Whether you’re an experienced narrowboater or just getting started, it’s well worth considering protecting yourself and your boat with specialist narrowboat insurance.
Narrowboat insurance is a form of financial protection that can protect you, your narrowboat, and other canal users from some of the risks associated with owning and using one.
Narrowboat insurance through Insure4Boats can protect your narrowboat against theft and damage (accidental and malicious). We also offer Third Party Liability cover up to £3m as standard with every narrowboat policy.
When you take out a narrowboat insurance policy through us, you can also choose from a list of optional cover extras, including contents insurance and personal accident cover.
Check out the summary of cover* below.
• £3 million Third Party Liability
• Accidental loss or damage to your narrowboat
• Malicious damage
• Theft of your narrowboat
• Accidental damage caused by fire, explosion, collision, stranding, grounding and heavy weather
• Accidental damage caused to another boat or property, or injury to another person
• Legal costs incurred due damage to a third-party boat or property, or injury to a third-party person
• Salvage charges and expenses incurred in preventing or minimising damage to your narrowboat
• Damage caused by insects, marine borers, barnacles, marine growth, vermin, fungi or molluscs
• Damage caused by corrosion, rot, rust, mildew, dampness, weathering, electrolysis, osmosis
• Theft by a person to whom the narrowboat was entrusted
• The first excess of any claim
• Contents insurance
• Frost cover
• War or terrorism damage
• Personal accident cover
• Personal possessions cover
• Legal cover
• Replacement locks and keys
• Frozen food cover
• European and Worldwide cover
• Money cover
*Please note that the cover outlined above only applies when you choose Hull & Machinery cover. Cover also extends to any person in charge of your boat with your permission. For full terms and conditions, please refer to the Narrowboat Insurance Booklet.
Theft
Narrowboat insurance covers the theft or attempted theft of your narrowboat. Please make sure you refer to the details regarding theft in the Insurance Booklet for more information.
You discover that someone has stolen your narrowboat from a secured and sheltered mooring complex during the night. You would be able to make an insurance claim in this scenario.
Third Party liability
Third Party Liability covers what you’re legally liable to pay out if somebody is seriously injured or sadly dies after a collision with your narrowboat.
It can also cover any damage your boat causes to another person’s boat or other property, plus the legal costs involved in defending or settling a civil claim.
You accidentally collide with another narrowboat while docking into a marina. The collision causes damage to the other boat and the occupant suffers serious injuries. In this scenario, you would be able to make a third party liability claim.
Flexible narrowboat insurance policies through Insure4Boats mean you can choose from two simple policy types depending on the level of insurance you need and the optional extras you wish to add on.
Increased standard Third Party Liability cover
Increase your standard Third Party Liability cover from £3 million to £5 million for just £40 plus IPT (insurance premium tax).
Contents cover
Protect your onboard personal possessions against theft, loss or damage up to £125k. It’s quick and simple to add to your quote and there’s no need to list every item.
Frost
Insures your boat against loss or damage as a result of frost or freezing.
Personal Accident
This will cover you, or any passengers, up to £20,000 in compensation following a serious injury whilst using your boat or craft.
War
Although damage caused by war, strikes, terrorism and other associated risks are rare, the damage caused can be severe. Protect your boat against these risks by adding War cover to your policy.
Can my narrowboat insurance be in joint names?
Yes, anyone who has a financial interest in the narrowboat can be named in the policy.
Can I add another boat to my narrowboat insurance policy?
No, you will need to purchase a separate policy for the other boat.
Does the optional personal accident cover protect my passengers as well as me?
Yes, they would be covered with personal accident insurance.
Is narrowboat insurance a legal requirement?
No, narrowboat insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK. However, having insurance in place is widely considered an important part of being a responsible boat owner.
Not only does insurance protect you and your boat, but it can also protect other canal users. With insurance, you could avoid having to pay for repairs and replacements or settle legal claims from your own pocket.
Though not required by law, obtaining a Canal and River Trust licence requires having at least £2m worth of Public Liability cover.
Why insure your narrowboat through us?
Our Boat (Hull & Machinery) & Third Party Liability Narrowboat Insurance protects your boat against theft, accidental and malicious damage, and salvage charges. It also includes up to £3m worth of Third Party Liability as standard, which protects you if your narrowboat damages another boat, someone else’s property, or causes injury to another person.
You can increase your Liability cover to £5m for an increased premium, and you can also add Contents cover to your policy should you feel you need it.
Are the contents of my narrowboat covered?
There is an option to add Contents cover to your narrowboat policy.
You can specify the amount of cover you require, up to a maximum of £125k, so you'll only pay for what you need. You do not need to list every item either. Simply tell us the total value.
If you haven’t found the information on narrowboat insurance you were looking for, visit our FAQs page to find out more.
If you own a narrowboat, having specialist narrowboat insurance is important as it can give you the financial protection and peace of mind you need in the event of damage and theft. It can also cover you should you accidentally damage another person’s boat or injure someone while using yours.
As well as being your pride and joy, narrowboats can be expensive to buy, kit out and maintain. So, you’ll want to ensure your investment is protected should the worst happen.
In addition to the financial protection insurance can provide, having at least £2m worth of Public Liability cover is also compulsory for obtaining a licence from the Canal and River Trust.
Not only that, but many UK marinas will require you to have proof of Public Liability cover before allowing you to moor your boat there.
The cost of narrowboat insurance can vary depending on various factors, including the age and value of your narrowboat, where the vessel is moored, and your claims history.
The quickest and easiest way to determine how much your narrowboat insurance through Insure4Boats could cost is to get a quote.
Our boat insurance claims service is provided by MAC Marine Claims Ltd.
If an incident occurs, you can contact the team on 0333 400 9159 or email office@macmarineclaims.com. More information on our claims process can be found in our Insurance Booklet.
All claims must be made within the claim notification period set out in your Insurance Booklet.
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