Category: Boat/Watercraft Insurance

Understanding what’s required and what’s not can confuse a boat owner. As a boat owner, Georgia has no legal mandates for boat insurance. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t situations and circumstances that would require you to carry boat insurance. Our Macon, GA team at O’Mahony Insurance Agency LLC knows that understanding boat insurance can be confusing. As a result, we’re here to help.

What is Boat Insurance?

Boat insurance is similar to car insurance and many other forms of insurance in that it protects boat owners from financial loss. This includes loss from boating accidents, liability, theft, personal injury, and damage to your watercraft. Boat insurance protects against property damage, underinsured or uninsured boater coverage, and towing assistance. Your boat insurance covers any accident that could cause damage to docks, marinas, and other boats while you’re using your watercraft.

I use my boat once a year. Do I need boat insurance?

Although Georgia doesn’t legally require boat insurance, the marinas and docks you may use usually require it. Also, if you’re financing your boat, your lender will require you to carry boat insurance until it’s paid in full. Boat insurance is a safety net for both you and others. It provides a variety of different forms of coverage that are essential when it comes to financial protection in the event of unforeseen issues involving your boat. If you have more questions about boat insurance, we’d happily answer them. We’d be happy to help you understand the benefits of boat insurance and the circumstances it can help with. We can also help you explore your options and find the best coverage. Call us, we’re standing by. We’d be happy to help you understand the benefits of boat insurance and the circumstances it can help with.

Experiencing a sinking of your fishing boat in Lucas Lake is unfortunate and begs the question, what happens next? The bad news is that your fishing boat has sunk, and the catfish will likely get drunk off your beer supply. The good news is that if you had the foresight to insure your boat, you can get reimbursed for the cost of your boat. While your beer will have to be written off as a loss, you can purchase a new boat or cover the cost of salvaging the sunken one, if that’s possible.

Post-Accident Procedure

Once you have verified that all individuals who were on board are safe, you should immediately call your insurance company. Keep in mind that if your boat sank due to a storm, your insurance provider might be preoccupied with claims from other clients. Patience is crucial here. Be prepared to give them as much information as possible, including pictures if you have any, to prevent any further loss.

The claims adjuster would want to ascertain if the cause of the sinking is covered under your policy. Incidents like accidents, collisions, or natural disasters may be covered. You will be paid according to the limits of your policy. Factors like manufacturing defects, maintenance errors, or even deliberate sinking are typically not covered.

O’Mahony Insurance Agency LLC – Serving Macon, GA

If you are in the Macon, GA, area and require boat insurance, please contact O’Mahony Insurance Agency LLC. Our experienced and friendly agents will do everything possible to help you find the policy that best suits your unique needs.

It’s important that boat owners know how to meet their insurance needs in Macon, GA. At O’Mahony Insurance Agency LLC, we can help you find the right boat insurance coverage in Georgia for your situation.

The following are four things to know about boat insurance in Georgia.  

Boat insurance policies don’t usually cover you wherever you go.

Boat owners need to pay attention to their policy’s geographic and navigational limits. If you take your boat far from home, you might not be covered for accident damages by your insurance policy. Ensure that your policy’s navigational limits don’t make it so that you aren’t covered in areas where you use your boat frequently. 

There are numerous types of boat insurance coverage available.

When you buy boat insurance, you can choose whether to include medical payments coverage, physical damage coverage, and uninsured boater coverage on your policy. Make sure you understand the different coverage types when choosing your policy. 

You usually have a few deductible amounts to choose from when you buy boat insurance.

Review your deductible options carefully when you buy boat insurance. Policies typically offer a few deductible amounts from which you should choose depending on your boat use habits and financial situation. 

Boat insurance is required at many Georgia marinas.

According to law, you don’t have to carry boat insurance as a Georgia boat owner. However, you probably need to have boat insurance if you plan to keep your boat at a marina. Most marinas require all boats stored at their facilities to be insured. 

Do you need to get a quote on a boat insurance policy in Macon, GA? Call us today at O’Mahony Insurance Agency LLC, and we can help. 

Protecting your boat has to be a priority when it comes to taking your vehicle out on the water. Even in storage, proper coverage helps minimize the risk of financial loss. The key is having the right balance of coverage to fit your specific needs. At O’Mahony Insurance Agency LLC, we help clients in Macon, GA and the surrounding area to get the coverage right to protect their investment.

Consider the Range of Policy Options That May Be Available to You

A customized quote designed to address your specific needs is key. Our independent insurance agent can help you navigate options, including:

• Watercraft medical payment coverage to cover the costs related to injuries or funeral expenses suffered by you or anyone on your boat.
• Uninsured watercraft coverage could help cover injuries sustained due to an accident with another boater who lacks insurance.
• Watercraft liability insurance helps cover costs another person suffers when you cause damage to them
• Repair cost endorsement coverage may help to provide higher coverage for your boat, the motor, trailer, and other boat equipment up to the limits of the policy
• Personal effects coverage to help cover fishing equipment if it is stolen or lost
• Agreed value option, which will provide coverage up to a value you agree on regardless of the boat’s current market value 
• Emergency service coverage, which could help with towing, breakdown costs, delivery of fuel or a battery, or other needs if you break down
• Boat trailer coverage which could help cover damage to your trailer

Each policy option here could be modified to fit your needs. With so many options, speaking to an agent is often the best way to ensure you get a policy that fits your goals and stays within your budget.

Let Us Help You Today

Contact O’Mahony Insurance Agency LLC now for a quote for boat insurance in the Macon, GA area.