Blue Water Cruising a Small Catamaran

[Sand crab]

Thanks. How long with the extensions?

[Factor]

Speaking only from an Australian perspective, insurance in Australia is available for many boats under 36 foot, and not available for some boats over 36 foot. Production boats are easier to get insured, custom boats not as easy, but even that depends on records and survey etc. Age is another factor, the older the boat the more likely that a survey will be required. At the very least a market valuation is often required as a boat ages.

Sadly these days trimaran insurance is hard to get, not impossible, just harder and more expensive. Again production farriers and corsairs will fair better than home built Pivers and similar. Unfortunate, one of the nicest boats I have sold in recent years was a 20 - 25 year old Cross Trimaran. Beaut boat, tough as anything, but prohibitively expensive to insure, but still worth owning. I had a Kendrick epoxy ply tri at one stage, again a lovely boat, and I got insurance for it, but it was more than twice the cost (on a boat value percentage basis) of my current boat.

There are plenty of boats under 36 foot in commercial survey in Australia, they are almost certainly all insured.

Marinas will usually require third party insurance which is much easier than comprehensive to get and much cheaper. Of course your own insurance history is relevant.

In short, if you like a boat, then get an insurance quote prior to making an offer, if insurance is relevant to you.

[ausaviator]

The last time I enquired about blue-water insurance I contacted a few companies in Australia and the only one that was interested wanted to make sure that the vessel was worth more than $200k because to them, that signified that it was a "seaworthy" vessel. An interesting approach indeed.

Most Australian insurance companies don't offer blue-water coverage so comments re the cost of insurance discussed above are irrelevant to this blue-water thread.

[Factor]

Wrong.

The following is taken from an article written by a friend of mine. (he is a retired lawyer - sails a beautiful old mono that is a work of art and contributes on matters of legal related topics to many magazine)

It is probably easier now to arrange for insurance cover when going Blue Water Ð that is beyond the usual 200 or 250nm limit than it has ever been. With the growth in competitive marine brokerage firms, cruising yachtspeople are now able to obtain quotations from insurance underwriters who specialise in providing long-distance offshore cover
..............

Club Marine states that "your policy will automatically be suspended when you boat clears Australian Customs and Immigration for the purpose of leaving Australian waters and recommence when it clears Australian Customs and Immigration on return . . . "
In other words, the moment you clear and leave Australian waters your policy is suspended unless you have specific coverage. However, bluewater cruising cover is available. Chris Grice of Club Marine told me: "We have the capacity to insure boats that are travelling from Australia to New Zealand and the South Pacific Region. This 'Bluewater Cruising' cover is offered subject to the experience of the skipper, a current out-of- water survey or risk evaluation being provided, photos of the vessel, a rig check and a questionnaire being completed."
Grice added that cover is usually available to existing and new policy holders who can satisfy the criteria of seaworthiness of vessel and competence of crew.
Trident Marine insurance brokers are also able to offer bluewater cover. Brooke Wolfe, Development Underwriter of Trident, said that: "We are able to source and arrange specialised bluewater insurance, which provides cover for yachts cruising Australian and international waters being the Pacific, Asia, Europe.
We can also arrange insurance for commercial hull vessels, charter vessels, delivery voyages going to USA/Europe returning to Australia, and vessels permanently based internationally. Any cruising activity will considered."

from Trident's web site

At Trident Marine, we can extend your policy to cover Blue Water Cruising in international waters, providing you and your boat meet our underwriting criteria.

Types of cruising that we can provide cover for include:

Delivery trips for relocating vessels
Once off journeys cruising outside of Australia
Vessels permanently located outside of Australia
To assist us with this extended cover, we we will require additional information about about your journey and your vessel.

From Nautilas's Web Site

Blue Water Cruising

We will extend your policy for Blue Water Cruising in international waters providing you and your boat meet our underwriting criteria. Determining factors may be, but are not limited to, the age, type and construction of your boat, as well as your own personal experience.

As a Club Marine and Nautilus agent I can most assuredly indicate that for our range of boats at least (and I suspect most production cats) that blue water coverage is available from both those companies. Subject to the usual boat/skipper/crew/destinations issues. And I have found that Peter Skirving from OAMPS in Brisbane can find insurance for most needs. And of course Pantaenius is open to most approaches to go pretty much most places on most boats. Specifically YES you can get insurance on a Seawind 1000XL for blue water/international voyaging.

Give me a call when you need insurance I will be only too happy to help out, provided both you and the boat meet reasonable criteria.

[rivonia]

It is so funny how a simple question by the OP on this forum changes into a slanging match.

The point is he now has all the info he needs.

Re insurance which is a seperate topic-please get all the facts before quoting verbatim on the forum.

Just do a simple test ask Pantaenius. They do insure!

[Factor]

Couldn't agree more. it is important though to make sure people aren't lead astray by incorrect statements.

[ausaviator]

There's no false information leading anyone astray here. The thread starter is asking about a blue water circumnavigation so he won't give a toss if Club Marine offer insurance for Australia, NZ and the Pacific; I haven't checked but he is probably in the US for all you know.

You need to settle down there Factor, read the posts in detail and offer appropriate advice. Shooting off and attacking other posters won't get you anywhere.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by smj

We've owned 6 catamarans below 36' the latest being 6 months ago and never had a problem getting insurance.

Try getting insurance to cross the atlantic not the pool in your back yard

[smj]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Try getting insurance to cross the atlantic not the pool in your back yard

Absolutely no problem.

[smj]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

Thanks. How long with the extensions?

The first is 37' long the last 36' long.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by ausaviator

There's no false information leading anyone astray here. The thread starter is asking about a blue water circumnavigation so he won't give a toss if Club Marine offer insurance for Australia, NZ and the Pacific; I haven't checked but he is probably in the US for all you know.

Im not sure if you are choosing to misrepresent your own words, or you are narcissistic to the point of delusion. Or is this another attempt to simply pick a fight without evidence of any sort. You know like you did when you said, Victoria had pulled the commercial survey stays of 1000s, completely untrue, and I had to spend some time chasing that down and ensuring clients that they should believe the authorities in Victoria not some nameless internet warrior. Or like the time you said that a 1000 had sunk near Port Albert and when pressed could offer not a single shred of support for your assertion other than that some bloke had told you so. And you couldn't remember who. You are like most internet warriors, hiding behind an anonymous "handle" with not a shred of intestinal fortitude.

You make a habit of at best being loose with the truth and at worst wilfully lying. You are consistently insulting and provocative, in regard my choice of boat. I wonder why, at least I own one. You insult me and seek to damage my business. And you wonder why I call you on your lies.

You don't like seawinds - I get it. Thats your absolute right. I on the other hand appreciate a lot of boats. I see goodness in nearly all designs. And I have sailed most of them.

On the matter at hand -

You said -

Most Australian insurance companies don't offer blue-water coverage so comments re the cost of insurance discussed above are irrelevant to this blue-water thread.

I said inter aliathat blue water coverage is available, from Trident and Pantaenius for example virtually anywhere in the world. In part at least from Club Marine. I also prefaced my post on insurance with - "speaking from an Australian perspective".

The point is, and it should be clear enough for the most obtuse individual, that the assertion that insurance is not available in blue water/international cruising sense is wrong in so far as this part of the world is concerned. And I suspect that Pantaenius would be open to coverage in most parts of the world.

[rivonia]

Originally Posted by Factor

Im not sure if you are choosing to misrepresent your own words, or you are narcissistic to the point of delusion. Or is this another attempt to simply pick a fight without evidence of any sort. You know like you did when you said, Victoria had pulled the commercial survey stays of 1000s, completely untrue, and I had to spend some time chasing that down and ensuring clients that they should believe the authorities in Victoria not some nameless internet warrior. Or like the time you said that a 1000 had sunk near Port Albert and when pressed could offer not a single shred of support for your assertion other than that some bloke had told you so. And you couldn't remember who. You are like most internet warriors, hiding behind an anonymous "handle" with not a shred of intestinal fortitude.

You make a habit of at best being loose with the truth and at worst wilfully lying. You are consistently insulting and provocative, in regard my choice of boat. I wonder why, at least I own one. You insult me and seek to damage my business. And you wonder why I call you on your lies.

You don't like seawinds - I get it. Thats your absolute right. I on the other hand appreciate a lot of boats. I see goodness in nearly all designs. And I have sailed most of them.

On the matter at hand -

You said -
I said inter aliathat blue water coverage is available, from Trident and Pantaenius for example virtually anywhere in the world. In part at least from Club Marine. I also prefaced my post on insurance with - "speaking from an Australian perspective".

The point is, and it should be clear enough for the most obtuse individual, that the assertion that insurance is not available in blue water/international cruising sense is wrong in so far as this part of the world is concerned. And I suspect that Pantaenius would be open to coverage in most parts of the world.

Spoken with courage and truth-well done that man. I take my hat off to you. I sense that you are a scholar as well as a true gentleman.

[Factor]

Back on topic

The Photo below is of a Simpson Woodwind 9 metre, that has cruised from Aus to Thailand and back, so yeah there are some smallish boats doing it. Its from a great designer, Roger Simpson was very adept at drawing seaworthy small and slightly larger cruising cats and tris. His Liahona Tri is still a favourite of mine.

[ausaviator]

Hi Factor et al, it was not my intention to upset you. The last couple of days I've been having trouble with a situation at home plus a lack of sleep from our young child and a child on the way and I was indirectly venting by making my opinion heard and getting frustrated when it felt that others were disagreeing with me. I enjoy posting and entering in conversations here but I believe I over stepped the line by pressing my thoughts. Again my apologies if I pushed too hard, it not intentional and I never meant to upset anyone.

[Factor]

Thanks for the explanation. It is appreciated.