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Steering fails at full speed: who pays for the damage that follows?
Short answer
If the steering fails at full speed and your boat hits another,
the claim for their damage usually goes to your third party liability cover.
Damage to your own boat is for the hull policy,
while the steering fault itself is often treated as wear and tear.
When the steering fails at full speed, the rudder or drive stays where it was or kicks over to one side. The motorboat then carries straight on or swings into a circle, and unless the throttle comes back at once it may hit another boat, a pontoon, a buoy or the shore. Typical causes: hydraulic fluid has leaked or air has got into the system, a hose has burst, a steering cable has snapped or seized, or a linkage at the rudder or drive has worked loose.
Who pays for the damage that follows depends on who it hits. Damage to other boats, pontoons or people is usually a matter for your third party liability insurance; a technical fault does not automatically excuse the skipper, who is expected to handle and maintain the boat safely. Damage to your own boat from the collision or grounding is for the hull policy to assess, with us from Basis Plus. The steering fault itself is another matter: a leaking cylinder, a burst hose or a stretched cable are often treated in hull policies as wear and tear or mechanical breakdown and excluded. What applies is in your own policy wording.
If the steering goes, throttle back and take the drive out of gear at once, warn others with the horn and bring the boat to a stop, using the anchor if you must. Then take stock, call for help and get a tow rather than limping on. Prevention is simple: check the hydraulic fluid level, look over hoses and cables for cracks and corrosion, and turn the wheel lock to lock before every trip. If there has been damage, take photos, swap details, notify your insurer straight away and admit nothing.
Worth remembering
Damage from the collision
liability for others, hull cover from Basis Plus for your boat
Fault in the steering
often wear or mechanical breakdown
Turn the wheel lock to lock before every trip and you usually find the fault at the pontoon.
Questions
What owners ask us about this
Who pays if my boat hits another after a steering failure?
Damage to the other boat is usually a matter for your third party liability insurance. A technical fault does not automatically excuse the skipper, who must handle and maintain the boat safely.
Will hull insurance pay to repair the hydraulic steering?
Often not if fluid leaked, a hose burst or a cylinder failed. Many policies treat that as wear and tear or mechanical breakdown. Damage to the boat from a resulting collision is assessed separately.
What should I do if the steering fails at speed?
Throttle back and go to neutral at once, warn others with the horn, bring the boat to a stop and anchor if necessary. Then call for help and get a tow rather than carrying on.
Related
Not sure whether you qualify?
Whether it is “Steering fails at full speed: who pays for the damage that follows?” or another question: send us your residence and the flag your boat flies. You will get a straight answer in one email; including a no, if that is the answer.
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