Sailing Boat Insurance for Yachts, Cruisers, Dinghies, Racing Boats, Liveaboards and Specialist Sailing Craft

Sailing Boat Insurance is designed for sailing vessels such as yachts, cruisers, dinghies, keelboats and other sailing craft. The insurance available can depend on the vessel, value, construction, use, cruising area and where it is kept.

Suitable yacht enquiries can be introduced to a specialist broker. Provide details of the vessel, value, age, construction, mooring, cruising area and intended use.

Yes, suitable cruising yachts can be referred. The broker may need to understand whether the boat is used for inland, coastal, offshore or overseas cruising.

Suitable dinghy enquiries may be considered, including boats used for leisure sailing, club sailing and racing. Storage, transport and racing use should be disclosed.

Potentially. Tell the broker how the boat is stored, how often it is transported, where it is launched and whether a trailer also needs consideration.

Suitable racing boats may be considered, but racing use should always be declared. The level of racing, type of events and value of sails and equipment can all be relevant.

Club racing may be considered depending on the insurer and circumstances. Explain what type of racing is undertaken and how frequently the vessel competes.

Yes, suitable regatta use can be referred. Provide details of the events, type of racing and sailing area.

Offshore racing can require more specialist consideration. The broker will need to know the events, route, vessel type, crew arrangements and equipment.

Suitable classic yachts can be referred. The broker may require information about age, construction, restoration, maintenance, valuation and survey history.

Potentially. Wooden yachts and traditional craft can need specialist underwriting because their construction and maintenance differ from more modern boats.

Suitable restored sailing boats may be considered. Explain what work has been completed, by whom and the current value of the vessel.

Yes, suitable GRP sailing yachts can be referred to a specialist broker. Vessel age, value, use, mooring and cruising area will still be relevant.

Suitable steel and aluminium sailing vessels may be considered. Provide full construction details, age, value and intended use.

Suitable sailing catamarans may be referred. Size, value, construction, mooring, cruising area and intended use should be disclosed.

Potentially. Specialist multihulls can require more detailed consideration, so provide as much information as possible about the vessel.

Suitable liveaboard enquiries may be considered. Explain whether the yacht is a permanent or substantial residence, where it is normally berthed and how it is used.

Tell the broker how much time is spent aboard. Extended occupation may still be relevant even if the vessel is not your permanent home.

Yes, suitable high-value vessels can be referred. Accurate valuations, equipment values, security and survey information may be especially important.

Potentially. Provide full details of the design, construction, builder, value, intended use and any unusual features.

It can. Inland, coastal, offshore and overseas sailing create different exposures, so intended cruising areas should be declared accurately.

Cross-Channel use may be considered depending on the policy and insurer. Tell the broker if Channel crossings form part of the intended use.

Potentially. Give the broker the expected cruising area and countries involved so suitable options can be explored.

Suitable Mediterranean cruising may be referred, but the insurer will need to understand the navigation area and how long the vessel will be kept abroad.

Suitable offshore cruising may be considered depending on the vessel, crew, planned area and insurer.

Yes. Marina berths, river moorings, swinging moorings, pontoons and other locations can present different risks and should be disclosed.

Potentially. The broker will need details of the location, mooring arrangements and how the vessel is maintained and accessed.

Suitable marina-based yachts can be referred. Tell the broker the marina location and any relevant security arrangements.

Yes, suitable laid-up and ashore arrangements can be considered. Explain where the boat is stored, how it is supported and whether maintenance work takes place.

Potentially. Provide details of the boatyard, storage arrangement and whether any repairs or maintenance are being carried out.

Suitable small craft and trailer sailers stored at home may be considered. Tell the broker how and where the boat is kept.

Sails, mast, rigging and other equipment may form part of the overall insurance arrangement depending on the policy. High-value or specialist equipment should be declared.

Navigation and marine electronics may be relevant to the insured value of the vessel. Provide details of higher-value equipment where appropriate.

Tenders and outboards may be considered depending on the policy. Declare them and their values rather than assuming they are automatically included.

A trailer may require separate consideration depending on the policy and use. Tell the broker if the boat is regularly transported by road.

Suitable sailing schools can be referred to a specialist broker. Describe the vessels, tuition, instructor qualifications, student numbers and operating area.

Suitable club-owned sailing craft may be considered. Tell the broker who can use the boats, whether tuition or racing is involved and how they are stored and maintained.

Suitable charter operations may be referred. Skippered and bareboat arrangements should be described accurately, together with passenger numbers, cruising area and vessel use.

Potentially. Bareboat charter creates a different exposure from private use and should be fully disclosed.

Suitable skippered charter enquiries may be considered. The broker may need details of skippers, qualifications, passenger numbers and operating area.

Suitable yacht-delivery and repositioning businesses can be referred. Explain the nature of the work, sailing areas, vessel types and crew arrangements.

Suitable yacht repair and sailing-boat maintenance businesses may be referred for specialist commercial insurance. Describe the work, customer vessels, premises, tools and mobile activities.

Yes, suitable mobile specialists may be referred. Explain where you work, what services you provide and what tools or equipment you carry.

Suitable sailmakers can be referred. The broker will need to understand manufacturing, repairs, machinery, materials, installation and customer property.

Suitable riggers may be considered. Explain the work undertaken, whether work at height is involved and whether you work on customer vessels at marinas or boatyards.

Suitable specialists may be referred. Describe the equipment installed, customer vessels, tools, premises and whether work is carried out away from the main business location.

Suitable chandlers and sailing-equipment retailers can be referred. Tell the broker what is sold, stock values, premises, online activity and whether products are imported or own-brand.

Suitable ecommerce businesses selling marine and sailing products can be considered. Explain what is sold, where stock is kept and which online channels are used.

Include marketplace and social-media sales when describing the business. The broker should understand the complete sales model.

Suitable importers can be considered. Tell the broker what products are imported, countries of origin and where the goods are sold.

Own-brand and private-label arrangements should be disclosed because product responsibilities can differ from simple resale.

Suitable marine manufacturers can be referred. The broker may need information about raw materials, machinery, finished stock, products, premises and distribution.

Suitable businesses may be able to insure commercial stock held in self storage depending on the arrangement. Explain what is stored, its value and where it is kept.

Suitable home-based marine and sailing businesses can be considered. Explain the activity, stock, equipment, visitors and any work undertaken from the property.

Potentially. Tell the broker about the workspace, machinery, materials, customer property and any business visitors.

Public Liability can be relevant to sailing schools, repairers, retailers, mobile specialists and other marine businesses, depending on the activity.

Employers' Liability is generally legally required for most UK businesses employing staff, subject to limited exemptions. Tell the broker about employees and their duties.

It can be especially relevant to manufacturers, importers, own-brand sellers, chandlers, sailmakers, wholesalers and installers.

It may be relevant where a business provides professional advice, design, consultancy or certain instructional services. It is not automatically required for every sailing business.

It can be relevant where a business depends on online bookings, ecommerce, digital payments, customer information or other computer systems.

It may be relevant where a business transports its own sails, stock, tools, parts or other business goods. Transporting complete customer vessels is a separate exposure.

Yes, it can be relevant to workshops, sail lofts, chandlers, warehouses, offices and other commercial premises.

Business Interruption Insurance can help protect against certain financial losses following an insured event that disrupts trading, subject to policy terms and insured causes.

Describe every activity. A business may combine tuition, charter, repairs, retail, ecommerce, manufacturing or other activities, and the broker needs the complete picture.

Potentially. Both activities should be disclosed because tuition and charter create different exposures.

Yes. Tell the broker about the physical shop, online sales, stock, warehouse arrangements and any importing or wholesale activity.

For a vessel, provide details such as make, model, age, construction, value, use, mooring, cruising area, racing, liveaboard use, equipment and claims history. Businesses should also describe activities, turnover, premises, stock, employees, customer vessels, online sales and other relevant operations.