Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned narrowboater or a beginner, it’s worth considering getting protection with specialist narrowboat insurance.
Below you will find all the information you need about how narrowboat insurance works and why you need it. We also detail all the different policy options available so you can find the ideal cover for you and your narrowboat.
Through Insure4Boats, you can protect your narrowboat against theft, accidental damage and malicious damage. As we detailed above, we also offer £3 million Third Party Liability insurance as standard.
Our narrowboat insurance policies also come with a range of optional extras, including contents insurance. It’s nice and easy to add to your policy and you’re not required to list every item that you have onboard.
Here’s a summary of our narrowboat insurance**. For full terms and conditions, please refer to the Insurance Booklet.
*Please note: This table only applies when you have Hull and Machinery cover
• £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
• Legal cover
**Cover also extends to any person in charge of your boat with your permission.
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
Insurance covers what you’re legally liable to pay if another person is seriously injured or dies after a collision with your narrowboat. This will also cover damage to another person’s property or another boat.
Liability insurance will also cover the legal costs of 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.
Our flexible policies mean you can choose from two simple cover options depending on the type of insurance you need, and then add the optional extras you require.
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. 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.
How much does it cost to insure my narrowboat?
The cost of insuring your narrowboat is based on a range of factors, including your claims history and age of your narrowboat.
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.
If you haven’t found the information on narrowboat insurance you were looking for, visit our FAQs page to find out more.
It’s vital that you take out insurance if you own a narrowboat. Insurance can give you the protection you need should your narrowboat get damaged or stolen. It can also provide cover should you accidentally damage another person’s boat or if you injure someone.
It’s also compulsory to have at least £2m Public Liability cover before you can obtain a license from the Canal and River Trust. Not only that, but a large number of marinas in the UK require you to have liability insurance before you can moor there. So taking out narrowboat cover will ensure that you don’t potentially get turned away.
There are several reasons why you should take out narrowboat insurance.
Not only is your narrowboat your pride and joy, but it could also be expensive – not to mention the contents you have onboard, too. So, if your boat gets stolen or damaged, you’ll have to pay out on any repairs or replacements if you’re not insured.
There is also the risk that you could damage some else’s boat or accidentally injure someone while on your narrowboat. Narrowboat insurance comes with Third Party Liability to cover your legal liability should anything like this happen.
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