You're about to take the boat out for the weekend and someone asks whether your insurance is in order. The short answer is that liability cover is compulsory by law to sail. The longer answer — the one that actually matters — is what else is worth adding depending on your boat's value and how you use it. Here's both.

What the law requires to sail (compulsory liability cover)

To sail legally you need compulsory liability cover: that's what the law requires and the essential base of any boat insurance policy. It covers personal injury and material damage you may cause to third parties with your boat, whether it's a motorboat, a sailboat, an inflatable or a jet ski.

It's a legal requirement, not a recommendation: without it you can't sail legally. Beyond that, all other cover is voluntary, although highly recommended depending on the value of your boat and how you use it.

In one line: liability cover is compulsory to sail; the rest — hull, crew, assistance — is voluntary, but worth matching to your actual boat.

I cover the rest of the guarantees on the Boat Insurance page .

Compulsory liability cover has limits set by law, and in some cases they fall short: an accident with damage to another boat, to a harbour facility or to several people can exceed them easily. That's what voluntary liability cover is for — it extends those limits.

If you sail often, carry passengers, or your usual sailing area includes busy harbours, extending your liability cover is one of the more sensible decisions you can make against the legal minimum.

  • ✓Extends the limits of compulsory liability cover when they fall short.
  • ✓Covers damage to harbour facilities and other boats involved.
  • ✓Worth having if you sail often or regularly carry passengers.

Hull damage cover: protecting your investment

Liability cover protects third parties, not your own boat. That's what hull damage cover is for: total loss at market value, breakdowns, theft, fire, and damage suffered during road transport, hoisting or launching.

It also protects the boat while moored in the harbour, not just while sailing — a boat spends much of the year stationary, and that's precisely where many thefts or storm-related damages happen.

  • ✓Total loss at market value and breakdowns, including storm damage.
  • ✓Theft, including of the outboard motor or other parts.
  • ✓Transport, hoisting and launching, and the boat moored in harbour too.
This article is for general informational purposes and does not replace the specific terms of your policy. What your insurance actually covers depends on the guarantees taken out and the type of boat; I'll confirm this before you decide anything.

Accident cover for those on board, and assistance at sea

People on board need their own cover too: accident cover for those on board covers death or disability and the medical costs of whoever sails with you, regardless of the type of boat.

And if you're stranded at sea, assistance cover — towing and rescue — is what steps in, as contracted. Keep in mind that commercial or rental use of the boat isn't included in leisure cover unless expressly agreed; let me know beforehand if that's your case.

  • ✓Death or disability of those on board.
  • ✓Medical costs for everyone on board.
  • ✓Towing and rescue if you're stranded at sea.

I cover the rest of the conditions on the Boat Insurance page .

The small print: sailing area, licence and skipper

Three details decide whether a claim is settled smoothly or gets complicated. The first is the geographical sailing area: if you sail outside the limits set out in your policy, the claim may be excluded; if you're planning to go further than usual, let me know beforehand so we can extend it if needed.

The second is the nautical licence: the insurance doesn't replace the legal requirement to hold the licence needed for your type of boat, and sailing without it, besides being an offence, can leave you without cover if a claim happens.

The third is who's named as authorised skipper. If you lend your boat to someone else, cover usually depends on who's named in the particular conditions; if more than one person regularly skippers it, let me know so we can declare them and avoid surprises. This applies to boats of any length and different types — motorboat, sailboat, inflatable or jet ski — always adjusting the cover to their characteristics. If you also need liability cover for an activity on land, check General Liability →

  • ✓Stick to the sailing area set out in your policy.
  • ✓Hold the licence required for your type of boat.
  • ✓Declare regular skippers if more than one person may take the helm.