You’ve decided to take a group of friends out onto the water with you. It’s going to be a fun weekend. Then, someone falls and is hurt –or perhaps you allow one of your inexperienced friends to operate the boat and they collide with something or someone. Now your good weekend has become a problem. The good news is your boat insurance may be there to help you cover these costs and losses. How much is covered depends on the type of coverage you have.
Who is Covered?
Boat insurance provides a great deal of financial protection for boat owners. It can provide that protection to both boat owners and the passengers on board. Passengers on the boat are protected by your liability insurance policy. This may provide some protection for the activities that they participate in. Keep in mind that you should always verify your policy offers the specific coverage you need and does not have exclusions. You may wish to talk to your boat insurance provider about risks related to:
- Passenger injuries while on the boat
- Water skiers and their coverage
- Anything you are pulling behind your boat
- Collisions when others are at the helm
- Activities conducted on the boat
Your boat insurance does not generally cover your water skis and other off-boat activities. However, you can purchase recreational insurance that can provide coverage for these items. It may not be the same policy as with your boat insurance, but you can bundle these policies to reduce your costs. Watercraft coverage, though, needs to cover these items by name. That means you cannot assume your jet skis are covered under your boat insurance policy. Tell your insurer about these valuables. 
Safeguard Your Boat
The fact is, boat insurance can cover your passengers for most risks if and when you have enough coverage. Your coverage only extends as far as the actual limit on your policy. Be sure your liability insurance, then, is of a high enough value to potentially cover all of your risks and minimize any financial losses you could suffer otherwise. The right policy is one that can give you peace of mind no matter what you are doing on your boat or who you are with on the water.
Ensure the everyone can enjoy your boat safely. Call Freedom Insurance at for more information on boat insurance.