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Sailing beyond your cruising limits: what applies when the passage crosses the line?
Short answer
Hull cover normally applies only within the navigation limits written into the policy.
If the passage goes further, extend before you leave, because it cannot be done afterwards.
A call before sailing beyond them takes minutes.
The cruising limits on a policy schedule are not a formality. They set out where the cover applies, and the premium is worked out on that basis. Someone insured for the North Sea and the Baltic who decides on a whim to round Land's End for Biscay, or who carries on from the Mediterranean to the North African coast, is in many policies without hull cover once the line is crossed. If something happens out there, the owner may carry the whole loss alone.
Delivery trips are the classic trap. The boat was bought abroad, has to come home, and the policy only describes the waters it will later sail. Or the route passes through an area the wording excludes, such as a war zone or a coast named as excepted. And someone who only goes further afield once a year need not pay for wide navigation limits for twelve months: many policies offer a temporary extension for a single passage, agreed in writing and priced for the weeks it runs.
The rule is simple: ask before, not after. Read how the limits are described, often by latitude and longitude or as lines between two headlands, and plot them on the chart. If even part of the planned route lies outside, call before you cast off and get the extension confirmed in writing, with dates and the area. Liability cover is often worded differently and may apply far more widely than the hull section, but check that too rather than assume it. Keep the confirmation on board with the policy, so you can show it to a marina or the authorities.
Worth remembering
Before
one call, one written confirmation
After
no longer possible
The line in the policy still applies when the weather is perfect.
Questions
What owners ask us about this
What happens if I leave my cruising limits without telling the insurer?
Damage beyond the line is usually not covered under the hull section. Navigation limits cannot be extended after the event, so ask before the passage.
Can I extend the cruising area for a single passage only?
Many policies allow a temporary extension for a set number of weeks. Arrange it before departure and keep the written confirmation on board.
Does liability cover still apply outside the navigation limits?
Often yes, because liability sections tend to be worded more widely. Check the policy before you leave rather than relying on it.
Related
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