3rd Party insurance: what does it cover?

[Andrew Hannah]

A more serious thread. 3rd Party insurance: what does it cover?

There was a recent incident at a place familiar to me. At the end of racing, a Dart 16 sailor (a non member) was pulling his boat up the club slipway. With head down, he swung his boat and the stern collided with a car that had been parked at the top of the slipway, causing damage to the car of around £750.

The Dart 16 owner checked his insurance, and I understand that he was told by his insurers, that he was not covered by his boat policy. Is this usual? Or do you think he was told by his insurance company "not to commit his insurers"?

To me, it is unbelievable the Dart 16 is uncovered. There must have been similar accidents in boat parks around the country. What do you think?

I accept any replies given, especially by insurance agents, are non-commital, and are mere opinions.

[Steve Willis]

Andrew,

To be honest when I left our 18 in the car park a couple of years ago (sails down) and went to get changed I was called back out side to find our boat had been moved on its trolley by the wind about 15 feet so that one hul had run right up the little rear spoiler on another member's brand new BMW 325i.

I did not even think of claiming from the insurance and paid for the new spoiler and painting.

Interesting question if they were actually moving the boat, I will look at our Mardon Marine policy and perhaps have a word with John Tuckwell to see how things like that stand. I thought we were covered for accidents caused by us or anyone sailing with our permission including launching and recovery.

Thanks for the heads up on this.

Steve

[Bob Carter]

Hi Guys
I have checked this out with the Sprint 15 Class Association recommended insurance, WHIC, and such a 3rd party claim would be covered. Generally clients are advised not to admit liability at the scene of the accident but at least one such claim has been paid out over the last year or so. Also damage caused by dropped masts are covered. If the owner was not in charge of his boat it might be more difficult.
Cheers
Bob
PS Don't forget that Class Association members get a £25 discount on their premiums.

[Andrew Hannah]

Thanks for looking into this, Bob. Your note is reassuring.

I sometimes wonder whether it is still appropriate to deny you are covered, when insurance is compulsory. There must be an antecedent from the days of Noah when insurance was not a requirement.

[Bob Carter]

Hi Andrew
I think you are only advised to "not admit liability" for an accident - not to deny that you are covered by insurance.

I had an example of such an incident a few years back. I came home from a day's sailing to be accosted by an irate neighbour. A bough off an Oak tree on our boundary had blown off and fallen on his roof, breaking some tiles and the gutter. The irate neighbour wanted to claim on my house insurance for the damage. I politely told him I needed to check up on the insurance position. It turns out that as the Oak tree was in good condition and as the wind was severe the incident was classed as an "act of God" and he had to claim off his insurance for the damage.

I think it is for such situations you are not advised to admit liability for an accident.

Cheers
Bob

[Duncan Ford]

Hi Andrew

The car shouldn't have been at the top of the slipway and, if the Dart 16 owner was not a member, he shouldn't have been using the slipway (unless he was a guest of course?).

I would have politely asked them to remove themselves and argue somewhere else!!

Duncan