Give the engine some TLC. Fall is a good time to change the oil and other fluids, so plan to replace them. Fall is also an excellent time to replace the oil filter. Ensure all fluid levels are correct and test or replace the boat’s batteries. Once you’ve done your maintenance, fire up the engine and make sure everything is humming the way it should.

It’s sexy, handcrafted in Austria, features a turbocharged 320hp engine under the saddle, and is only available in Europe (at least for now). But the Burrasca is making waves. It won a coveted Red Dot design award in 2021, added a BIG SEE Product Design win in ’22, and was Newcomer Brand of the Year at the German Brand Awards. Below all that, the highly customizable style is lots of lightweight carbon fiber. It’s in the engine access hood, deck, rear spoiler, and exhaust covers. It’s in the muffler and reverses flaps, except for those double-chromed exhaust tips. Up top, carbon even graces the handlebars and seat base. And check out the dual dash displays. The second includes an actual G-Force meter—which will prove that the Burrasca’s hull and oversized aluminum sponsors produced a brutal turn, starting at $46,000.

When you take a break from boating for a year or more, you should speak to your insurance agent. If your boat will be ashore and stored for over a year, it qualifies for “Port Risk,” meaning a lower insurance rate for boats not in use.

Salvage coverage is an essential component of your boat insurance policy. However, not all salvage coverages are equal. Some policies will pay for the costs of salvaging your boat out of the agreed hull or your policy’s actual cash value portion, which can leave little or no money left over to pay you (or your bank) for the loss of your vessel. A more comprehensive policy will pay for salvage out of a separate coverage up to an amount equal to the agreed hull or actual cash value. A policy written this way will pay to salvage and replace your boat. Talk to your insurance agent to confirm if you have the right amount of coverage.

The flagship FX Limited SVHO already sports a chop-busting hull, 65-mph-plus top speed, and bells and whistles like a 7-inch touchscreen control, GPS mapping, geofencing capability, Bluetooth audio system with text notifications and hands-free calling potential, and Garmin GPS/Fishfinder. Add the 6-inch-square RecDeck to its aft platform and increase its versatility even more. Anglers can use the RecDeck as a casting platform while adding a cooler and rod holders. Another option is a “Lounging” package that adds a 25-inch-wide seat. You can grab a cold one from the attached saddlebags and kick back at the sandbar. It starts at $21,121.

One way to save money on your PWC insurance policy is to consider having only liability coverages. Suppose you own your boat free and clear, and its value is modest. In that case, you can consider a liability-only policy that will still protect you financially from third-party damages in the event of an accident but will not reimburse you for the loss of or damage to your boat.

If you are considering switching to a liability-only policy, ensure it still provides coverage for salvage. If your boat sinks at its slip and your policy does not cover salvage, you will be out a boat and the thousands of dollars it will cost to raise, remove, and dispose of your former vessel.

The deductible is the amount you are responsible for before your insurer starts paying a claim. Increasing the deductible on your personal watercraft insurance plan will lower the cost of your premium. Your insurer is rewarding you for sharing more of the risk. But it will result in higher out-of-pocket expenses should you make a claim.

Regarding your PWC insurance, you will want to update your hull value to ensure you pay the right amount on your insurance premiums. Many PWC insurance policies base their rate on an “agreed hull value,” which is the specific dollar amount you and your insurer agree your boat was worth when you initially purchased the policy.

The agreed hull value is the amount your insurer would pay you in the event of a total loss of your vessel (minus salvage costs if your policy does not cover them).

But boats, like cars, depreciate over time. If it has been a few years since you first insured your boat, it may be worth looking into what it’s currently worth. Lowering the agreed hull value will lower your insurance premium. Remember to consider any outstanding balance on your boat loan as a minimum, regardless of the NADA or BUC book values.

Your cruising area can be an insurance rate factor. For example, if your current insurance policy covers you on the waters of the Pacific from Vancouver to Mexico, and you always stay in Puget Sound, chances are you are paying too much for your coverage. Talk to your insurance agent and verify your cruising area to ensure you get the lowest rate that fits your needs.

Take a Boating Safety Course

Taking a Boating Safety course will not only make you a better boater but may save you money on your insurance. You can take a state-approved boating safety class from organizations such as the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, or U.S. Power Squadrons. By taking the safety course, you may be eligible for a discount on your PWC insurance.

How to lower your watercraft insurance

There are several ways to get a better rate on your boat insurance. Some are beyond our control, but others are a personal choice. A little patience and research can improve the rate to a reasonable level and save a good amount of money in the long term. Basic improvements to their type of boat insurance are relatively easy to achieve. The main thing you need is patience. All good things to those who wait, as the old saying goes. If waiting is not a problem, then there is no reason why it should not be able to obtain decent boat insurance. The first step is choosing a good boat. Like a car, a sport boat is the most expensive insurance.

For introductory purposes have to do everything possible to choose a boat that is as safe as possible. Avoiding PWC with extreme power, giant engines, and a lightweight design speed increase would be best. A pleasure boat will make an insurance company far less nervous than the speed of a real devil to cut water and weak in the wake elderly. Many beautiful boats on the market have amenities and nominal speed capabilities that will not make your agent cringe. Boat value is another factor. Suppose the boat you choose has an extreme need to ensure that you can have a high insurance quote. To protect against this, make an informed decision when buying a boat.

Checking various vendors to make sure you are getting the best deal possible. Doing so, in effect, make your insurance rate drop considerably as the company will have less to cover in the event of an accident or theft. Being safe is another matter. Most agencies offer insurance discounts to customers who complete a safety course and navigation. Taking a safety course will make you a better sailor, decrease the chances that you will make a fatal error, and cost the insurance company a lot of money. This work also protects those at various levels.

Not only will you and the people be in better hands with someone with adequate training, but you will also have peace of mind that you will not make a wrong opinion at a crucial moment that could cause the loss of your boat.

Finally, you should contact the company that handles your car and home insurance. Companies usually offer discounts to those who use them for all your insurance needs. Which will help protect everyone involved and can simplify things from a viewpoint and billing. The result will be more money saved and less complication when the time for payments to be made.

Question: How do you get a personal watercraft insurance quote online?

Reply: Rating agencies are available online and are a valuable resource to help motorists make a well-informed decision before choosing a company. These agencies use certain tiers to place insurers based on financial stability; for example, one agency uses letter grades similar to school grading. If a carrier receives an “A,” they are regarded as having an excellent ability to compensate policyholders. A “D” letter grade would indicate a weak ability to fulfill obligations.

These agencies are a well-trusted source of information suggested by government websites; the Illinois Department of Insurance website provides a list of rating agencies and will even offer company ratings to residents.

Question: I am shopping for PWC insurance. Do I need to get them my personal information? 

Reply: Consumers who choose to shop for PWC insurance coverage without providing requested information should know that certain information is needed for carriers to provide as accurate of a quote as possible.

Motorists who wish to obtain quotes will most likely be asked to provide their vehicle’s name, address, age, year, make, and model; these items are necessary to calculate premiums. Drivers will also be asked to describe their driving history and, in some states, their credit as well.

A hull identification (HIN) or serial number is vital in registering and titling your PWC.

A hull identification number (HIN) or serial number is vital in registering and titling your boat. It is also essential to recover if your boat is stolen or if there is a recall campaign by the manufacturer. HINs can be found on all boats manufactured since the model year 1973. They are a letter-number combination usually about 12-17 digits long (ex-ample: ABC12345L402) and are usually found on the right side of the stern or transom of the craft on the outside. They may be stamped into the fiberglass or aluminum or be on a separate plate. Location may vary slightly on pontoon boats, personal watercraft, kayaks, canoes, etc. Boats built before November 1972 should have a shorter serial number somewhere on the craft.