T&T: A nagging question

[Rich Gano]

Far from being time to put this thread to rest, it is time for us all to
pump it up and hit the marine insurance companies with the issue because
many people are either being driven from or prevented from even starting
boating in non-trailerable boats because of ridiculously high insurance
rates.  Rising rates, while being largely the result of a few bad years of
storms, would not have risen nearly so high had less damage been inflicted
on in-water boats.  I feel that a whole lot less boat damage would have
resulted if all those boat owners had given a darn about their boat.  It's
just that simple.

I was paying less that 700 bucks for hull insurance in 1986 for CALYPSO, and
moving to Florida from San Diego in 1990 changed the total very little.
After the big losses in the last few years, my insurance quadrupled, and I
just angrily opted out of the scam (excepting liability) because like Mark,
I feel I can protect my boat from a named storm.  I even have some
confidence in its survival against a Katrina-type storm hitting here.

The complex part is for insurance companies and policy holders to figure out
a solution.  Taken to an extreme, if all but one boat in a marina survive a
named storm with little or no damage, what is the insurance company supposed
to do about that one boat?  I would expect they would come down and examine
the situation thoroughly and deny any coverage if they find no evidence of
adequate preparation on that boat - a probability.

Taken to the other extreme, say most boats don't survive a named storm
without claimed damage.  I'd say the insurance company would still want to
be on the lookout for lack of preparation, but for the most part would be
hard pressed to find grounds for denial.

An workable appeal process should be available.

Now we need to applaud the guys like my brother Jim, who a week ago Friday
drove 50 miles to Galveston in the face of IKE and then waded in waist-deep
water onto the marina pier to then clamber aboard his boat for last-minute
mooring adjustments which allowed his boat to be one of the FEW to survive
the storm at Galveston Yacht Harbor.  Although, as he says, his boat is
normally pretty well prepared when he leaves it, the approach of Ike brought
home to him a few more mooring details he felt compelled to attend to.

I say the insurance companies should give guys like him (who demonstrate
that they care and can secure their vessels against just about anything) a
big break on their premiums from now on.  Such incentives might change a few
others' attitudes about securing their vessels.

Rather than the fatalistic attitude many have regarding insured items in the
path of a storm, we all need to talk up one simple philosophy, and that is,
short of risking a life, DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP.

Rich Gano
CALYPSO (GB-42 #295)
Southport, FL