Boatbuilder Public Liability Insurance

Boatbuilders can work with hulls, engines, timber, GRP, metalwork, electrical systems, customer vessels, tools, workshops, marinas and third-party property. Quote Monkey can help arrange a specialist broker referral for boatbuilders who need to discuss public liability insurance and related trade cover.

Cover is subject to underwriting criteria, insurer acceptance, terms and conditions.

Request a Specialist Broker Referral

Specialist Boatbuilder Liability Insurance Referrals

Boatbuilder public liability insurance may be needed by boatbuilders, marine repairers, refit specialists, restoration businesses, joiners, fabricators, engineers and small marine trade firms working on private or commercial vessels.

A specialist broker referral can help you discuss the type of work you carry out, where the work takes place, whether you work on customer vessels, and whether covers such as public liability, product liability, employers' liability, tools, equipment or custody and control risks should be considered.

This page is for referral support, not a direct insurance quote. Any insurance offered will depend on your activities, vessel types, turnover, premises, claims history, insurer acceptance and policy terms available.

Boatbuilder public liability insurance

Why Boatbuilders May Need Public Liability Cover

Boatbuilding and marine repair work can involve tools, lifting, sanding, resin, welding, hot works, electrical systems, engines, customer property, slipways, workshops and marina environments. If a customer, visitor, contractor or member of the public is injured, or if property is damaged because of your work, a claim could be expensive.

Public liability insurance may help protect against third-party injury or property damage claims. This can be important whether you work from your own workshop, at a boatyard, at a marina, on customer premises or aboard vessels.

Public Liability For Marine Trade Work

Public liability cover may respond if a third party claims they were injured or their property was damaged because of your business activities. Examples could include damage to a customer’s vessel, a visitor tripping over tools or materials, or accidental damage caused while carrying out work at a boatyard.

Insurers may ask whether you build new boats, repair existing vessels, carry out refits, use hot works, work afloat, move vessels, employ subcontractors or work on commercial craft.

Products, Completed Work And Customer Vessels

If you supply parts, fittings, fixtures, components, joinery, fabricated items, hull sections or marine equipment, product liability may need to be considered. This can be relevant where an item you supply is alleged to have caused injury, damage or loss.

Boatbuilders should also discuss completed work, custody of customer vessels, testing, sea trials, engine work, electrical work and any contractual liability requirements with the specialist broker.

Boatbuilder specialist broker referral

Employers' Liability And Subcontractors

If you employ staff, apprentices, labourers or temporary workers, employers' liability may be required. Boatbuilding can involve manual handling, machinery, dust, solvents, ladders, lifting equipment, confined spaces and work around water.

If you use subcontractors, insurers may ask whether they are labour-only or bona fide subcontractors, and whether they carry their own insurance. These details should be explained clearly during the referral.

Information To Have Ready

Before requesting a specialist broker referral, it helps to gather details of your boatbuilding activities, annual turnover, years trading, vessel types, maximum vessel value, where work takes place and whether you carry out repairs, refits, fabrication, engine work or electrical work.

You may also be asked about staff, subcontractors, claims history, tools, machinery, hot works, lifting equipment, work afloat, sea trials, storage of customer vessels, contracts and any insurance limits required by marinas, yards or commercial customers.

Frequently Asked Questions - Boatbuilder Public Liability Insurance

It is often recommended, especially if you work on customer vessels, operate from a workshop or boatyard, work at marinas, use tools or machinery, or have visitors and third parties near your work.

Product liability may be available where you supply parts, fittings, fabricated items or marine components. The broker will need to understand what you supply and how those items are used.

Work on customer vessels should be discussed carefully. Some policies may have conditions or exclusions for property being worked on, custody and control, vessel movement or sea trials.

Employers' liability may be required if staff, apprentices or temporary workers work under your direction. Subcontractor arrangements should also be explained to the specialist broker.

No. Any cover is subject to underwriting criteria, insurer acceptance, terms and conditions. Your activities, vessel types, claims history and risk controls may all affect availability.