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2 unrelated questions

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Inspiration
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/21/2012 : 06:33:57

1. We have boat usa insurance which is due. we are only able to go out a week this year. is it worth paying for the insurance?

2. for those who have a wing keel and trailer launch it how difficult is it to "Get Back ON The Trailer?"

Thanks Ted

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2012 : 07:01:10

If you keep the boat in the backyard, I would pay for fire, theft and vandalism, unless the boet is covered by your homeowners while it sits there. If it is at a marina you may be required to keep full coverage on it. Check with the marina.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2012 : 09:06:46

How big a judgement or fine are you prepared to pay if somebody gets hurt, you run into another boat, or something gets spilled? What are the odds of any of those.....? Your choice. (Full disclosure: I'm probably over-insured for everything except my own death, which is 100% certain, with premiums that would reflect that.)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/21/2012 09:10:46

Sam001
Vice Commodore

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USA
441 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2012 : 10:28:07

Insurance is designed for that one time you need it. As mentioned - what is your exposure risk?
Only takes one thing that goes bad to wipe you out. The insurance reduces the risk.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2012 : 10:57:19

Insurance for the boat is relatively cheap, I think we pay roughly $320/yr for $500k (required by our marina). A non-insured accident could be catastrophic to your finances.

Our wing keeled C-250 is a bit of a chore to get launched and recovered, a main reason why we're in a marina now. However, getting it back on the trailer is reasonably straight forward. We strap launch as do many folks on the forum, and the biggest key seems to be getting the trailer submerged enough so that the boat can float all the way forward. Assuming you're recovering at the same ramp you launched at, you already know the depth unless it's tidal or it's been some time and the level of your lake has changed. I made up a gauge to measure this, basically a length of line with a weight at one end, a knot at 5' (the depth I need to launch), and the rest of the line is the length of my trailer + the distance from the rear of the trailer to the front pads (where I need 5'). I walk the weight out to the 5' depth, then lay the line on the dock. As long as the dock is somewhat longer than the line, I know I can launch or recover. The place where I launch can have tidal swings of more than 12', so I always-always try to launch or recover on a rising tide. If your ramp ends abruptly (most seem to), make sure you know exactly where that end spot is, you absolutely do not want your wheels to drop off the end of the ramp, especially if the boat's on it and not floating all the way. The ramp I launch at the majority of the time has bright yellow markers on the dock showing where the end of the ramp is. If it's anywhere close to those markers I wait till the tide has risen a couple of feet so there's more room at the end of the ramp.

One thing to watch out for is your wing catching the diagonal supports at the rear of your trailer. My wing has some chunks that were taken out by the PO when launching (they're on the back of the wing where it's perpendicular to the keel). This has never been a problem for us while recovering (the front of the keel is swept back so it's much less likely to catch). Some people put PVC pipe around the diagonal supports to make them more streamlined. I've considered this, but it's not high on my todo list.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2012 : 11:03:52

Not that this is the right thing to do but I recall when I was in college/first years working and I had my first sailboats that I would trailer down to local ramps, I did not get insurance. But when I became older, more exerienced (and hopefully wiser) and graduated to larger, heavier and higher people capacity sailboats, I always bought boat insurance.
My thought is that while nothing may happen going out for just one week, your plans may change and you may have addl opportunities to go out. A a freakish thing could happen the one time you go out and this is not just one of those little sunfish or lasers where little damage would happen to another boat from a crash and more likely to have more than you on a larger sailboat so then you have responsibilities for their well-being.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2012 : 12:11:03

There is no such thing as a dumb question. This one tests the theory. Sorry to be so blunt. I thought it should be made clearer than the other guys (nicer guys).

I don't know anyone that has ever planned an accident. I know of one person that totaled his brand new specially ordered Camaro on the way home from picking it up at the dealership. I know another guy that totaled his 1965 GTO in an accident without insurance because he "didn't plan to have an accident" and he "only drives it in good weather". He spent another 3 years paying off the loan on a car he didn't have. Who was it that said "If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there."

So, in short, yes, you need to insure your boat. You might be able to find a short-term policy however. Check with the company that insures your house and car. You do have insurance on those, right?

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2012 : 12:53:59

...or to put it another way, if you can't afford to own a boat don't have one.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2012 : 12:56:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by delliottg
 
One thing to watch out for is your wing catching the diagonal supports at the rear of your trailer. My wing has some chunks that were taken out by the PO when launching (they're on the back of the wing where it's perpendicular to the keel). This has never been a problem for us while recovering (the front of the keel is swept back so it's much less likely to catch). Some people put PVC pipe around the diagonal supports to make them more streamlined. I've considered this, but it's not high on my todo list.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

They are not big bites. LOL

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2012 : 23:07:26

Yep, just like those, except a bit bigger.

Edited by - on

Inspiration
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2012 : 09:00:42

you are all right just got cheap. i know that i have to drive 8 hrs to get her in the water and with the gas prices i just got stupid. Insurance is the right thing to do period.

i really dont want to take any chunks out of my fin so not sure I even want to attempt to
launch the boat. will have to research the ramp that I use.

thanks for the replies.

ted

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2012 : 10:58:36

The loss of your own boat (and trailer) is a minor issue compared to potential liabilities to others--for example, if your boat starts the fire in the marina or storage facility. I wouldn't question a decision not to insure your own boat if it's worth just a few thousand--that loss might be sad, but not devastating to your family. Liability is "a whole nuther thing." You need insurance for events you can't reasonbably afford to handle--all others can be thought of as unnecessary contributions to insurance company profits. (Sorta like Vegas.)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/23/2012 14:39:03

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