Ontario Boat Insurance

You purchased a boat to provide years of personal enjoyment—ensure your pleasure by choosing the right Ontario boat insurance broker.

The Ontario Boat Insurance Basics

A small boat, such as a canoe or other un-motorized boat, is typically covered under the personal property portion of your homeowners insurance policy.

If you own a larger, faster boat, you'll need a separate Ontario boat insurance policy. It can help you insure your investment in the event of loss due to following risks:

• Sinking
• Fire
• Storms
• Theft
• Capsizing
• Stranding
• Collision
• Explosion

Ontario Boat Insurance Coverage

A typical Ontario boat insurance policy is designed to protect your boat, motor, equipment and passengers. It provides similar coverage to those you typically have for your car including the following:

• Theft, loss or damage to the boat and attached equipment
• Bodily injury coverage
• Damage caused to someone else's property by your boat or watercraft
• Liability coverage for your passengers, which would include family and guests
• Medical payment coverage for injuries to the occupants of the boat

Physical Damage Coverage

Physical damage coverage insures your boat, motor, boat trailer, boating equipment and other personal property against accidental loss or damages.

Boat Liability Coverage

Two principal liability coverages are included:

1. Personal liability coverage provides protection for legal liability and pays, up to the limit of your policy, the legal obligations imposed upon you due to an accident resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of your watercraft, including bodily injury, property damage and legal defence.
2. Medical payments coverage pays medical expenses up to the limits in the policy, including the insured’s boating-related medical expenses from an accident arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of the boat. Expenses include hospital, medical and ambulance.

Additional Boat Insurance Options

For added protection, consider the following additional coverage options:

• Reasonable repairs: Covers repairs done to protect covered property from further damage.
• Emergency service: Pays for reasonable costs that you incur resulting from specified emergency service to your boat, motor or boat trailer.
• Wreck removal: Pays the reasonable expenses you incur for any attempted or actual raising, removal or destruction of the wreck of your watercraft when damage is caused by an insured loss and removal or destruction is required by law.
• Umbrella liability: Provides additional boat insurance coverage across the board for home, auto and watercraft.

FAQ

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What is boat insurance?

• Boat insurance is in place to protect your boat, equipment, and accessories from any sudden or accidental damage. Boat insurance also covers you from any negligence under the liability coverage.

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When do you need boat insurance?

• Boat insurance isn’t mandatory but it is highly RECOMMENDED. If you finance your boat, you will be required to have boat insurance. If you park your boat in a marina, you will be required to have boat insurance, and you would not want to operate your watercraft without liability.

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What boat insurance do I need?

• The type of coverage you get depends on the type of boat, age of boat, use of boat, etc. It is important to go over all the information with your broker to make sure you have sufficient coverage.

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What does boat insurance cover?

• It covers you in the event of any sudden or accidental damage to the boat, equipment, or accessories. Boat insurance also covers you from any negligent acts under the liability coverage.

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Is boat insurance required?

• In Ontario there is no law that requires you to have boat insurance. If you finance your boat, you would require boat insurance, if you park it at a marina, you would require proof of insurance. It is definitely recommended to carry boat insurance to make sure you are protected in an unforeseeable event.

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Does boat insurance cover a blown engine?

• Coverage varies from company to company. Please speak with your insurance broker to make sure such coverage is in place. If it is due to a lack of maintenance or upkeep, that is your responsibility. Insurance only covers sudden and accidental events.

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Does boat insurance cover sinking?

• Boat insurance covers sinking if caused by any sort of sudden or accidental risk not excluded from the policy.

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Does boat insurance cover theft?

• Boat insurance covers theft if you have the coverage on your policy. Speak with your insurance broker to make sure you have sufficient coverage. Many policies for personal watercraft i.e. Jet Skis only provide theft coverage if the machine is in a locked facility. Theft is/can be excluded while trailering the machine, while tied to a dock, etc.

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Call your Ontario boat insurance broker today at 613-236-9101 to learn more about our insurance solutions for all of your recreational, home and auto needs.

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