What does third party boat insurance cover?
by Paul Knox-Johnston 28 Aug 2025 11:00 UTC
What does third party boat insurance cover? © Haven Knox-Johnston
What is a third party boat insurance policy? Inherently it is an insurance policy which can be taken out to provide a basic level of cover, which may satisfy the minimum requirements to comply with the rules and regulations governing parts of our coastal and inland waterways.
It is designed to offer a policy option for boaters who are happy with the minimum level of protection required should they harm a third-party vessel or person. It's a simple, bare-bones policy designed, as named, to protect others and their property, around the insured and it's worth noting that cover may not necessarily include removal of wreck and salvage charges. However, every insurance company has the option to add extra cover inclusions to a policy as they feel appropriate, to add to the potential appeal of their policy.
It should almost go without saying that making additions and amendments need to be communicated in a clear fashion to the policy holder. Any reduction in cover must legally be communicated with policy holders as a matter of course. It cannot be hidden in wording and just glossed over; it has to be clearly notified at the point in time that policy wording changes.
Read Paul's full article on the subject on the Haven Knox-Johnston website here!