Personal watercrafts (PWCs), or jet skis, have become one of the most popular boating vehicles used in recreational bodies of water. Consequently, PWCs have also become a major source of boating accidents and fatalities. In 2017, 18 percent of all boating accidents occurred on personal watercrafts, which accounted for 624 injuries.
It is important to have insurance for your jet ski. Request a quote from David Pope Insurance to ensure proper coverage.
Watercraft insurance coverage offers protection from expenses that could stem from accident, theft or other mishaps. The following article covers answers to questions such as:
Read on to learn about the benefits of having a watercraft insurance policy for your PWC.
Get you PWC insured immediately. This is simply a liability precaution. If you do not have it insured you could be held responsible for medical bills or property damage. Another aspect to think about is if you are letting someone borrow your PWC there is potential for neglect or even for someone to steal it. While you may be lending it to a friend. The PWC is your responsibility and has potential motor risks along with a variety of other aspects that insurance will be able to set your mind at ease.
Jet ski insurance is not a requirement, but it is still a good idea to have your jet ski insured. Depending on your boat insurance provider, you can get jet ski insurance with several levels of coverage. When you have your jet ski insured, you can include it as part of a claim in the event of theft, loss or damage. Here are a few reasons you may consider getting jet ski insurance and insuring your PWC.
Out on the waterways of Missouri, you are liable to encounter moments of danger if you go watercrafting on a regular basis. When you take a jet ski out on the water, potential liability comes into play. Whether you operate the jet ski or you let your partner take a turn in front, two individuals risk the dangers of the water.
When you engage in potentially dangerous activity on the water, it is only practical to have an insurance policy in place that will keep you covered in the case of an accident. If you wind up injured or your jet ski causes injury or damage to the person or property of a fellow water-going party, it makes sense to have an insurance policy to keep you covered in case something goes wrong, onshore or on the water.
As with any water vehicle, a jet ski is a serious investment. For the money you set aside and ultimately invest in a fancy jet ski, you owe it to yourself to back up that investment if the unexpected occurs and the jet ski ends up broken or lost.
All sorts of people frequent the waters of Missouri. While most of these people are law-abiding boaters and water-sport enthusiasts, some dishonest people will try to take advantage of your trusting nature by stealing PWCs. When a thief steals a jet ski for themselves or attempts to sell it on eBay, your chances of recovery are slim. Therefore, insurance provides an important safeguard for your investment.
As a responsible and trained water-sporting enthusiast, you always do your best to stay safe throughout each adventure on the waterways. You still take on an element of risk when you brave the waters of Missouri or any other part of the world. With jet ski insurance, you can have the peace of mind that you may receive reimbursement if your vehicle gets damaged in an accident.
The point of PWC or jet ski insurance is to protect all parties and pieces of property from the unplanned variables that could possibly occur along the waterways. If one of your traveling partners becomes injured on your jet ski, you can have that person covered under your policy with the right set of terms. The same could apply in a reverse scenario when you use someone else’s PWC.
No one should ever leave home without contingencies in place to ensure bodily safety, theft prevention and property protection at all times. If something goes awry in one of these areas, an insurance policy may ensure medical bills are covered, lost property is compensated and investments are backed. When you take to the water on jet skis, comprehensive insurance coverage will make each adventure as secure as possible.
Even if you are not required to have an insurance policy to operate a small water vehicle, you should still have one in case something goes wrong and costs pile up due to one or more of the following factors:
PWC insurance is a policy plan that you can get at several levels to for your personal watercraft — defined as a compact, motorized nautical vehicle that can be driven in a standing or seated position. A PWC usually consists of a front seat and a pillion and therefore typically fits one or two adults. Due to the open-air design and high-speed performance of this on-water vehicle, the operation of a PWC involves certain risks that should be insurance-backed at all times.
Boating vehicles are divided into four classifications according to length:
The measurements of a boating vehicle are determined by the length between the bow and stern. This measurement does not include the motor components. Jet skis are in the Class A category.
The majority of PWC models ridden along lakes and rivers are manufactured by three brands — Jet Ski, Sea-Doo and WaveRunner. For protection against theft, damage and liability, watercraft owners are required to get PWC insurance before hitting the water.
To ensure you are properly covered, check the local laws in your area. For the most part, PWC insurance is similar to auto insurance. With both, there are several levels of coverage, starting with liability, which covers costs another party might incur from an accident in which you are found liable. Beyond that, you can opt to have a more extensive policy that will give you coverage for a wider range of situations.
In some states, you must at least have liability coverage to operate a watercraft. This will help you cover any costs another boat might incur from an accident in which you are at fault. With liability coverage, your policy may not cover any expenses you might incur from damages or injuries for which you are responsible. For that kind of coverage, you could need to get a more comprehensive policy. Review your policy to confirm what is excluded and included in your coverage.
If someone else causes an accident that leaves you with damaged property and hospital expenses, you could file a claim on that person’s policy. However, if the party in question has no insurance, you wouldn’t receive any coverage. To be on the safest side in any possible situation, it is best to have a policy that will cover all expenses that result from a PWC accident, regardless of who is at fault or how much damage occurs.
If you have your watercraft financed by a third party, the entity in question will probably require you get a more comprehensive form of PWC coverage. This should be understandable, as the third party would put up money so you could purchase a watercraft. Until you have fully paid back the cost of the watercraft, the financer will want to have some form of guarantee they will get their money back, regardless of whether you crash on the water or the PWC gets stolen.
If you leave your PWC docked at a marina during the days and weeks of the in-season when you are not active in the water, you might be required to have an insurance plan that will cover all repair or replacement costs if the watercraft is damaged or stolen. With such a policy in place, the marina protects itself from insurance claims if a theft or accident happens at the dock.
A PWC insurance policy provides coverage in the following situations:
A PWC policy can be customized to cover a more extensive range of possible claims. Liability, for example, can be extended to cover your assets if you are ever taken to court for negligence in a watercrafting accident.
There are four major components to PWC insurance:
The level of coverage that would best suit your interests as a watercraft user could depend on the value of the PWC itself and the extent to which you plan to take it out onto the water. If you purchase a fancy, high-end model of watercraft, you should back that investment with a comprehensive coverage plan. If the watercraft has high horsepower and is intended for advanced water sport, you should definitely have an insurance plan that will cover you regardless of liability and damage costs.
Your odds of having to file an insurance claim will somewhat depend on your safety practices, starting in the following areas.
Try to avoid fueling a PWC after dark. If you must refuel after the sun is down, use only a flashlight for guidance. Before you begin fueling the watercraft, dock the boat at shore. Double check the fuel line for security. Turn off the motor and anything nearby that might set off sparks. Make sure no one nearby flicks a lighter or lights a match during refueling.
With the nozzle secure, refuel the tank. Do not lean the PWC to fill the tank. Make sure no fuel spills onto the dock or in the water. Do not fill the tank completely full. Once completed, wipe away any excess fuel. Smell the nozzle for traces of gas fumes. If you do smell fumes, determine the source of those fumes and perform the necessary cleanup before powering on the watercraft.
To avoid becoming stranded on the water in a personal watercraft, use the fuel selector switch accordingly on a PWC:
To prevent the possibility of watercraft theft, keep your PWC stored in a locked, enclosed storage or vehicle when not in use. If you must keep it stored at a marina between times of use, secure it to the dock with a locked steel cable. Mark your PWC with an identifying number, such as your driver’s license.
Photograph or film your watercraft with a smartphone to have as evidence and for descriptive purposes in cases of loss or theft. Before you head out for a round of watercrafting, enter a log of your intended activities, including your departure time and course of travel, on social media. Name the people who will accompany you on the adventure and list an emergency contact number.
On the Missouri waterways, each boating operator is equally responsible for the mutual safety of all boats on the water. As you operate your watercraft, keep an eye out for nearby water traffic at all times. Travel at reasonable speeds with respect for fellow boaters.
When operating a PWC, yield to boating vehicles that are restricted in their movement. Examples would include paddle canoes, sailboats and any boat that is towing an additional craft or is currently docked at shore.
For safe nighttime navigation, the following lights can help you identify the nearby presence of fellow boats on the waterway:
All engine-powered boats are required to use a masthead light. On boats smaller than 39.4 feet in length, all-round white lights that combine the masthead and sternlight can be used as an alternative.
A homeowners insurance policy will offer limited coverage for damage or property loss pertaining to a personal watercraft. However, the amount of coverage you would get from a claim would rarely exceed the amount you would first have to pay on your deductible. As such, PWC insurance is the more preferable option for coverage when it comes to theft, property loss or damage involving a personal watercraft.
Homeowners insurance will cover expenses involving a personal watercraft — and, for that matter, jet skis and boats — resulting from the following circumstances:
If your watercraft is damaged or broken by hail, the PWC must be inside a building to qualify as a claim on your homeowners insurance. For example, the watercraft could be in your garage and exposed to hail through a hole in your sunroof.\
The reason the watercraft has to be in an enclosed structure is due to the fact that responsible PWC owners don’t leave watercrafts outdoors when inclement weather approaches. Therefore, you need to pay attention to weather forecasts if you expect to use your homeowners insurance policy to protect your investment in a watercraft. If the forecast calls for hail, snow or other harsh weather patterns, do not leave the watercraft in your driveway.
When it comes to the theft of personal property, homeowners insurance will only apply in certain cases. If a thief makes off with a household item you have brought onto the watercraft, you could file the missing item on a homeowners claim. For example, if you bring a portable speaker onto the PWC and it is stolen while your back is turned on the marina, this could be listed on a homeowners insurance claim.
On the other hand, if the stolen item is exclusive to the watercraft — such as a built-on piece of fishing equipment — you would need to file a claim with your PWC insurance provider.
Homeowners insurance will provide considerably more coverage when it comes to injury or damage liabilities that stem from a PWC accident. If you injure someone with your watercraft, the liability portion of your homeowners insurance could cover damages to the person’s medical expenses. Likewise, homeowners liability could cover any property damage you might be liable for with a PWC-related mishap.
Homeowners insurance liability coverage can be applied to liability claims involving:
Overall, the only limitation when it comes to homeowners liability in relation to boating accidents is the size of watercraft that qualify for the coverage. Basically, the water vehicle must be small.
For a more comprehensive range of coverage for PWC-related injuries, damages and mishaps, insurance experts advise watercraft users to not rely on homeowners insurance in case of a liability. Instead, watercraft enthusiasts are advised to get PWC insurance with comprehensive clauses that will cover accidents and damages from all possible angles.
Whereas homeowners insurance can give you moderate coverage in the event of fire, vandalism, falling objects and weather damage, a comprehensive PWC insurance policy could provide you with enough coverage to replace your watercraft if necessary, regardless of who happens to be the liable party in a given accident. With PWC insurance, you won’t have to worry about the coverage limit being swallowed up by the deductible.
If any of the aforementioned factors damage or destroy your watercraft, a comprehensive PWC insurance policy would cover the watercraft for its full value and not just the small amount that would likely equal your deductible with a homeowners insurance policy. Moreover, liability expenses would be covered with PWC insurance regardless of the size of your watercraft. The only variation with comprehensive PWC insurance is the cost of the policy, which can be more or less depending on the size of the watercraft in question.
You can even add specialty clauses to a PWC or boaters insurance policy that will cover components that you might add to the watercraft, such as fishing equipment. A policy can even be augmented to cover towage devices, such as skis and trailers. For all these reasons and more, insurance experts advise watercraft owners to opt for specialty PWC insurance over the coverage of a basic homeowners insurance policy.
You are not required by law to have jet ski insurance in the state of Missouri. Nonetheless, it is wise to have insurance coverage when you consider the dangers of going uninsured. While a homeowners insurance policy can give you limited amounts of coverage in certain circumstances, a jet ski insurance policy provides you several levels of coverage.
Due to the fact that personal watercrafts travel alongside larger boats on the nation’s lakes and rivers, PWCs require skill and a knowledge of safety procedures to operate. PVCs use jet-activated propulsion and therefore require users be above a certain age to operate these vehicles. Furthermore, users need to equip themselves with life jackets while operating or riding as a passenger on a personal watercraft.
According to Missouri law, the following requirements apply to PWC operation throughout the state:
To earn the necessary skills for operating a jet ski or PWC, it is important to take and pass a boating safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). Alternatively, you can earn a boating card as proof of your competence regarding boating safety matters. Unlike licenses, these cards never expire.
Each year when boating season arrives, a new influx of PWC enthusiasts hit the water on their own personal watercrafts. While the thrill is exciting for the newcomer, you should always have insurance coverage before you take to the water on any vehicle that classifies as a boat. Yes, personal watercrafts classify as boats, as do all motorized nautical vehicles, from the smaller PWCs on up through the large yachts.
For personal watercraft insurance, Union, Missouri, residents turn to David Pope Insurance for the best deals on coverage at various levels. As a family-owned insurance firm with more than 20 years of experience, we have helped PWC owners within a 25- to 30-mile radius of our MO headquarters secure generous policies with optimal coverage.
Jet Skiers in Villa Ridge, Wildwood, New Haven, Fenton and surrounding areas all know David Pope Insurance is the place to turn for insurance on a personal watercraft. Unlike other Washington, Missouri, boat insurance providers, we deliver PWC insurance quotes and answer client inquiries on a same-day basis.
With so many new and veteran jet skiers eager to take to the local waterways, it is crucial to have a provider you can turn to for watercraft coverage policies. Before you head out to the local-area waterways in your personal watercraft, get your PWC covered with a comprehensive insurance policy. Contact us today to request a quote.