Insurance for Your Personal Watercraft in Maine

Maine is home to over 6,000 lakes and more than 3,400 miles of coastline, a paradise for those who like to spend time out on the water. The following article provides general information regarding insurance for your personal watercraft, the coverages you may be interested in, and how to get a quote for your personal watercraft in Maine.

What is Considered a Personal Watercraft?

A Personal Watercraft (PWC) is, generally speaking, a small recreational watercraft that is usually powered primarily by a water jet pump with the operator standing, kneeling or sitting on top of the watercraft (as opposed to sitting or standing inside the watercraft, such as with a boat). PWC are often referred to by the brand name that produced them. Jet Ski, WaveRunner, and Sea-Doo are regularly used interchangeably with personal watercraft, even though these are names of models produced by various companies. Boating vessels, including PWC, are generally classified into four main groups, all based on their length in feet from bow to stern, not including the engine components.

Class A: 16 feet or less

Class 1: 16-26 feet

Class 2: 26-40 feet

Class 3: 40 feet and over

With the average personal watercraft having the length of nearly 11 feet, the normal personal watercraft owner can usually expect their machine to be classified under Class A.

How much is Insurance for Your Personal Watercraft in Maine?

Boat or personal watercraft insurance costs and rates depend on a variety of factors. In addition to the type and amount of coverage(s) you select, the following non-exhaustive list will share some of the possible factors that can play into an insurance quote.

• The year, make and model of your personal watercraft.
• The state that you live in.
• Where will you be using your personal watercraft?
• Your age, driving record, and in some cases profession.
• Are you riding alone or with friends?

Do I Need Insurance Before Using My Personal Watercraft?

Whether or not insurance is required for your personal watercraft can depend on a variety of factors, such as the laws of the state(s) where you live and where you intend to use it. In addition, if you are financing the watercraft you recently purchased, your lienholder will likely require you to have certain minimum levels of insurance. That said, even if your state doesn’t require boat insurance it is always a good idea to explore coverage options.

Insurance Terms and Definitions for your Personal Watercraft

Bodily Injury Liability – In the event there is an accident associated with the negligent use of your personal watercraft that leads to an injury or death of another, liability coverage can help pay some of the medical expenses for the injured person, up to coverage limits.

Collision Coverage – If you are involved in an accident, collision coverage can help with costs to repair your personal watercraft. Collision coverage is typically optional, although it is recommended that owners consider the value of their watercraft, how often they may use it, and other relevant factors to determine if this coverage is a justifiable investment.

Comprehensive Coverage – Comprehensive coverage, like collision, can help cover expenses when damage occurs to your watercraft. The difference between these two coverages is collision helps when damage occurs from an accident with another boat or personal watercraft, while comprehensive helps cover expenses when a loss is experienced due to theft, vandalism, fire, and damage caused by certain weather-related events.

Property Damage – If damage is inflicted to another individual’s boat, personal watercraft, trailer, dock, camp, or other personal belongings due an accident involving the negligent use of your watercraft, this coverage can help pay for that property damage, up to coverage limits.

Uninsured & Underinsured Boater – When an uninsured or underinsured boater negligently causes an accident with you, this coverage can help compensate you for your medical expenses and pain and suffering, up to coverage limits.

Request a Quote for Your Personal Watercraft

To see what insurance for your personal watercraft policy covers, you should carefully review it with your local insurance agent. Researching and comparing insurance quotes from different insurance carriers can be a major time investment. At Cross Insurance, we work with over 100 different carriers, from national names to local companies. Whether you are looking to insure your personal watercraft, pontoon boat, fishing boat, sailboat, or another type of watercraft, our team can help find options for you.

 

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.