I understand the importance of having insurance on anything we own in todays world & I'm trying to figure out what I NEED as far as insurance on my pontoon boat. I live in Virginia & based on all that I have read on the official site, I see no mention of requirements for boaters insurance. Can anyone advise me as to what I SHOULD have? 

jall65 wrote: You are correct about not a requirement for insurance. I think there at least be some kind of liability insurance requirement. Just my 2 cents anyways, I insured my boat  for  $3000.00 over the NADA value. (to cover the odds and ends that I've added along with accessories..life vests, fish finders ect..) trailer included  with 100,000' life and 10,000 medical for only $8.00 a month on my home and auto policy(state farm). That's super cheap fI think anyways.

Thanks for the info jall65. I'm going to call my agent (Nationwide) tomorrow & see what I need & the cost. It scares me to think about not having some kind of insurance. I know my boat & trailer is cover as long as it is hooked to my truck but being on the water is an entirely different story.

I've had insurance from 'that place' for longer than I can remember.  They have always cost less for me than any other insurance (even when combined with a homeowners discount).  Since I got the new boat (and now the waverunner), I added the Unlimited towing option for those 'unexpected' nautical situations.  I've never had to be towed, but ya never know...

However, I've towed more boats to the dock/launch ramp than I can remember.

VaGent wrote: I just talked to my insurance agent about boat insurance & like JeepGuy I can bundle it into my homeowners & auto policy too. What I was told came as a surprise because they also said because the boat was over 20 yrs old I had to have a marine survey which can cost upwards to a couple hundred dollars. What they couldn't tell me was WHO did the marine surveys. Anyone know anything about this issue? My boat will not be ready for any kind of survey for at least another month due to setbacks so I have no idea what they would be surveying to begin with. Any help would be appreciated.

I've had some sort of boat insurance for nearly 50 years.  Boat US and/or Progressive are the only ones I'd even consider.  BTW, that survey is gonna cost at least $300 and probably more.  For an extra $100 with Boat US you can get a 24/7 towing provision for unlimited tows.  I think it's $100, if not, it's very close to it.

Jenn, do you suppose that might be a conflict of interest?  LOL

How was your vacation?  I did see where you got 'er launched.  I hope everything went well for you.

peppyjd wrote: Les--- The mechanic I used is also in the insurance business and sells marine insurance.  Would you like his card?   He can probably fix your boat as well should you have a claim.  (Cracking myself up).

I think I will 'pass' on that offer jenn. It might too long to process a claim if I were to have one.  How was your vacation? Are there any fish left for me to try & catch?   How did the the pontoon perform? Questions questions questiosns & we NEED PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES. 

I have also been looking for boat insurance recently, and have some advice, especially if you planning to get a policy on an OLDER toon that you are restoring.  First, it seems that if your boat was a total loss, they would give you pretty much something like the NADA value.  For me personally, I probably put twice that amount into the rebuild, on top of what I paid for the boat.  So, if you have an older boat, and you plan to insure it, apparently it is VERY IMPORTANT to keep EVERY receipt.  I called two places mentioned in this thread, including the one with the dancing gecko.  None required a marine survey, and only this place  would insure it for more than the NADA value.  They stated the value was $2500, but would insure it up to $4000.  The premium on their policy was smack dab in the middle of the other two.

On a lighter note, the dancing (and now unfortunately talking gecko) had some exclusions in their policy.  Among other things, they would not conver you boat in the event of war, insurrections, or civil wars.  They also wouldn't cover it if was damaged by the government, taken over by pirates (really), or was damaged by radioactive materials.   Although I guess I should stopp chuckling because I am moving it to Lake Anna, which cools the local nuclear reactor.