The Walker Agency Boat Insurance: Your Ship Could Be Sunk Without It
If you’re a responsible driver, you wouldn’t get behind the wheel without proper auto coverage. If you own a boat, watercraft, or jet ski hitting the water without adequate boat insurance is no less risky.
Memorial Day (end of May) is traditionally considered the start of boating season. Here in New Mexico, it starts earlier than that, even though we are in the desert. It’s never too early to start preparing for a great boating season as owning a boat comes with unique risks and liabilities. As a responsible boat owner, you need to make sure you’ve got sufficient coverage to protect yourself, your family, your property and your investments.
Boat & Watercraft Insurance: Coverage for Your Fellow New Mexico Captains
You have a responsibility to your water-faring neighbors, too. What would happen if you were found legally liable for an accident on the water involving damage to another’s person or property? Without adequate boat liability insurance, a cash judgement against you (along with associated legal fees) could easily force you into bankruptcy.
What Does New Mexico Boat Insurance Cover?
A typical boat insurance policy covers the most common risks associated with physical damage to your boat:
- Sinking
- Fire
- Storms
- Theft
- Collision
Typical boat insurance also covers damage to a range of boat-related items and property. Such property includes the boat itself and motor, along with the trailer used to haul the craft to water. Equipment permanently affixed to the boat is also routinely covered, along with anchors, oars, trolling motors, extra fuel tanks, tools, removable canopies, seat cushions, life jackets and preservers, skis and tow ropes, dinghies, and more.
Many boat insurance policies also cover labor costs for repairing and/or replacing your boat and associated equipment. And most policies provide basic liability coverage. Liability isn’t required by New Mexico law, but you risk losing everything without some degree of liability protection. Bodily Injury Liability is an important coverage when you're on the water. If you get into an accident, and injure someone, this is the coverage that is going to protect you. It will pay for the other party’s medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The cost for your legal defense can come out of this coverage amount. The Walker Agency can help you check your New Mexico boat insurance policy to make sure you have enough coverage to protect your assets.
Some boat and watercraft policies also cover damage done by uninsured boaters, akin to auto insurance. Uninsured Boater coverage protects you, your resident relatives, and occupants of an insured boat in the event of a bodily injury, including any resulting death sustained in an accident caused by the owner or operator of a boat that does not have insurance (Uninsured) to cover your injuries.
How Much Does Boat & Watercraft Insurance Cost?
Premium costs for a boat, jet skis and watercraft policy will depend on the agreed-upon values of the policy, chosen deductibles, insurability, and other factors such as size, type and cost of the boat. These limits can be extremely important in the event of severe damage or of a total loss, so it’s important to choose carefully. In this way, boat insurance is quite similar to other insurance policy types.
Does New Mexico Law Require Boat Insurance?
The short answer is “no.” However, state law isn’t the only consideration here. For example, if you purchase your boat on loan, your lending institution will probably require you to carry boat insurance. If you store your boat at a marina or boatyard, said facility might require you to maintain a certain level of boat insurance.
Why Comprehensive Boat Insurance from The Walker Agency? It’s the Right Thing to Do
Finally, if you’re a responsible boat owner, carrying adequate boat insurance just makes sense. Protecting your passengers and your water-going neighbors with adequate boat insurance coverages is the right thing to do. Plus, a boat can represent a sizable investment. Even if you bought your boat with cash, could you afford to just throw that money away and buy a new boat if something happened?
Discounted Boat Insurance with Multiple Walker Agency Policies
If you purchase boat insurance through The Walker Agency, you may qualify for discounted rates if you already have other policies with us. Whether you’re already a Walker Agency policyholder or not, ask us about multiple-policy discounts for bundling boat insurance with other policies. Some additional discounts and coverages may include:
- Accident forgiveness
- Roadside Assistance
- Boat Removal
- Boating Safety
For a Free Boat Insurance Quote in New Mexico, Call The Walker Agency
A comprehensive boat insurance policy from The Walker Agency will help shield your assets against unexpected trouble on the waters. If you’re shopping for boat insurance anywhere in New Mexico, we’d be thrilled to hear from you. As an independent insurance agency with locations in Farmington and Grants, New Mexico, we partner with numerous insurance carriers, and can do the shopping around for you!
The Walker Agency will answer all questions you may have about boat insurance and help you make informed coverage decisions. For a free boat & watercraft insurance quote, call The Walker Agency at our Grants location (505) 287-4432 or at our Farmington location (505) 326-4952. Or for a free online boat insurance quote, just fill out the "get a quote form" on our contact page.
We can’t wait to get you sailing along with comprehensive coverage on New Mexico’s beautiful lakes! Call us today, we'll get you covered.