Hull and physical damage
Covers the boat itself from collision, sinking, fire, theft, vandalism, and storm damage, up to the agreed or actual cash value.
Boat Insurance
Boat & Watercraft Insurance in Florida and Georgia
Hull and physical damage, liability, on-water towing, personal effects, and the coverage details that actually matter for Florida boating. We compare specialty marine carriers and explain what your policy covers before you bind.
Why this matters
Boat insurance written for actual Florida boating.
Boating in Florida is not the same as boating in a freshwater state. Salt corrosion, hurricane exposure, heavy intracoastal traffic, and the mix of inland, coastal, and offshore use all change what a boat policy needs to do. The cheapest policy with the lowest hull value and a small personal effects sublimit is rarely the right policy for a 24-foot center console kept on a lift in Saint Augustine.
Whether you're insuring a new boat, refinancing an existing one, moving up from a runabout to an offshore fishing platform, or just tired of a policy that does not match how you actually use the boat, we'll write coverage that fits the real use case and explain the trade-offs before you bind.
What's covered
What boat coverage includes.
Liability
Pays for bodily injury or property damage you cause to others while operating the boat, up to your policy limits.
Medical payments
Covers medical expenses for you and your passengers after an on-water accident, regardless of fault.
Uninsured boater
Protects you when another operator without insurance causes injury or damage to you, your passengers, or your boat.
Personal effects
Covers fishing gear, electronics, water sports equipment, and similar personal items on board, up to a sublimit.
On-water towing and assistance
Pays for towing back to harbor, ungrounding, jump-starts, and fuel delivery on the water when your boat is disabled.
Gaps
What boat coverage doesn't cover.
Racing and speed competitions
Organized racing, time trials, and similar competitive use are excluded under standard recreational boat policies. Racing requires a specialty endorsement or separate policy.
Charter, rental, and commercial use
Renting the boat to others, running fishing charters, or any commercial use is excluded on a personal policy. Commercial marine coverage is a separate product.
Wear, tear, and mechanical breakdown
Engine failure, gradual corrosion, blistering, and routine deterioration are not covered. Boat policies cover sudden accidental losses, not the cost of upkeep.
Marine pollution and fuel-spill liability
Coverage for fuel spills, oil discharge, and environmental cleanup is often capped at a low sublimit or excluded entirely. Larger vessels typically need a separate pollution endorsement.
Operating outside the policy's navigational territory
Every boat policy defines where the boat is covered. Trips beyond US territorial waters (Bahamas, offshore) without a navigational extension can void coverage for that trip.
Damage during unattended storage without compliance
Storm losses while the boat is stored in a location or condition that violates the policy's lay-up or named-storm requirements may be denied. Read the storage warranties before hurricane season.
State knowledge
What to know about boating in Florida and Georgia.
Florida
No insurance mandate
Boater ed required (1988+)
Hurricane exposure
Florida does not require boat insurance by law, but most marinas, lenders, HOAs, and slip rentals require it. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 must complete a state-approved boater safety course and carry the card on board. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with the heaviest activity typically August through October. Carriers expect specific lay-up or haul-out plans on boats kept in the water during peak season.
Georgia
No insurance mandate
Boater ed required (1998+)
Mostly inland boating
Georgia does not require boat insurance either, but the same lender and marina requirements apply. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1998 must complete an approved boater education course. Most Georgia boating is inland on lakes and rivers, which changes how carriers rate exposure compared with coastal Florida. We write boats in both states from our offices in Saint Augustine and Saint Johns.
Limits
Coverage limits to consider.
The single most important decision on a boat policy is agreed value versus actual cash value. Agreed value pays a fixed amount at total loss with no depreciation deducted, while actual cash value pays current market value at the time of the loss. The difference can be tens of thousands of dollars on a boat that has held its value better than the carrier's depreciation schedule assumes.
Liability limits on boat policies often start at $100,000 or $300,000, but those numbers are low for offshore use, high-horsepower setups, or any household with assets to protect. We typically recommend liability that matches your overall exposure, and we pair it with a personal umbrella when it makes sense. The right limit is a function of what you stand to lose in a worst-case lawsuit, not what the carrier quotes by default.
Personal effects sublimits are easy to miss. Most policies include a base amount for gear and electronics, but tournament fishing equipment, premium electronics, and water sports inventories can quickly exceed the standard sublimit. Higher-value items often need to be scheduled individually or covered under a separate personal articles policy.
Deductibles are usually structured in two tiers: a standard deductible for most claims, and a higher named-storm or hurricane deductible that applies during declared events. Some policies also require the boat to be hauled out, secured in a slip, or moved inland when a named storm is forecast. Lay-up credits during off-season months can offset the higher deductible cost. We will walk through both deductibles, the storm requirements, and any lay-up credit you may qualify for during the coverage review.
Recommended for most boats
Agreed value
Fixed payout at total loss based on the value listed on the policy. No depreciation deducted. Best for newer, financed, well-maintained, or higher-value boats.
Lower premium, lower payout
Actual cash value
Payout based on current market value at the time of the loss, with depreciation. May make sense for older boats where premium savings outweigh the depreciation gap.
Common scenarios
Situations that change your boat coverage.
Buying a new or used boat
Lenders typically require coverage in place before closing. We can quote before you buy so you know the insurance cost and any survey requirements up front.
Approaching hurricane season
Named-storm deductibles, haul-out requirements, and lay-up credits all matter before June 1. We review your policy's specific provisions ahead of the season.
Off-season or seasonal storage
Boats stored on a trailer, on a lift, or in dry storage may qualify for a lay-up credit during months not in active use. The credit can meaningfully reduce annual premium.
Trailering between FL and GA
The boat policy covers the trailer itself; the tow vehicle's auto policy covers liability while towing. If you trailer regularly, we make sure both are aligned.
Letting a friend or family member operate
Permissive-use rules vary by policy. Some carriers require listed operators or have operator-experience underwriting. We'll check your policy's specific language.
Adding electronics or fishing gear
A premium chartplotter, tournament fishing inventory, or upgraded electronics package can exceed the base personal effects sublimit. Higher limits or scheduled items often make sense.
Premium and discounts
What goes into your boat premium.
What affects your premium
Boat premiums depend on a different set of factors than auto. The biggest movers are the boat itself (type, length, age, hull material, value), the engine package (horsepower, single or twin, gas or diesel), and the intended use (inshore, intracoastal, offshore, lake, river). A 22-foot bay boat used inshore is rated very differently from a 32-foot offshore center console with twin outboards.
Where the boat is kept and how it is stored is the next major factor. A boat on a lift behind a home rates differently from one in a marina slip, on a trailer in a driveway, or in dry stack storage. Carriers also consider operator experience, claims history, and the navigational territory you actually use. Misstating any of these is a fast way to have a claim denied later.
No two carriers weight these factors the same way. A specialty marine carrier may rate aggressively on offshore use and discount inshore use, while a general carrier may be the opposite. Shopping across multiple appointed marine carriers is the only way to see what your specific boat, use case, and storage situation actually price out to.
Discounts that may apply
Discounts on a boat policy are smaller in dollar terms than on auto or home, but they stack and they matter. The single largest is often the lay-up credit during months the boat is stored and not in use. Multi-policy bundling with home or auto is the next most common, when the same carrier writes both lines.
Operator training and safety
USCG Auxiliary or US Power Squadrons boater safety course, advanced operator training, and recent course completion can each carry a small discount.
Boat features and equipment
Engine cut-off switch (kill switch), GPS tracking, anti-theft devices, and certain hull construction types can reduce premium.
Storage and lay-up
Lay-up credits for months out of use, dry storage, lift storage, and protected marina slips can each affect the rate based on carrier rules.
Payment and bundling
Paid-in-full, autopay, paperless billing, and multi-policy discounts when home or auto are with the same carrier.
Available discounts vary widely between marine carriers, and a discount that exists with one carrier may not be offered by another. We check what you actually qualify for as part of the coverage review and tell you when one carrier's discount lineup makes more sense for your specific boat and use case than another's.
Decisions
When you actually need each coverage.
Agreed value or actual cash value?
For most newer, financed, or well-maintained boats, agreed value is the right answer. The premium difference is small, the protection at total loss is dramatically better, and lenders often require it. Actual cash value only makes sense on older boats where the depreciation gap is small enough that the premium savings actually justify the trade.
When do you need an offshore or Bahamas navigation extension?
If you regularly run offshore, fish federal waters, or take the boat to the Bahamas, the navigation territory on your policy needs to reflect that. Crossing without the extension can void coverage for the entire trip. We'll set the territory based on how you actually use the boat, not what the standard quote defaults to.
Is the trailer covered by my boat policy or my auto policy?
The trailer itself (physical damage, theft) is covered by the boat policy when listed. Liability while the trailer is being towed on the road is the tow vehicle's auto policy. If you trailer regularly between Florida and Georgia, we'll make sure both policies are aligned with your actual use.
When should liability extend beyond $300K?
Offshore use, high-horsepower setups, towed water sports, and any household with significant assets are the clearest candidates for higher liability. Once you exceed your underlying boat liability limit, an umbrella policy can extend protection over boat, auto, and home together.
Carriers
Carriers we work with for boat coverage.
We write boat coverage through multiple carriers, including specialty marine carriers that focus exclusively on watercraft. The right fit depends on the boat type and value, where it's kept, your navigational area, operator experience, and what other policies you'd like to bundle.
Each carrier has a different sweet spot. Some specialize in offshore and higher-horsepower setups, some are stronger on coastal inshore use, some focus on PWC and smaller craft, and some are best when bundled with home or auto. We compare carriers based on your specific situation and walk you through what's actually different between the options.
Foremost
Progressive
National General
American Modern
Carrier appointments vary by line and state. Available carriers depend on the boat, your specific situation, and underwriting eligibility.
Questions
Boat insurance questions we hear a lot.
Does Florida require boat insurance?
Florida does not require boat insurance as a matter of state law. Marinas, lenders, and HOAs often require it as a condition of slip rental, financing, or storage. Even where it is not required, carrying it is the only practical way to protect the asset and your liability exposure on the water.
What does "agreed value" mean on a boat policy?
Agreed value means the carrier agrees up front to pay a fixed dollar amount if the boat is a total loss, with no depreciation deducted. Actual cash value pays current market value at the time of the loss, which can be significantly lower. Agreed value is almost always the right choice for newer, financed, or well-maintained boats.
Do I need separate coverage for my jet ski or personal watercraft?
Yes. Personal watercraft (jet skis, wave runners, similar) are written on their own policy or as a separate item on a multi-watercraft policy. They are not automatically covered by a homeowners or boat policy.
Is my fishing equipment and electronics covered?
Personal effects coverage on a boat policy typically covers gear, electronics, rods and reels, and similar items on board, up to a sublimit. Higher-value electronics or tournament gear may need a scheduled item or a higher personal effects limit.
Are storm and hurricane damage covered?
Yes, on most boat policies, but the details matter. Many policies include a separate named-storm or hurricane deductible that is higher than the standard deductible, and some require the boat to be hauled out of the water during a named-storm warning. We will explain your specific policy's storm provisions when we review your coverage.
What is a hurricane lay-up credit?
A lay-up credit is a premium reduction for the months your boat is intentionally not in use, typically stored on a trailer, on a lift, or in dry storage. It is common on boats stored seasonally and can meaningfully reduce annual premium.
Does my boat policy cover the trailer?
The trailer itself is generally covered for physical damage under the boat policy when listed. Liability while the trailer is being towed on the road is typically covered by the tow vehicle's auto policy, not the boat policy.
Am I covered if I rent or charter my boat?
No. Standard personal boat policies exclude charter, rental, and other commercial use. If you intend to rent or charter, you need a commercial marine policy. Peer-to-peer boat rental platforms sometimes include their own insurance, but coverage gaps are common.
What if a friend operates my boat?
Most boat policies extend coverage to permissive operators, meaning friends or family you allow to operate the boat. Some policies require listed operators or impose operator-experience underwriting requirements. We will check your policy's specific permissive-use language.
Does coverage extend if I take my boat to the Bahamas?
Most US boat policies cover Bahamas trips automatically or with a navigational extension, but limits and exclusions vary widely. Always confirm the navigation territory on your policy before crossing. Going beyond US territorial waters without confirmation can void coverage for the duration of the trip.
How does engine horsepower affect my premium?
Higher horsepower means higher claim frequency and severity on average, which raises premium. Some carriers cap horsepower they will write at all, and some require additional underwriting above a threshold. The boat type, length, and intended use are weighted with horsepower in the rating.
What is on-water towing coverage and do I need it?
On-water towing pays for towing your boat back to a safe harbor after a breakdown, grounding, or fuel exhaustion. A single tow without coverage can easily exceed the cost of a year of the endorsement. Most Florida boaters benefit from carrying it, either on the policy or through a separate Sea Tow or TowBoatUS membership.
Can I bundle boat insurance with auto and home?
Yes, when the same carrier writes both. Multi-policy discounts vary by carrier and state. Sometimes the best boat carrier is a specialty marine carrier that does not also write auto or home, in which case splitting policies still makes the most sense. We compare both before recommending.
How fast can I get a boat insurance quote?
Most boat quotes can be started the same day. Carriers usually ask for the hull identification number (HIN), year, make, model, length, engine details, intended use, and where the boat is kept. Survey reports may be required for older or higher-value boats.
Related
Coverage that pairs with boat.
Ready to compare your boat coverage?
Send us your current declarations page, give us a call, or request a free quote. We'll review what you have and walk you through the options.