How you can further improve your Coverage

Crash! While mooring, you smash a window on your neighbour's boat. Worse still: You injure a crew member. As soon as a third party files a claim against you, your yacht liability insurance kicks in, regardless of whether the damage involves property, financial loss, or personal injury. As a matter of self-protection alone, it is the bare minimum for every boat owner.

In Germany, liability insurance for boats is not required by law. However, anyone taking part in regattas must usually be able to provide proof of such cover. Furthermore, in many harbours, marinas and boat storage facilities, boats without this minimum insurance cover are not permitted to stay. Besides that, countries around the Mediterranean require valid yacht liability insurance.

Whether your mast breaks or your boat runs aground: if you want to insure your own boat against damage, you should look into yacht hull insurance. This covers partial damage, but also total loss, salvage and wreck removal. Please note: just like the premiums for this more costly cover vary widely, so do the terms and conditions offered by different providers.

When taking out yacht hull insurance, pay attention to whether it is an all-risk insurance policy or whether only certain risks are covered. Check the exclusions. It is also important to consider whether, in the event of a claim, the agreed insured value or the current market value will actually be reimbursed. This also applies to partial damage: with Pantaenius, you will receive a new-for-old replacement.

What if someone injures themself on board? People frequently fall, for example when boarding in port or during winter storage. In such cases, yacht liability insurance does not apply. That is why a boat owner should also consider taking out accident insurance for yacht passengers.

This means that injuries, which can happen quickly on board, are at least financially alleviated. This applies all the more to skippers who often have external crew on board. Anyone who has already taken out a separate accident insurance – for family members, for example – should check whether water sports are included under its terms and conditions.

Are you planning to buy a new boat or to have a complex refit carried out on the family yacht? If so, you should consider taking out yacht legal protection insurance. This should also cover contract law. Even in cases of minor disputes, costs can quickly run into the four-figure range.

You already have legal expenses insurance? If so, check whether it covers your boat and contract law. By the way, you do not necessarily have to keep yacht legal protection insurance for a long time. Once the brand-new boat has been delivered and everything is working perfectly, you can cancel this insurance again after one or two years. 

Are you planning a long voyage? Even when travelling within the EU, taking out travel health insurance is a good idea. Whilst statutory EU-wide cover guarantees treatment in line with local standards, it is limited in terms of duration and scope. Return transport, for example, is not covered by statutory insurance. 

Travel health insurance from Pantaenius offers worldwide cover and takes into account the specific challenges of a long-term sailing trip. This includes medically necessary treatment, medical transport and repatriation, as well as optional preventive medical check-ups. Furthermore, our cover is valid for an unlimited period of time.