Question: What is an Exclusion? An exclusion is an item or risk not covered by an insurance policy or other contract. You will want to read your PWC policy and know the exclusions. Below are typical exclusions you may find in your PWC policy where you will not be provided property damage coverage against or resulting from: 

• Wear and tear, mechanical breakdown, gradual deterioration, corrosion, weathering, insect, mold, animals, marine life damage; 
• Marring, scratching, denting 
• Osmosis, blistering, or electrolysis 
• Manufacturer’s defects or defects in design 
• Loss or damage caused by freezing
• Loss or damage caused by ice while moored or laid up afloat.
• Loss or damage to machinery or equipment from any internal cause
• Any occurrence while any Covered Person is intoxicated or under the influence of any drug unless taken as prescribed by the Covered Person’s physician or is legally available without a prescription. 

If you need help understanding any of the exclusions in your PWC policy, call your insurance agent or the insurance company to know what is and is not covered. 

Question: What is an Intentional Act?

Reply: Intentional Act means purposefully causing harm/damage or destruction, acting without regard. Unsurprisingly, there is no coverage under a PWC insurance policy where any covered person intentionally causes loss, damage, injury, or loss of life.

Who must wear Personal Flotation Devices (PFD)? All boats must carry one Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved PFD for each person on board a vessel. In addition, all children under six must wear a USCG-approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD at all times while underway on any boat 26 feet or less in length.

How old do I have to be to operate a boat? There is no minimum age to use a boat except a personal watercraft (PWC). Florida law states that until October 1, 2001, a person born after September 30, 1980, and on or after October 1, 2001, a person 21 years of age or younger may not operate a vessel powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater unless such person has in their possession, aboard the vessel, photographic identification, and a boater safety identification card.

How old must you be to operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC)? In Florida, no person under 14 may operate any PWC. How old do you have to be to rent a PWC? Liveries are prohibited from renting a PWC to any person under 18 years of age. Persons 14 years old or older may operate a rented PWC as long as someone 18, or older rented it. A person must be 18 years of age or older to enter into a rental contract for a PWC.

A person under 16 may operate a motorboat of up to 15 horsepower, except for a sailboat that is at most 30 feet long or a dinghy used directly between a moored boat and the shore or between two moored boats. The law allows persons 12-15 years of age to operate motorboats of more than 15 horsepower or sailboats over 30 feet if supervised on board by a person at least 18. A violation of these provisions is an infraction. This rule applies to California

No person under 16 may operate a motorboat of more than 15 horsepower, except for a sailboat that does not exceed 30 feet in length or a dinghy used directly between a moored boat and the shore or between two moored boats in California. The law allows persons 12-15 years of age to operate motorboats of more than 15 horsepower or sailboats over 30 feet if supervised on board by a person at least 18. A violation of these provisions is an infraction.

Question: What do Navigational Limits mean within the watercraft insurance policy?

Answer: Navigational Limits means the geographical territory described in the declaration page of your policy, in which the insured vessel must be located at all times and at the time of any Occurrence for the insurance to apply. Navigational Limits: Coverage is provided on land or afloat within the Navigational Limits shown on the Declarations Page. 

Question: What is the policy period?

Reply: Watercraft insurance is typically suitable for six months to a year before renewal, depending on the company and plan. The policy period applies only to accidents or losses during the policy period, as shown on your policy Declarations Page. 

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” then 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 and are commonly suggested by government websites; the Illinois Department of Insurance website provides a list of rating agencies and will even offer company ratings to residents.

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 and are commonly suggested by government websites; the Illinois Department of Insurance website provides a list of rating agencies and will even offer company ratings to residents.

The BoatUS Foundation’s Online Boating Safety Course is the only free course approved by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Offered through the Foundation’s Online Learning Center, the new course includes videos demonstrating essential safety devices such as visual distress signals, how to prevent and extinguish fires aboard your boat, and the best way to fit a life jacket to a child so they will not slip out. Animations demonstrate important navigation rules, and the course is loaded with photos of real boats and boating equipment from start to finish. This free course is available because of the generous donations of BoatUS members.

You can make changes when needed, such as adding a rider or an additional PWC. Under the general provisions, Changes In Policy: The policy contains all the agreements between you and the insurance company. Its terms may not be changed or waived except by endorsement issued by the insurance company. If a change requires a premium adjustment, the insurance company will adjust the premium as of the effective date of the policy change.

“Uninsured boater” and “uninsured owner or operator” means an owner or operator of a vessel, other than the Personal Watercraft named in the policy, who cannot be identified or to whom no liability policy applies, for example, a hit-and-run operator.

Prohibited Operation: The following types of boat operation are incredibly unsafe and thus denied: 

• Operating any vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A blood alcohol concentration of .08 BAC is the current standard of intoxication in Massachusetts. Penalties have increased substantially and may result in losing a driver’s license and operating a motorboat within 150 feet of a swimming area, whether public or private. 
• Operating at an excessive speed considering weather conditions, boat traffic, and other hazards. 
• Operating at a speed greater than 45 m.p.h. for inland waters is always excessive.
• Operating a motorboat without properly working lights or while water-skiing/jet-skiing during the nighttime. 
• Operating at greater than headway speed (6 mph or less) when within 150 feet of a swimmer, waterskier, mooring area, marina, or boat launch. 
• Operating, when the operator’s vision is obscured in any way.
• Operating in an overloaded condition – carrying a total weight that exceeds capacity plate recommendations or is excessive considering water conditions. 
• Bow riding, unless the motorboat has adequate guardrails. 

Personal Watercraft Operation. Personal watercraft (PWC) are considered “motorboats” by law and thus must comply with all boating laws and navigation rules, including the speed and operation provisions above. Additionally, PWC users must adhere to state regulations specific to PWC operations. A new regulation places the legal responsibility for operation on the PWC’s adult operator, owner, or renter.

What is a Lay-up period? Lay-up period means the time period when your Watercraft shall be laid up and out of commission on shore for the period stated on the Declarations Page.