On The Water Marine Insurance

08/24/2026

Congrats on the new boat Greg and thanks for the review!

A big thanks to Robin Vadaj and Mark Vadaj from Yachts360 - Great Lakes for the referral!

If you are in the market for a new boat, give them a shout, you won't be disappointed!

08/14/2026

After a crazy few days, we are back at it today and working to return calls. Thanks for your patience this week!

08/13/2026

Quick update: Power is still out, phone lines are down, cell service is very questionable. Power company showed up not long ago and are working now. We might be back up by the end of day. If not today, definitely tomorrow.

08/12/2026

We will be closed tomorrow as well due to a continued a power outage and damage cleanup.

Thanks for your understanding.

08/12/2026

We will be closed today due to storm damage and power outage at our location.

08/05/2026

Let's talk about the Great Loop!

If you are planning your loop trip, frankly, I'm jealous!

I get questions all the time on the insuring loop boats. Not all companies will cover boats doing the loop. I break some of this down in my latest blog.

If you are planning this trip and want to have a no pressure discussion on your options, give me a call!

📱(513) 653-3800

Great Loop insurance explained, including navigation limits, captain training, hurricane restrictions, and costs.

08/02/2026

Getting a boat loan? 🚤

Before you sign the paperwork, make sure you understand how financing can affect your insurance.

I break it all down in my latest blog.

👉https://onthewatermarine.com/boat-loan-guide-dont-let-your-financing-create-insurance-problems/

08/02/2026

I have personally ordered from Boat Gear USA, great products, fast shipping!

Don’t forget to use code ‘boatinsuranceguy’ for 10% off your order!!

BOAT GEAR USA ISN’T FOR EVERYONE.

And we're okay with that.

We're for boaters who want more than the lowest price and a box delivered to their doorstep.

We're for boaters who want a trusted source for the equipment they depend on and the peace of mind that comes from knowing there's a real person behind every purchase.

Whether you're shopping for safety equipment, marine electronics, electrical systems, anchoring, plumbing, steering, audio, lighting, maintenance products, or gear for your next adventure, we're here to help you make the right choice for your boat.

Need help figuring out what you need? Ask us.

Not sure if two products will work together? We'll help you figure it out.

Have a problem after the sale? We're still here.

Our customers have access to real human support by phone, email, and live chat, plus unlimited lifetime technical support on the products they purchase from Boat Gear USA.

Need support outside our normal business hours? Contact us in advance and we'll do our absolute best to coordinate with you and be available when you need us.

We offer thousands of products from the industry's leading marine brands, but what really sets Boat Gear USA apart isn't what's on our shelves.

It's the service behind everything we sell.

We're not trying to be everything to everyone.

We're here for boaters who value expertise, trust, responsive service, competitive pricing, and a long-term relationship with the people they buy from.

Because when you're buying equipment for your boat, knowing who you're buying it from matters.

Boat Gear USA

PREMIUM SERVICE. BETTER BOATING.

www.boatgearusa.com

07/31/2026

Does your boat insurance cover a hired captain?

This is a very misunderstood part of boat insurance.

The short answer is: Not automatically.

If you hire someone to operate your boat, whether it's a one-time delivery captain bringing your new boat home, or a full-time captain you use throughout the season, you should make sure your insurance policy includes Captain & Crew Coverage.

Here's why it matters.

Many boat owners assume that if something happens while a hired captain is operating the boat, the captain's insurance would respond first.

In most cases, that's not how it works.

The boat owner's insurance policy is generally the primary policy responding to a claim involving the vessel. If your policy isn't set up correctly, you could discover a coverage problem after an accident.

Captain & Crew Coverage is designed to help protect you from claims involving paid captains and crew members. It can also extend protections related to maritime laws, including the Jones Act, which allows qualifying maritime workers to seek damages from their employer if they're injured due to negligence while performing their job.

Every insurance company handles this differently.

Some companies automatically include coverage for a delivery captain but require an endorsement if you regularly hire a captain.

Other companies provide very limited liability unless Captain & Crew Coverage is specifically added to the policy. I've seen policies that reduce liability protection to just $25,000 while a hired captain is operating the boat if the proper endorsement isn't in place. Considering that many boat owners carry $500,000, or even $1 million in liability coverage, that's a huge gap that most people never realize exists.

The bottom line is this:

✔️ Hiring a captain changes your risk.
✔️ Don't assume your policy automatically covers it.
✔️ A quick review of your policy can prevent a very expensive surprise.

If you're planning to hire a captain, even just once to deliver your boat, let your insurance agent know before they step aboard. It's a simple conversation that can make a significant difference if a claim ever occurs.

Because life is better, On The Water.

07/25/2026