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What to do after damage to the boat
Short answer
People first, then the boat, then the paperwork. What you photograph and write down in the first hour decides how the claim runs, long before anyone reads the wording.
The order never changes. People come first, then limiting the damage, then the record. Only once nobody is at risk and the water has stopped coming in does the claim start to matter, and by then the most valuable thing you can do is simple: photograph everything before you tidy up. Wide shots that show where the boat is and what is around it, then close ups of the damage, then the things you will forget, such as the state of the lines, the position of the fenders and what the sky was doing. A photograph taken before the clean up cannot be argued with afterwards.
Write down what a surveyor will ask months later and you cannot recall: time, position, wind and sea, who was aboard and what each person was doing, and the names and addresses of anyone who saw it. Where another vessel, a person or a theft is involved, bring in the authorities and note the reference number, because in most countries that report becomes the backbone of the file. Say what happened, factually, and leave the question of fault to the people whose job it is; admitting liability at the scene helps nobody, least of all you.
Then tell your insurer early, even if you do not yet know the extent. Early notice costs nothing and late notice can cost a great deal, since most wordings set a period for reporting and expect you to obtain agreement before repairs begin. Get estimates rather than instructing work, keep every receipt for anything done to prevent further damage, and ask before you move the boat if moving it will make the damage worse. If you are abroad, ask in what language the claim can be handled before you need the answer.
How to make a boat insurance claim, step by step
A boat insurance claim follows the same sequence almost everywhere. You tell the insurer or the agency that handles claims what happened, as early as you reasonably can, quoting the policy number and the boat's name. You receive or download a claim form, complete it and return it with photographs and any reports. Depending on the damage, a surveyor is appointed or estimates are requested, and once the cause and the cost are clear the claim is settled under the terms of the wording.
What speeds this up is having the facts in one place: the policy schedule, the boat's papers, your own notes of time, place and conditions, and the contact details of anyone involved. Answer questions in writing where possible and keep copies of everything you send. If a step is unclear, ask before you act, particularly before you instruct repairs or move the boat to another yard.
Boat insurance claim form: what it asks for
Claim forms differ in layout but ask for much the same information. Details of the policyholder and the boat, the date, time and place of the incident, the weather and sea state, who was in charge and who else was aboard, a description of how it happened, the damage to your boat and any damage or injury to others, the names of witnesses and any reference from the police, coastguard or harbour office. Many forms also ask whether the boat was being used for hire or racing at the time.
It helps to note these details while they are fresh, even before you have the insurer's form in front of you. The damage report form on this site is meant to be filled in on the spot, at the pontoon or at anchor, and covers the points most forms ask for. Write factually and describe what you saw rather than what you think caused it; the cause is for the survey to establish.
Photos and evidence for a boat claim
Photographs taken at the time carry the most weight, and a short video walking around the boat often shows the scene better than a dozen stills. Leave the date and location in the files and do not edit them. Photograph the damage with something for scale, the surroundings, the mooring lines and fenders, the other boat's name and registration if there is one, and the instruments if they show wind speed or depth at the time.
Evidence from before the incident is just as useful. Photographs of the boat at the start of the season, the inventory of equipment with serial numbers, a recent survey and the service log all show what the boat looked like before anything happened. Add a copy of the weather forecast or the coastguard's warning if conditions played a part, and keep any damaged parts that are removed until the claim is settled.
Time limits for reporting a boat insurance claim
Every policy sets out when a claim has to be reported, and the wording is the place to check. Many ask for notice as soon as reasonably possible, some name a period in days, and theft usually has to be reported to the police straight away as well. A late notification does not automatically end a claim, but it can make it harder, because evidence is lost and the insurer has had no chance to limit the cost.
The safe course is to report early, even if you do not yet know how large the damage is or whether you will claim at all. A short message stating the date, the place and what happened is enough at that stage, with the details following later. Keep a record of when and how you notified, such as the email or the reference number given on the phone.
Claims involving another boat: third party damage
When another boat or person is involved, exchange names, addresses, the boat's name and registration and the details of each owner's insurer, and write down the names of witnesses. Photograph both boats and the position they were in. Stick to facts when you talk to the other party, and do not accept liability or promise to pay; that decision belongs to the insurers, and an admission made in the heat of the moment can make the claim harder for everyone.
If you receive a letter or a claim from the other owner, pass it on unanswered to your own insurer with your notes and photographs. Likewise, if your boat was damaged by someone else, report it to your own insurer even if the other party has promised to pay, because promises made on the pontoon are not always kept once the bill arrives.
Worth remembering
First hour
is when the evidence exists
First tidy up
is when most of it disappears
Photograph before you clear up, and the rest of the claim argues itself.
Questions
What owners ask us about this
What should I photograph?
Everything, before you tidy anything: the scene from a distance, the damage close up, the lines, fenders and equipment, and anything that shows the conditions at the time.
Should I call the authorities?
Yes where another vessel, an injury or a theft is involved. Note the reference number; in most countries that report is what the file is built on.
Can I start repairs straight away?
Get estimates first and ask for agreement. Preventing further damage is expected of you and is a separate matter, so keep those receipts.
How quickly must I report it?
As soon as you reasonably can. Wordings set a period, and an early call about an incident you do not yet understand costs nothing.
Do I need a police report for a stolen outboard?
Yes. Theft should be reported to the police as soon as it is discovered, and the crime reference number is almost always asked for on the claim form. Add the outboard's serial number and photographs if you have them.
Can I report the claim before I know the full damage?
Yes, and it is usually the better course. A brief notice with date, place and what happened keeps you within the time limits, and the details and estimates can follow once the boat has been inspected.
Related
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