Category: Boat/Watercraft Insurance

Protecting your boat goes a lot further than simply having a great insurance policy in place. Your insurance professionals at STARS Insurance, serving Deerfield, IL and the surrounding areas, are here to help you with great boat protection tips.

Here are some ways to keep your boat safe all year long:

Use an Alarm System

Alarms aren’t just for homes and cars. They can also be helpful tools to keep your boat safe from theft. Alarms are easy to install and can be linked to local emergency services to alert them if there is a problem. 

Choose Your Marina Carefully

The marina where your boat will be docked is an important part of your security. Before choosing a marina, you should research the owners, the area, and the history of the business. Talk to other boat owners who have used them to see what their experience has been like. You might also want to talk to locals in the area to get a feel for what type of area it is and what type of crime rates there are. 

Remove Personal Belongings Before Storage

If you will be docking or storing your boat, you should consider removing all personal belongings that might attract criminals. In most cases, a boat will not be a main target if it is empty. Even if you are only leaving the boat for a short time, do not leave your personal belongings inside. 

Make Your Boat Hard To Move

If your boat is being stored or kept on land, make sure that it can not be moved easily. You can install security features that lock the boat wheels or you can keep it in a place that is not easily accessed.

Get Boat Insurance Today

If you would like to learn more about boat insurance, please contact us at STARS Insurance serving Deerfield, IL and the surrounding areas. 

If your boat insurance cost is high, you might be forced to give up some coverage to make it more affordable. This would result in your boat not being sufficiently insured, which can be detrimental. However, this doesn’t have to be since you understand what factors impact the cost of your watercraft insurance; you can manipulate them to make your boat insurance more affordable. STARS Insurance in Deerfield, IL provides this guide on factors impacting your boat insurance cost.

Boat Insurance: What You Need To Know

1. Boat Ownership Experience

If you are a newbie boat owner, your watercraft insurance rates will be higher than those of an experienced boat owner. This is because the insurance company will see your lack of boat ownership experience to mean you are more likely to get into an accident, injure people, and damage property.

2. Driving Record

Even though you are an experienced boat owner, the insurance rates for your vessel can be high if your driving record indicates that you are reckless. The insurer will charge you higher watercraft insurance rates assuming that you will drive recklessly again, cause an accident, and make a claim. At Stars Insurance, we advise that you do your best to maintain a clean record, as it can be challenging to turn a tarnished driving record clean.

3. Storage Location

If you store your vessel in a locked garage, the insurer will assume that it is less likely to be vandalized, stolen, or damaged by a natural disaster like a severe hailstorm. Therefore, they will make your boat insurance more affordable. However, if you store your vessel at a marina or on your driveway, the insurance company will believe that it’s at a greater risk of being stolen or damaged. This increased risk will cause your boat insurance rates to go up.

Contact Us Today

Do you need more info on boat insurance in the greater Deerfield, IL community? The insurance experts at STARS Insurance are ready to help you.