Owning a boat can take a lot of work to keep things running smoothly. One thing that is a must for keeping it protected is insurance. If you have a boat, it is a good idea to check out the requirements and options for boat insurance. Here are some of the types of coverage that are available for boating insurance.

Types of boat insurance

Liability

Liability insurance covers costs related to an accident that you caused. If you hit someone’s property or injured someone, they could sue you for the damages. In the case of a lawsuit, your liability insurance could help cover the costs related to the lawsuit. Even if they don’t file a lawsuit, your insurance will cover medical bills and repairs for the other party involved.

Physical damage coverage

If physical damage coverage is a part of your policy, it will take care of the costs of any physical damage to your watercraft. This includes equipment and machinery related to the boat and any personal belongings.

Loss settlement coverage

There are two types of coverage under loss settlement insurance: the agreed-on amount and actual cash value. Agreed value is the value that you and the insurance company agree on to cover the loss of your boat. The actual cash value is the value of your boat at that given time and could be less than the agreed value.

Personal property coverage

Personal property coverage includes any personal effects you have on your boat, such as clothes, shoes, electronic items, etc.

Emergency towing and assistance

If you get stuck somewhere and need assistance or towing, your insurance coverage could help take care of the cost depending on what is in your policy.

Medical payments coverage

If you or anyone else on your boat gets injured in an accident, no matter who is at fault, medical payment coverage covers the medical costs.

Uninsured/underinsured boater coverage

Sometimes, boaters get into an accident with another boater who doesn’t have any insurance. In this case, it is helpful to have uninsured boater coverage to ensure you are covered. If the uninsured boater was at fault, this could come in handy and ensure that you would still be covered.