed amount value policies also replace old objects with new ones, exclusive of any assumption for depreciation. However, Agreed Value boat insurances policies require a cash value to be given on many onboard items such as sails, outboard motors, dinghies for instance and these will need to be agreed before the policy commences.

Essentially boat insurance covers two distinct areas: that of legal liability and that of damage or loss of property. When an individual insures his boat for liability, it guards an individual against harm to another person’s assets brought about by the boat. It is just as important to find a boat insurance agent that looks after his clients by finding the best policies and obtaining the best settlements should they need them. A final piece of advice surrounds the liability section of the policy and the need to ensure you are covered should legal charges be brought against you relating to a matter that is protected under the boat insurance.