Insurance Insight: Fun On The Water

It’s that time of year again! The rain has come and helped us to see the beautiful landscaping that covers Arkansas. Spring is a season like no other, especially with the excitement of long summer days ahead. We know what that means – lake time! For those of you with a boat, you are probably already getting excited thinking about taking it out on the lake for the first time this season. Or, if your boat is a fishing boat, it’s probably already been out by now, assisting you in catching a mess of whatever your preference is!

Believe it or not, your insurance agent can help you make the most of that time with boat insurance that protects you as well as your boat. Whether you’re enjoying your boat out on the water or maintaining it on land, accidents can happen involving other boats, property, or even injury to yourself and others. In addition to property coverage, some policies include legal liability protection and medical payments.

Watercraft Liability coverage covers your legal liability for bodily injury and property damage up to the policy limits for accidents resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of your watercraft. It may also cover your legal defense, if needed.

Watercraft Medical Payments coverage may pay medical expenses up to the policy limits for you, family members who live with you and other occupants of the boat injured by an accident resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of your watercraft.

Whatever type of watercraft you own – from personal watercrafts to larger cruisers – boat owners policies cover your boat and commonly used equipment such as life preservers, extra fuel tanks, detachable canopies, oars, motor, and trailer, among others.

Some policies also provide coverage for a newly-acquired watercraft if you have an existing policy. They will pay for reasonable repair costs necessary to protect your boat from further damage. Most will also pay up to coverage limits for reasonable expenses caused by an attempted removal or destruction of the wreck.

All of this is great, right? In my experience, half of the battle is also knowing what is not covered. It is important to review your policy to be sure you know what is covered and what is not.

Smart boating safety tips can also help you along the way. Life jackets must be available for each person aboard and be worn or properly stowed. Also, according to the US Coast Guard, 9 out of 10 drownings occur in inland waters, most within a few feet of safety and involving boats under 20-feet long. Most of these people weren’t wearing a life jacket because they thought they would be able to get to it in case of an emergency.

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to maintain as much body heat as possible, floating in the Heat Escape Lessening Position, or HELP, will lessen heat loss. It consists of bringing your knees up as close as possible to your chest and grasping your hands together over your knees and chest, but under the front of your life jacket.

Lastly, know the rules, take a boating safety course, and have a float plan so your loved ones know when to expect your return. You can visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website (www.agfc.com) for information on regulations for the waterways you plan on spending your time in, as well as any other safety tips you may need to consider.

Boating and fishing are leisure activities that have been around for centuries. We continue to get smarter about using our waterways. Learning from mistakes of the past is not anything new, but a necessity. So, whether you’re on a mission to be the best fisherman in Arkansas, or you just want to slow down and float along the banks, please make sure you take those extra few steps to protect your beloved boat and family.