Boat at the boatyard during a refit: is it still insured?

A refit often runs all winter, whether in a shed on the Hamble, at a yard in Friesland or ashore in Mallorca: new antifouling, an engine rebuild, rewiring, perhaps a new teak deck. The boat sits on stands or in a cradle, surrounded by scaffolding, sanding dust, solvents and welding gear. The risks are different from those afloat. A spark from hot work sets the shed alight, parts go missing from an open boat, a gale blows the scaffolding over, a strop slips during lifting. Each of these can cause more damage in an afternoon than a whole season on the water.

Check that your hull policy still applies while the boat is ashore, during lifting out and launching, and while it is being repaired, surveyed or overhauled at a suitable yard. Some wordings limit cover during major works or ask to be told in advance, so read the laid up and refit clauses. With our season policy there is no cover from 1 November to 31 March, at the yard included. Damage the boatyard causes while working on the boat is normally its responsibility, usually through its own liability insurance. In practice your hull insurer may settle first and then recover the money from the yard, which is why the yard's terms of business matter.

Before the refit starts, agree in writing who insures the boat during the work, what liability cover the boatyard holds and who is responsible if the shed burns down. If the refit raises the value of the boat noticeably, for example with a new engine or new electronics, raise the sum insured, otherwise underinsurance can reduce a later claim. A major conversion, a new type of propulsion or a change of use should be reported beforehand, as it may change the risk. Record the condition before and after with photos and invoices.

Worth remembering

Agree in writing who insures what before the first tool is picked up.