Page 44 - Bush 'n Beach Fishing mag

B
B
OATING
OATING
& marine
Insights into boat insurance
RHow to avoid double trouble when repowering your boat
EPOWERING argue that the newer look for when making ten is a far simpler you’re going to install a vessel can four-stroke outboard a decision about the route to ensuring the a new outboard pod make a great to be installed is light- insurability of the ves- insurability of the re- on the back of your
deal of sense for a wide er than the original sel with its new pow- powered vessel. boat to accommodate
variety of reasons – greater reliability, bet- ter fuel economy and improved performance being just a few.
and therefore it is OK to put on more horse- power than the man- ufacturer’s original maximum.
erplant.
If the manufacturer
Then there’s the question of the con- dition of the transom itself.
a new power installa- tion, you are potential- ly raising the stakes even higher.
Nautilus Marine In- surance is able to ac- commodate the great- er value that a repower can add to the vessel.
Not so.
is no longer in busi- ness, you can enlist the assistance of a na- val architect who will be able to provide you with a professional opinion, and who can certify that the pro- posed repower is with- in the capabilities of the vessel.
While the maximum horsepower of the new motor, and its weight and suitability to the height of the transom might all stack up in terms of specifica- tions, you also need to consider whether the transom is in excellent condition.
Someone such as a certified boat builder or naval architect will have to sign-off on the structural integrity and performance of the modified vessel if you are going to se- cure marine insurance for it.
However, it is not an open book and it pays to understand the rules.
The weight of the motor and the max- imum power are im- portant, but they are two separate issues which must be con- sidered individually and cannot be simply interchanged.
Similarly, you will need confirmation from the vessel’s orig- inal manufacturer that the vessel is suitable for a twin outboard in- stallation of say 115hp instead of a single 250hp.
A good strategy is to talk to Nautilus Ma- rine Insurance first.
The first is to ensure the powerplant being added to the vessel sits within the boat man- ufacturer’s specifica- tions.
Similarly, the out- boards might have been designed for dif- ferent transom heights and transom angles.
It is not uncommon for some vessels to suffer transom degra- dation due to a myri- ad of reasons – from amateurs drilling holes into them to ac- commodate the instal- lation of electronics, bait buckets and grab rails, to water ingress resulting from struc- tural stresses and sep- aration.
Discuss what is be- ing planned and ask what the requirements would be for insuring the vessel once the modifications have been carried out.
If the boat was orig- inally rated to take an outboard of up to 200hp, you can’t sim- ply bolt on a 250hp outboard and expect it will be insurable.
In these cases, con- tacting the boat’s manufacturer and get- ting a clear direction in writing about the repower make good sense.
Again, it is not au- tomatically valid to claim that twin 115hp outboards total 230hp, which is less than 250hp, so the repower must be permissible.
When it comes to marine insurance, al- ways check your Prod- uct Disclosure State- ment and if you have a query, ask your insur- er for clarification.
You have stepped outside the manufac- turer’s specifications.
It’s the type of in- formation that a spe- cialist like Nautilus Marine Insurance will
The torque needs to be considered along with the combined weight of the out- boards, and the loca- tion and distribution of that mass.
Ordinarily, such oc- currences can be rem- edied by a profession- al boat builder and the remediation works can be reflected in the new value of the ves- sel.
Some boaties might
Any special condi- tions and excesses should always be ex- plained clearly in your insurance policy’s PDS.
Fortunately, many boat models carry a maximum horsepower for a single outboard but offer a rating for a twin outboard instal- lation as an option.
To ensure it is, you will need to present receipts and documen- tation from profes- sional and recognised boat repairers.
If you need further information, you can contact Nautilus Ma- rine Insurance on 1300 780 533 for any boat insurance re- quirements.
In those cases, it of-
Once you decide
Any advice contained in this article is of a general nature only and may not apply or be right for you as it does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any advice provided in this article, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.
Page 44 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2020
www.bnb shing.com.au