Having a boat can be costly , with mooring , registration, and maintenance all adding up . Then there’s the insurance . Unlike with cars , it’s not legally required to be insured but if you don’t, you could discover a hefty bill for crashes and repairs , before even considering getting your craft stolen . What’s more , with no insurance you’ll discover many marinas will turn you away .

Where to begin with the complications of boat insurance ?! My tip is to make a brief switch from sailing to browsing the web . Looking for quotes on the internet is far easier these days , with dedicated sites which will do this on your behalf , some even specializing in boating .

Because of the sheer number of companies who currently offer marine insurance, you will probably find some fairly competitive quotes out there . Plus , if you are new to sailing , you should consider trying one of the novice courses available as it may lessen the quote more .

Next, on to the detail . Which kind of insurance cover will be needed ? There are two general kinds that should be looked at :

Hull and Machinery (For total loss)

Liability (For when you’re at fault and for injuries)

To get more specific , professional advice, look for specialized companies with a sound reputation, like Admiral Marine Insurance. You’ll find companies like this have a very helpful customer service team on the phone and offer the security of a trusted high street brand name , along with some extremely inexpensive policies to pick from.