If I can find an insurance carrier that charges me less does that mean that they are "better?" Or even the "best in the business?" I reserve judgement please. I am NOT a firm believer in things like life insurance, other than to pay the funeral bills. But I AM a believer in the kind of boat insurance that we have with Boat US on our 1986 Albin 43. We had an engine fire two years ago -- it started when no one was aboard, and exhausted itself unattended. But including the damage to the engine, wiring, hoses, starting engine, cables, overhead, setee (dear god THANK you that we had the floor hatches up, or the whole boat would be gone!), curtains, clothes, rugs, um, let's see . . . cleaning to the flybridge (yes, believe it or not we had oily smoke on the enclosed flybridge) etc., etc., etc. . . . we had about $20,000 worth of damage. To make matters worse we anxiously badgered our mechanic for a date when we could take the smoke and soot-stained boat out for a weekend of soul renewal, and he finally said, "Oh, okay, take her out this weekend; we've finished all but the engine harness, and that can wait." So we did, and 10 minutes out of our slip we had another fire EXACTLY, PRECISELY the same as before, which definitively pinpointed the cause of the first fire (heretofore unknown) as the engine harness. Boat US said, "HUH??? What's this -- we're paying for a starting engine (hoses, cables, etc.) twice --- oh no WAIT a minute!" When we explained they paid it. **WE** paid for the retrofit on the engine harness on the other engine. We paid about $4000, and Boat US took up the rest. This was clearly a case where the agent listened to the circumstances, listened also to the original estimators who were familiar with the cost of things and also were willing to talk with owner and mechanic about what had gone on there, and they paid accordingly. Insurance if you never have to use it is outrageously expensive; insurance if you need it is cheap at the cost. Peggy Carr Bjarno "Aqua Vitae" 1986 Albin 43' Kent Narrows, MD > > If anyone has any other experiences with INAMAR, I'd be interested to hear > of them but for now, INAMAR is about the best in the business. > > -Ryan > m/v "4-Play"

Peggy (and others), Less does not always mean better. But I'm also a firm believer in not overpaying for an identical or lesser product. Obviously, you or any other boater can dispose of their money in any way they see fit. While I cannot claim to have two back to back fires on my boat, I was victim of electronics theft a number of years back. All told, about $10,000 in lost gear and vessel damage. INAMAR stepped up to the plate, sent an adjuster to my dock and I had a check in hand inside of 24 hours with instructions to have the boat repaired and the gear replaced. A "Five Star" experience in my book. As for premiums, rumor has it that insurance premiums for quite a few boaters have gone up as much as 50% in the last year. In the last four years on this boat, mine have gone up no more than $10 each year. I just received my renewal last week. It went up $6 this year. And to be most correct, BoatUS is only an insurance agency. They do not underwrite policies. Their policies are underwritten by member companies of CNA Financial Corp. So depending on which state you are in, your policy is actually underwritten by one of the following companies. CNA Member Companies Buckeye Union Insurance Company - States Admitted: OH, VA State of Domicile: OH AM Best # 02116 Continental Insurance Company - States Admitted: FL, IL State of Domicile: SC AM Best # 02118 Fireman's Insurance Company of Newark - States Admitted: NJ - AL, CA, DC, ME, NH State of Domicile: NJ AM Best # 02122 Continental Casualty Company - States Admitted: AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, HI, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY State of Domicile: IL AM Best # 02128 Seaworthy Insurance Company - States Admitted: VA, PA, IL, MA, CT, MI, NH, DE State of Domicile: MD AM Best # 11390 INAMAR claims to have over 150,000 boats insured and underwrites through ACE Insurance Company, one of the largest insurance and reinsurance companies in the world. One of the other (and primary) drawbacks I found to the BoatUS policy is its limited cruising territories. For those doing the Loop (and that's the topic of this mailing-list), you find that you have to call and have your policy amended several times throughout your cruise and pay what I believe to be an exceptional premium increase for the limited time you will be in a given region. Think about it for a moment ... You are cruising through Florida and coastal waters for say two months in January and February and BoatUS charges you darn near a 50% premium increase for those two months you will be in Florida coastal waters, well past hurricane season. I'm sorry, but that's just abuse, plain and simple. A perfect example of this is Mr. Terry Rainwater who is currently doing the Loop. The other day, he wrote to this list: "I just got my BoatUS invoice to be effective in March. My Great Lakes annual premium is about $1100. We arrived in Mobile at Thanksgiving and called BoatUS and sent them a check for about $600 to cover the Gulf and East coast through March 8th. At that time they also quoted us the Gulf Coast and East Coast annual rate of about $2700 which would be billed when we renewed in March, then credited back to the great lakes rate on a pro-rata basis, when we reach the Hudson River. I just got my bill for March 8th due date and it is $4000 - citing the hurricanes as the reason. We're not here in hurricane season, but we pay for it regardless." Because he is doing the Loop, his insurance went from $1100 to $4000 and will end up costing him well in excess of double his normal premium. Perhaps you can justify an 'over double' premium increase for the portion of the year you are in Florida or along the east coast, but I sure can't. INAMAR's policy lists my cruising grounds as, "Inland or coastwise waters of the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Canada" which is ample coverage for the entire Great Loop cruise under one policy premium. I do a great deal of research on insurance each year to make sure I am getting the best value and service for the money. Hopefully you will find this information to be helpful. Remember, choose your insurance provider wisely for one day, you may just have to call on them. Incidently, if anyone has any negative experiences with INAMAR, I'd be very interested to hear them. My Best, -Ryan