Homebuilt Catamaran Insurance in 2015 - Possible ?

[theelkhunter]

After a LOT of Googling, blog reading and other searching I still haven't found a source for homebuilt catamaran insurance, so posting this here...

We are looking at possibly building a 12m cat - over two years I have narrowed the search down to two well known designers - priced builds, etc... So far so good...

The question I cannot find a clear answer for is; who currently insures homebuilt cats in US waters ? During construction, and after launch.

I know there are lots of variables on insurance - just obtaining ANY coverage seems to be more the issue than the coverage details at the moment....

Assumptions:

Private - no USCG cert. needed, but build will be documented and surveyed during / after construction - seems to be a requirement for coverage. Would building it to USCG criteria make it much easier to insure?

Materials - ply/epoxy or foam/glass - I have seen written blog comments that foam/glass is easier to insure than wood - but nothing in writing yet from any insurance company - anyone have a source or definitive answer on this comment?

Coverage afloat - assume third party/liability only for marina needs - anything else will be a bonus - I'd like to have add'l inurance, but I would have to be marina complaint at a minimum.

Coverage area - US/Bahamas initially - further 5+ years from now?

I know there must be homebuilt cat owners who have solved this - somehow? -

after many calls to insurance companies I'm getting more disheartened than encouraged on this part of the self build concept - Might even be a self-build deal killer

This has recently become way more of an issue since almost all? marinas now require third party insurance at a minimum - from what I see.

Appreciate if this thread could stay on track - I didn't post this because of the AeroRig Wharram that broke up No - I'm not looking at building a Wharram -

If you have obtained insurance for a homebuilt cat sailing in US or other waters I'd appreciate your thoughts/input - or just the contact info for your insurance company so I could investigate coverage through them...

Thanks! Rusty

[44'cruisingcat]

Doesn't seem to be any problem here in Aus. You can insure the boat while it's being built (Builder's risk insurance) with a few companies, and with a survey, can insure the boat when completed.


We've been offered insurance by Club Marine, by Pantaenius, were originally insured with Nautilus, and are currently insured with QBE.

[trinescape]

Try Trident insurance they insured my home built one off design built in ply &epoxy no problem as long as the boat is surveyed good luck cheers Andy

[TabbyCat]

Rusty,
Home built cats are very insurable. Fiberglass is preferred, but wood is acceptable. (Ferro would be difficult, except for US waters). Most Wharram cats are wood, and we insure quite a number of them both in the USA and throughout the world. The real question is whether you are insurable? For an underwriter to quote coverage, they will look at both the boat and your experience when making the decision whether to offer a quote.

[amphibious1]

Call. BC yacht Insurancce. 250-656-2668 talk to Vera she is great. Even tho they are a Canadian company they do us policies.


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