Liability
- Collision and jetty damage
- No legal obligation
- Often required by the marina
Own-damage cover · rigging · sailing area
A sailing boat on the pleasure craft insurance
Pleasure craft insurance for a sailing boat consists of two parts: liability for damage to others and own-damage cover for the boat itself, including the mast, the rigging and the fittings.
- 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: Zeilboot op de 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
The liability cover pays for damage you cause to others with the boat: a collision, damage to a jetty or injury to someone on board another vessel. That is not a statutory obligation as it is with a car, but many marinas make it a condition for a mooring and abroad valid cover is often compulsory.
The own-damage cover pays for damage to the boat itself. On a sailing boat that covers the hull, the mast and the standing and running rigging, the engine, the instruments and the fittings. Sails, covers and rigging form a separate category within that: insurers often apply a depreciation table to them and pay for them only where the damage results from a covered event, such as a dismasting or a collision.
On boats the sum insured is usually fixed with a valuation report. A valuation under Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code makes the amount binding for a fixed period, so that no discussion about market value arises in the event of a total loss. Without a valuation the insurer works with the value at the moment of the loss. See also the general pleasure craft insurance.
What does insurance for a sailing boat cover?
Two main elements and a number of add-ons, with an overview by 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 with sailing boats
Four points that determine whether the policy actually pays out in the event of a claim.
Fix the value with a valuation
On a sailing boat with a history of refits, new sails or a replaced engine, market values vary widely. A valuation under Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code fixes the value for an agreed period; within that period any discussion about market value on a total loss is ruled out. If you do not renew the valuation in time, you fall back on the value at the moment of the loss.
Sails and rigging are the exception
A torn sail or a broken halyard is rarely covered without qualification. Insurers generally pay for sails, covers and running rigging only where the damage results from a covered event, and then apply a depreciation for age. Damage arising from normal use, wind and sunlight falls under wear and tear and remains at your expense. A mast that fails through a fault in construction or materials is excluded too.
The sailing area and the lay-up period are stated in the policy
The policy schedule states where you may sail: for example the Dutch inland waters, the IJsselmeer and the Waddenzee, or a wider area including coastal waters. If you sail outside it, there is no cover. Almost every policy also has a lay-up period with its own conditions. Frost damage because the engine, the pipework or the cooling system has not been drained is not paid for. That counts as inadequate maintenance.
Maintenance, reporting and cooperating
Defects that develop gradually — osmosis, wood rot, corrosion and wear: are not insured, and neither is damage caused by deferred maintenance or by sailing without the required boating licence. Damage caused deliberately or recklessly is excluded under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code. When you apply, state the mooring, the use and any participation in races correctly (Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code) and report a claim as soon as is reasonably possible (Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code).
What does your premium depend on?
- Insured value: usually the agreed value
- Type and construction: polyester, wood or steel
- Sailing area: inland waters, the IJsselmeer or coastal waters
- Mooring and security: marina, berth or trailer
- Type of cover and excess: liability only or own-damage cover as well
- Experience and claims history: boating licence and previous claims
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 insurance for a sailing boat compulsory?
Not by law, as it is for a motor vehicle. In reality you will rarely avoid it: most marinas require at least liability cover before you are given a mooring, and when sailing in foreign waters a valid policy is often checked. Without cover you bear damage to other vessels yourself.
Does my sailing boat fall under my liability insurance?
Only for very small boats. Many AVP policies cover rowing boats, canoes and sailing dinghies with a limited sail area, and exclude larger craft and boats with an engine of any size. For a cabin sailing boat or a boat with a fixed engine, separate pleasure craft insurance is therefore needed. Check the exact limit in your policy conditions.
Are the sails covered?
Generally only where the damage results from a covered event, such as a dismasting, fire or collision, and then with a deduction for age. Tears from wind, wear or ageing fall outside it. If you want wider cover, ask about an extension for sails and rigging and pay attention to the maximum payment.
What applies during winter storage?
The policy has a lay-up period with its own conditions and often a lower premium. Cover remains limited to events such as fire, storm and theft. Frost damage because the engine, the cooling system or the pipework has not been drained is excluded. Record where the boat lies and whether that is a recognised storage facility.
Am I insured during races?
Not automatically. Some insurers include racing, usually with restrictions for the sails, mast and rigging; others exclude participation. So declare participation in races when you apply. Reporting it afterwards does not help: at the moment of the loss, what is in the policy and what you declared in advance is what counts.
What is a fixed agreed value worth on a total loss?
A valuation under Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code makes the agreed amount binding on both parties for the agreed period. On a total loss the insurer pays that amount, without discussion about the current market value. If the valuation expires, have it renewed in good time; otherwise the market value at the moment of the loss applies.
Read more
Within Compare pleasure craft insurance
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Is your sailing boat properly insured?
Request a quote without obligation. We check the sailing area, the sum insured and the cover for the rigging.
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.