Posts Tagged ‘boat tips’

Let’s Talk Winter Time & Boat Damage

We all know that the freezing weather can damage every single part of your boat, right? Not only is maintaining a boat during the winter months difficult, it can be expensive if you don’t do it properly because the pieces and parts of the boat structure and engine can break, needing replacements.

Insurance Experts Say…

Are you keeping your boat on the water for the winter, or are you planning to store it indoors at your marina? Either way, you should understand what you need to do to maintain your boat and keep it safe during the winter months. While we’ve gone over some of these points previously, come from GEICO, and as an insurance company, they’ve seen pretty much everything when it comes to accidental problems with storing a boat.

According to GEICO Boat Program Manager Eric Baillargeon,

“Extreme cold can wreak havoc on your boat’s engine and ultimately your wallet.”

GEICO also noted that if you  check with the company that insures your boat, you might just find that the company will offer you a discount for storing your boat out of the elements and protecting your boat from winter’s harsh wear and tear.

This is especially true if you decide to store your boat indoors, in a marina for example. Because it is indoors, the chances of having to repaint or replace engine parts are lowered, thus decreasing the chances that you would file an insurance claim to pay for the replacements.

Stop Damage – Save Money

Many insurance companies appreciate this type of proactive thinking. In fact, Baillargeon made specific mention of the fact that storing your boat in the water is a sure way to damage it – and that you should store it anywhere but in the water if you don’t want to throw money out the window.

Boat owners have a number of options available as to where they can store their boats, depending on the type of boat they own.

Trailering: We’ve talked about tailoring your boat a couple of times, and this is something that GEICO recommends if you have a small boat that is easily manageable without excess help.

Simply trailering the boat in your backyard and winterizing the engine before throwing a tarp over it, then weighting down the tarp ends should be enough to keep it safe at your own home.

Marina Storage: On the other hand, you could store it in marina, as we’ve also mentioned previously. In fact, some marinas offer “blocking services,” that help boat owners store their boats atop blocks or jacks. This ensures that the boat cannot possibly move, fall, or otherwise be damaged during the winter months.

Additionally, because the boat is kept inside during the winter, it is possible that your issuance company would offer you an even bigger discount on your monthly premium. No matter how you decide to store your boat during the winter months, talk to your insurance agent first, as he or she can help offer you options that will protect your boat and save you money on your insurance.