Boat Slip Selection

Posted on January 8, 2014 by jerry

Finding the perfect boat slip

If you’re an avid boating enthusiast and you’ve tired of the typically exhausting practice of hauling your boat to and from your favorite body of water like intercoastal waterways, waiting in lines at launch ramps and winching it in and out every time you boat, it may be time to consider renting a boat slip.

Marina boat slips vary from one another, but all of them offer many advantages to boaters who spend a lot of time on the water. Some of their many benefits include:

Convenience. It is much easier and more time-effective to dock your boat than to put it in and pull it out every time you go boating.
Security. Marinas are generally very safe, protected by locked gates. Some marinas also offer 24/7 security via cameras or guards that patrol the marina grounds.
It’s ready when you are. When your boat is docked, it’s always waiting for you when you’re ready to go.
Onsite amenities. Most marinas have shops containing boating supplies and snacks, restrooms, shower facilities, restaurants and bars. They also tend to be surrounded by pleasant outdoor areas.
Community. By having a slip in a marina, you reap the benefits of being a member of a social community.

While the advantages are numerous, boat slips are also notorious for being costly. Here are a few pointers for finding the best deal possible on a boat slip rental:

Shop, shop, shop. There is no substitute for good, old fashioned bargain hunting, so invest time in shopping. Go talk to personnel at a variety of marinas in your area to start price comparing.
Use the Internet. Websites like pickaslip.com allow you to do detailed searches for slips on a wide variety of popular bodies of water in the United States.
Advertise. Put up a flyer on community boards at marinas, coffee shops, and anywhere else you have the opportunity; include what you’re seeking and how much you want to pay. You can also advertise in your local newspaper classifieds and on popular buy/sell websites like craigslist.org.
Talk it up. Tell everyone you know what you’re looking for so they can help you spread the word.

If you think it’s time you start enjoying more time on the water and less hauling a boat to and from the water, we at Atlass Insurance Group wish you good luck in your search for the perfect slip!

Charter Insurance – Charter Boat Insurance

Posted on June 12, 2012 by jerry

Charter boats have special insurance requirements. Atlass Insurance Group is a specialist in marine insurance and can help you find the most appropriate insurance for your charter boat. Atlass Insurance Group has charter boat insurance coverage for the full-time charter business including six pack charters, bare boat charters, fishing guides, and a special program for the occasional charter.

Atlass Insurance Group can provide coverage that fits your charter boat needs. We have charter boat insurance coverage for fishing guides, charter fishing, sight seeing, day cruises or extended cruises including vessel types from Bass Boats to Mega Yachts. Our team of marine insurance specialists can be the perfect business partner for your charter boat business.

Let us help develop an insurance policy for your charter business that is tailored to the specific needs of your chartering service. Liability, uninsured boaters, captain and crew liability, and agreed amount value policies are just a few examples of points to consider. Atlass Insurance Group is committed to detail and providing appropriate and adequate coverage for your vessel and its intended use.

What is Covered for your Vessel?

Posted on June 12, 2012 by jerry

What is covered?

Boat insurance policies are normally written using an “all risk” policy form. Do not think “all risk” means everything is covered. “All Risk” means that all damage to the boat is covered unless specifically excluded. So, when you have an “all risk” policy you need to review the policy exclusions to see what is covered. If it is not excluded, then it is covered.

Not common in the boat insurance industry but a policy could be written using a “named peril” policy form. A “named peril” policy only covers what is specifically stated or named in the policy. Fire, lightning, wind and theft would be common named perils.

There is really no way a “named peril” policy can name all the unexpected, odd situations that can happen to a boat owner. Think of the oddest situation you have experienced as a boat owner. With an “all risk” policy, if it is not specifically excluded, then it is covered.

What is excluded?

All boat insurance policies have exclusions. The excluded items vary from company to company but generally include loss caused by wear and tear, gradual deterioration, weathering, insects, mold, animals and marine life. Some companies include coverage for damage caused by zebra mussels; others do not. Additional excluded items may include marring, scratching or denting, osmosis or blistering, manufacturer’s defects or defect in designs, and corrosion, except electrolytic (stray current) corrosion.

Review your current policy terms to verify what is covered and excluded.