Winnipeg Insurance Brokers Ltd. Unit 106-2565 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3J 0P4
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You did it! You bought a boat. And you cannot wait to get out to the lake and take it out on the water this summer! We are with you! Let’s just make sure you’re covered first—so the summer doesn’t go from fun and freeing to stressful and sticky.
We’re breaking down what boat insurance is, what it covers, and why it’s key to getting you into the summertime state of mind you so deserve. Because, trust us, the LAST thing you need is to find out the hard way that your existing insurance doesn’t cover you, or your boat, as much as you thought!
Whether it’s home, renters, vehicle, or health insurance, most of us have used some type of insurance in the past. And boat insurance isn’t all that different. It helps cover you and your personal watercraft against liability, theft, and sudden accidental property damage.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to cover damages to your boat or someone else’s, simply file a claim for the damages. As long as the claim you file is for a covered incident, you’ll be paid for the losses or injuries, up to your previously agreed upon coverage limits.
Yes, you can drive your boat without insurance. Boat insurance isn’t legally required in Manitoba. But many people, including us, would advise against it.
Why? Because all it takes is one split second—whether it’s your child trying to grab your attention, your valiant attempt at multi-tasking gone wrong, or someone else’s error in judgment—for things to go underwater. And, when dealing with an accident, the last thing you want to be worried about is the financial stress of paying for injuries or damages.
With boat insurance in place, your policy takes care of all that for you. So you can focus on making sure all the people and boats involved are okay.
The specific boat insurance coverage you have will come down to the policy you decide to purchase. Things like how often you use your watercraft, where you tend to ride, and how much you’re able to spend per year can impact the type of coverage you get.
Generally speaking, though, your insurance will cover:
We recommend speaking to one of our Insurance Consultants to find the plan that best suits you!
Yes! Boat insurance covers the costs of repairing damage and replacing parts after an accident. The payout and amount of repairs covered will depend on the type of insurance you have though, so be sure to ask these questions when deciding the best policy for you.
And, if you find yourself in a more serious situation where your entire boat needs to be replaced, your insurance company will typically pay you out either the actual cash value or the replacement cost of your boat.
Yes, most watercraft insurance policies include at least one million dollars in liability insurance coverage. Why? Because surprisingly, legal charges often accompany boating accidents—regardless of whether or not medical attention was needed by one or both parties. And these charges can be high—high enough to sink most of us—you without the proper coverage in place.
The same goes for medical expenses. At least to some extent, they will be covered by your boat insurance policy. So you can rest easy knowing you’re covered!
Yes! Boat insurance would also cover you if your boat was out in a storm (or docked during a storm) and needed to be fixed. (Whew!)
Yes, your boat insurance plan would also cover you for theft of your boat or the possessions you keep aboard it.
Yes, most boat insurance policies will cover your boat trailer, but it’s important to note that there’s a limit on the protection your insurer will cover. So it’s best to ask about this specifically when you speak to your insurer!
Yes, but only if they’re listed on your policy. When signing up for boat insurance, your Insurance Consultant will ask you who else you plan on allowing to drive your watercraft.
Not 100% sure who’ll be driving at the time of purchase? No worries. You can avoid listing specific drivers by name by purchasing an umbrella policy, which covers any driver operating the boat—as long as they are not explicitly excluded from the policy.
Yes, you can tailor your boat insurance policy to fit you and your boating needs by adding on:
Many people ask why they should get boat insurance when homeowners’ insurance policies can partially cover watercrafts. The reason is simple: most homeowner policies limit their coverage for things like furniture, equipment, motors, and accessories. This limit is usually relatively low and typically won’t cover a boat in its entirety–leaving you and your boat on dry land. So, even though your existing policy may offer some coverage, we recommend topping up.
The simplest way to do this is by adding your boat on to your policy as a floater (something that is easily movable), which grants you additional coverage. Just be aware that if you’re currently benefiting from a Claims Free Discount on your home insurance (because you haven’t had a claim in years and are therefore paying a lower rate), claiming your boat would impact that, meaning your premiums may go up as a result of losing that discount.
The average cost of boat insurance in Manitoba ranges from $200 – $500 a year, depending on the year, make, model, and value of your watercraft. If you have a more expensive or larger boat like a sailboat or a yacht, boat insurance rates will be higher. In these cases, you’ll find yourself paying approximately between 1–5 % of the value of the boat.
Yes, the amount and type of insurance you need for your boat depends on the year, make, and model of your boat. For larger, more expensive boats, a Marine Survey may be required.
No, boat Insurance does not extend to Jet Skis. You would get separate property coverage for your Jet Ski!
The best way is to reach out to us! We’ll connect you with your very own Insurance Consultant, who will help you figure out exactly what coverage you need and how to get it for the best price. We can also answer any additional questions you have and talk through all your boat insurance options to make sure we find the best plan for you.
In order to get the most out of your appointment, we recommend coming prepared! Use the list below to make sure you have all the information we will need to get you started.
Buying a boat is fun—or at least, it should be! So, let us deal with the stickier parts so you can focus on the important things, like where you’re going to go boating next. Plus, getting insurance just got easier. Simply head over to our website and purchase your insurance policy online!
What are you waiting for? Click the button, and let’s get you ready for summertime cruisin’.
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We are committed to the communities where we live and work, and we demonstrate our commitment by taking part in sponsorship and volunteer programs.
We love it here, too.
We are committed to the communities where we live and work, and we demonstrate our commitment by taking part in sponsorship and volunteer programs.
Winnipeg Insurance Brokers Ltd. Unit 106-2565 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3J 0P4
Winnipeg Insurance Brokers Ltd. serves our clients and operates on Treaty One land; homeland of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Ojibway, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of the Red River Metis. Our drinking water comes from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, in Treaty Three territory. We respect the treaties, the land, and the water that sustain us.