Learn About Florida Personal Watercraft (PWC) Insurance

In Florida, if you keep your boat at a local marina or boatyard they may require you to carry boat insurance. But, what about all those private lakes around our state? Many of our clients tell us “I live on a private lake, I don’t have to have insurance on my jet skis/boats”. It is true that if you live on a private lake it is unlikely that you will be pulled over by Marine Patrol to verify your vessel is insured BUT that does not mean you do not have a need for boat or personal watercraft (PWC) insurance.

Thanks to our “endless summer”, Florida has the highest number of registered boats in the US. Having more boats and watercrafts means that we also have the highest number of boat accidents resulting in property damage of more than $9 million in 2016. Your home insurance won’t be able to cover you in case your boat gets damaged or you cause damage while operating it. You will need to take out boat insurance to protect your personal watercrafts.

What is PWC Insurance?

PWC insurance in Florida helps insure you and your personal watercraft like small boats and jet skis against accidents, vandalism, and other liability. The team at Seibert Insurance Agency can help you get the right personal watercraft policy to suit your needs.

Why You Need Boat/Jet Ski Coverage

Imagine if you had your friends over for a day on the lake…it is a beautiful day out, you are swimming in the lake and waterskiing and then your friends ask if they can drive your jet ski. They tell you they know what they are doing, so you let them drive it. You fail to remind them that on a jet ski, you have no brakes and you have to hit the gas to turn. Before you know it, they are headed the wrong direction around the lake and are head-on with another boater because they want to jump that wake that the boat is putting out. They get too close and let off the gas, try to steer away but keep moving straight towards danger and then crash into the boat. Now, your neighbor’s boat is damaged, people are injured inside the boat, your jet ski is wrecked and the driver of that jet ski is critically injured.

Did you know that you are responsible for all that damage simply because you own the jet ski? Because you are. You have just put all your personal assets at risk if you have no insurance on your jet ski. Did you know that most jet ski/boat insurance is less than $500 per year?

Because insurance needs differ depending on what kind of personal watercraft you own and would like to insure, it’s important to know the details in your Florida insurance policy to see what is covered and what is specifically excluded.

What’s Generally Covered by Boat and PWC Insurance?

Your personal watercraft or boat insurance policy typically protects you against many common liability losses whether you operate it or loan it to another person like in the above example. With proper boat and PWC insurance, you may be covered for:

• Damage to another watercraft or dock
• The negligence of another driver while using your PWC
• Towed water skiers who become injured while using your craft
• Physical damage to your boat or PWC
• Injury to you caused by an uninsured watercraft operator
• Bodily injury or death to another person caused by you

If you have a boat, jet ski or any other recreational vehicle that is not insured – call Seibert Insurance Agency near Tampa, Florida today for a quote to protect your assets.