Liability
- Collision and jetty damage
- No legal obligation
- Often required by the marina
Own damage · liability · sailing area
Pleasure craft insurance
Pleasure craft insurance is not a product but a construction kit: liability, own-damage cover and people on board stand apart from each other, and the policy schedule determines where and when they apply.
- several insurers compared objectively
- 9.5 customer rating for a new policy
- AFM licence 12016589
- Personal 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 9–17
Deze pagina in het Nederlands: Pleziervaartuigverzekering.
The calculator and the quote form below are in Dutch. Prefer to do this in English? Email info@finassverzekert. nl or call 072 - 509 24 56 and we will take it from there.
Work out for yourself what it would cost.
Enter your details; you will receive a proposal within one working day.
- We compare the offerings of several insurers
- An adviser checks whether the cover suits your situation
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
There is no statutory insurance requirement for a craft. The obligation under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM) applies to motor vehicles and not to vessels, so anyone sailing without cover breaks no rule. In practice you will rarely avoid it: marinas and mooring operators require at least liability cover before you are given a place, and in foreign waters this is checked. Without that cover you bear collision damage to other vessels, jetties and lock structures yourself.
The three sections do not include one another. Liability pays for what you cause to others, own-damage cover pays for damage to your own hull, engine, instruments and fixed fittings, and the cover for people on board pays a fixed amount on permanent injury or death on board, regardless of who is at fault. Anyone who insures liability only is uninsured for their own vessel; anyone with own-damage cover only is left with the other party's bill after a collision.
The sum insured is best fixed by a valuation report. A valuation under Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code makes the amount binding on both parties for an agreed period, so that no discussion about market value arises in the event of a total loss. Covered nowhere are osmosis, rot, corrosion and wear, damage caused by deferred maintenance, taking part in speed races and sailing without the required boating licence. The emphasis differs by type of vessel; see for example the sailing boat, the yacht or the sloop.
What does pleasure craft insurance cover?
Three components that you choose separately, with an overview per situation below.
Own-damage cover
Damage to the boat, the engine and the fixed equipment.
- Fire, storm and sinking
- Theft
- Collision and grounding
Extensions
What you add separately.
- Trailer on the road
- Occupants
- Salvage and wreck removal
What is covered
| Situation | Liability | Own-damage cover |
|---|---|---|
| Damage to another vessel or a jetty | Yes | No |
| Theft of the boat or the outboard motor | No | Provided that |
| Fire and storm damage in the berth or ashore | No | Yes |
| Sinking through a leak or through rainwater | No | Provided that |
| Salvage and removal of the wreck | Provided that | Provided that |
| Osmosis, wear and deferred maintenance | No | No |
There is no statutory insurance requirement for pleasure craft. The WAM applies only to motor vehicles. Marinas, harbours and hire companies do generally require liability cover. Pay attention to the sailing area described and to the lay-up or winter storage period: outside the sailing area or during undeclared storage, cover may lapse.
What is actually covered, including exclusions, limits and the excess, is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) that you receive before you take out cover.
Where things go wrong in practice
Four points that determine whether the policy actually pays out in the event of a claim.
Without a valuation you end up arguing about market value
The value of a vessel is hard to establish objectively, certainly after a refit, on a classic hull or on a boat with a great deal of equipment included. Without a valuation the insurer works, on a total loss, with the value at the moment of the loss, and that is exactly where the parties diverge. A valuation under Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code removes that discussion for the term of the report. Have it renewed in good time: once the period has passed, you fall back on market value.
The sailing area is a condition of cover, not a suggestion
The policy schedule states where you may sail: the Dutch inland waters, a wider area including the IJsselmeer and the Waddenzee, or coastal waters and abroad. If you sail outside it, there is no cover, not even for liability, and you find that out only when there is a collision. Moving from fresh to salt water and the first trip abroad are the two moments when this goes wrong. Declare an extension in advance; when a claim arises, only what was in the policy at that moment counts.
Salvage and wreck removal are a separate item
If a vessel sinks in a waterway or a harbour, the authority can require the owner to have it lifted and taken away. Those costs stand apart from the value of the vessel and can exceed it, even where the hull itself no longer needed to be insured. Check whether salvage, assistance and wreck removal appear in the policy and up to what amount. On an old vessel with a low hull value this is often the part that really makes the cover worthwhile.
The lay-up period changes the cover, not just the premium
Almost every policy has a winter period with a lower rate and narrower cover: usually fire, storm and theft remain, while sailing during those months is not covered. Frost damage because the engine, the cooling system or the pipework has not been drained counts as inadequate maintenance and is not paid for. Give the insurer the storage address and check whether they set requirements for the site or for a recognised boatyard. If you do want to sail during the winter period, declare it in advance.
Winter storage, frost damage and transport
Almost every policy has a lay-up period with its own conditions and a lower premium. In those months cover generally remains only for events such as fire, storm and theft. Frost damage because the engine, the cooling system or the pipework has not been drained is not paid for; that counts as inadequate maintenance. If the vessel goes on a trailer, check whether transport by road is included. The trailer itself is never covered by the boat policy but by a separate policy or the trailer cover on your motor insurance.
Wear, maintenance and your own obligations
Defects that develop gradually — osmosis, wood rot, corrosion and wear: are covered nowhere, and neither is damage caused by deferred maintenance or by faults in materials and construction. Also excluded are taking part in speed races, sailing without the required boating licence and hiring the boat out without declaring it. Damage caused deliberately or recklessly falls outside the cover under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code. When you apply, state the mooring, the use and the engine power correctly (Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code); an incorrect declaration can cost you the payout (Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code). Report a claim as soon as reasonably possible (Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code).
What does your premium depend on?
- Valued or declared amount. The basis for the own-damage premium and for the payment on a total loss.
- Type and construction. Polyester, wood, steel or aluminium, and whether it is a motor vessel, a sailing vessel or an open boat.
- Engine power and top speed. Determines the risk class and whether a boating licence is required for the craft.
- Description of the sailing area. Inland waters, the IJsselmeer and the Waddenzee, coastal waters or abroad. A wider area means a higher rate.
- Mooring and winter storage. Marina, berth, shed or yard, and the requirements the insurer sets for that site.
- Sections chosen. Liability only, or also own-damage cover, people on board, assistance, salvage and legal expenses on the water.
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
How we arrange it
- You request a quoteWe take stock of your situation, risk and wishes.
- We compareseveral insurers, on premium as well as conditions.
- You receive a proposalWith an explanation of the differences and the exclusions.
- We arrange the switchIncluding cancellation, so there is no gap in cover.
9.5New policy
9.8Claims handling
Customers rate our service on four aspects: personal service, service delivery, availability and the outcome. The reviews are collected and published by NH1816 and come from customers who have actually taken out a policy with Finass Advies B.V. or reported a claim.
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
Is boat insurance compulsory by law?
No. The insurance requirement in Article 2 of the WAM applies to motor vehicles, not to craft. When it comes to it it is a different matter: marinas and mooring operators make liability cover a condition for a place, and when sailing abroad a valid policy is checked regularly. Without cover you pay for collision damage to other vessels and to locks or jetties out of your own pocket.
Does my liability insurance cover my boat?
Only for very small craft. Many personal liability policies cover rowing boats, canoes and small sailing dinghies and exclude larger craft and boats with an engine of any size. For a cabin boat, a sloop or a boat with a fixed engine, separate pleasure craft insurance is needed. Look up the exact limit in your own policy conditions before you assume you are covered.
Why should I have a valuation carried out?
Because the agreed value is binding on you and on the insurer for the agreed period. On a total loss that amount is then paid, without discussion about the current market value. Above all after a refit, on a second-hand vessel or where a great deal of equipment is included, that makes a considerable difference. Renew the report in time, because once the period ends, market value applies again.
What if I sail outside the sailing area?
Then there is no cover, and that applies to every section, liability included. There is no partial payment and no rule of leniency you can count on. If you want to go to sea, abroad or to an area that does not fall within the description, ask for an extension in advance and have the confirmation recorded in writing before you leave.
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Is your craft properly insured?
Request a quote without obligation. We check the sailing area, the insured value and the conditions on storage and transport.
Prefer to call? 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 09:00–17:00.
Claim on the road? Emergency line 06 - 55 20 40 72.
About our service
Finass Verzekert is a trading name of Finass Advies B.V. We advise on and arrange non-life insurance on the basis of an objective analysis of several insurers, and receive commission for this from the insurer, which is included in the premium. You pay no separate advice fee. Before you take out cover, we establish your wishes and needs.
You will find our licence, KvK and Kifid details and our complaints procedure at the foot of every page.
This page was written and checked by an adviser at Finass Verzekert. Last updated on .
The information on this page is general in nature and is not personal advice.