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Author Topic:   Overpowered Whaler insurance question

whalersailer posted 09-17-2003 02:01 PM ET (US)
I understand some of you have insurance policies which cover your overpowered whalers for a surcharge. In the states where I primarily boat (MN & WS), it is illegal to operate an outboard powered boat which "exeeds either the manufacturers maximum horsepower or engine weight capacity". My question is this:
Are there exclusions on these policies for states where overpowering is illegal?
It seems to me that an insurance company would have a tough time covering a liability that occured while an insured was breaking the laws of the state where said liability was incured.
I don't mean to stir up another beehive here, but I am honestly curious how this situation is handled.
Thanks,
-WS
Moe posted 09-17-2003 02:42 PM ET (US)
I've yet to see "stupidity" exclusions in liability insurance policies. Even if you break the law by exceeding the speed limit or DUI, they pay out, as long as there's a valid contract between you (i.e. no misrepresentation by you up front, i.e. driving record, boat power, etc).
The question is whether they'd even underwrite an overpowered boat in a state where it's illegal.
--
Moe
DADDYSSHRINKII posted 09-17-2003 09:12 PM ET (US)
When I took the USCG safe boating course we were told that the state of Louisiana considered an overpowered boat outside of the law
JBCornwell posted 09-17-2003 11:27 PM ET (US)
Most underwriters require you to ID the engine on the boat and set rates accordingly. . . or refuse to cover.
When I changed from a 100 to a 70 (Montauk) my premium dropped almost 60%. State Farm advised me that they would not cover an overpowered boat, period.
Red sky at night. . .
JB
Over the LINE posted 09-18-2003 08:17 AM ET (US)
There are a whole lot of people in Louisiana "outside of the law". At least there are if where I launch is any sort of representation.
onlyawhaler posted 09-18-2003 10:06 PM ET (US)
I have read several threads over the months about the issue of over powering. I have my second 18 outrage with the standard 150 now.
My first 18 outrage (1984) I had 5 years ago and did things to it that are unthinkable now. I just did not know better. One of the things I did was I put a new 1992 Johnson 200 carb engine on it and sold off the older 150.
It was tremendous. Especially up here at 400O ft high were horsepower suffers from less air. It would rocket on plane and wouldn't stop until it hit 57mph. That was with a t-top I put on, trolling motor, cannon downriggers and everything else. (clocked on my Lowrance) It was a thrilling boat. IT was a great feeling to outrun ski boats, etc with fishig poles hanging out the back. It was a wolf in sheeps clothing. It makes my 150 feel slow by comparison.
It didn't feel or look too heavy as far as transom weight. It handled great. It made the boat a better boat.
That was then, this is now. It is interesting that boats with outboards are tagged with max hp plates. I don't think boats with conventional IOs stern drives have plates stating max horse power. They may but I haven't noticed. I wonder why.
I have several friends who have pulled there 7.4 (454 big blocks) and had them worked over and jumped the hp 100 or more. No problems, no liablity, no calls to the agent.
Another friend who just got a new Ford crewcab disel had it worked over with chips and a turbo that would spin alittle more. Result? At least a 100 hp more and no problems, no liablity, no calls to the agent.
Just not fair. I would love another 200 on my 18OR
Sterling
Whaler72 posted 09-18-2003 10:06 PM ET (US)
Hey Pat:
Are you thinking about over powering that pretty 17OR? That 100 looked kind of skimpy to me. Maybe you could hang a six banger on the transom, it seemed wide enough to handle a much larger motor.
Best regards,
Chuck
P.S. leave to Minnesota to have a law about motor size.
captbone posted 09-18-2003 10:28 PM ET (US)
Progressive will insure it, if you want it.
Moe posted 09-18-2003 10:39 PM ET (US)
"There are a whole lot of people in Louisiana "outside of the law". "
There are a whole lot of people in all states who have ridiculously low minimum coverage, or no insurance at all, on their car, much less their boat. Despite financial responsibility laws in most states. No need to worry about overpowering if you don't bother with insurance.
That's why I have plenty of uninsured/underinsured coverage.
--
Moe
Over the LINE posted 09-19-2003 08:23 AM ET (US)
Not sure if that was a dig against the "Third World Country" that is the State of Louisiana or not. Lets just say that I am both overinsured and overpowered. According to Daddyshrink, I am still "outside the law".
In response to Whaler Sailor, I found no exclusions in my Progressive policy.
Good Luck
whalersailer posted 09-19-2003 01:53 PM ET (US)
Interesting...
This exercise was actually for a friend of mine who was looking at an overpowered 20' Outrage. Though I must admit that I had been thinking about putting the Johnzuki 140 4S on my 17 (it actually weighs LESS than the 90-115 - go figure).
At any rate, I just got off the phone with my Progressive agent (I have had auto insurance with them for 5+ years). That conversation was very enlightening. I asked for a quote to insure my boat with a 140. She spoke with the underwriters who informed her that Progressive will NOT insure any boats that have power exeeding the mfgs. rating. I asked her if it was just in MN (they do insure boats in MN), and she said that it was not. According to her, all of Progressive won't insure them (I asked about a surcharge, and she said no). I mentioned that I have a few friends (ok, I don't really know you guys, but you all seem like a decent bunch!) who have overpowered boats insured with them. The response was that they would not cover a claim or a boat if it was found out that the boat was overpowered.
I'm sure you guys have read your policies and are indeed covered with Progressive. I just find it odd that I got a completely different answer to my inquiry.
Thoughts?
-WS

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Author	Topic: Overpowered Whaler insurance question
whalersailer	posted 09-17-2003 02:01 PM ET (US) I understand some of you have insurance policies which cover your overpowered whalers for a surcharge. In the states where I primarily boat (MN & WS), it is illegal to operate an outboard powered boat which "exeeds either the manufacturers maximum horsepower or engine weight capacity". My question is this: Are there exclusions on these policies for states where overpowering is illegal? It seems to me that an insurance company would have a tough time covering a liability that occured while an insured was breaking the laws of the state where said liability was incured. I don't mean to stir up another beehive here, but I am honestly curious how this situation is handled. Thanks, -WS
Moe	posted 09-17-2003 02:42 PM ET (US) I've yet to see "stupidity" exclusions in liability insurance policies. Even if you break the law by exceeding the speed limit or DUI, they pay out, as long as there's a valid contract between you (i.e. no misrepresentation by you up front, i.e. driving record, boat power, etc). The question is whether they'd even underwrite an overpowered boat in a state where it's illegal. -- Moe
DADDYSSHRINKII	posted 09-17-2003 09:12 PM ET (US) When I took the USCG safe boating course we were told that the state of Louisiana considered an overpowered boat outside of the law
JBCornwell	posted 09-17-2003 11:27 PM ET (US) Most underwriters require you to ID the engine on the boat and set rates accordingly. . . or refuse to cover. When I changed from a 100 to a 70 (Montauk) my premium dropped almost 60%. State Farm advised me that they would not cover an overpowered boat, period. Red sky at night. . . JB
Over the LINE	posted 09-18-2003 08:17 AM ET (US) There are a whole lot of people in Louisiana "outside of the law". At least there are if where I launch is any sort of representation.
onlyawhaler	posted 09-18-2003 10:06 PM ET (US) I have read several threads over the months about the issue of over powering. I have my second 18 outrage with the standard 150 now. My first 18 outrage (1984) I had 5 years ago and did things to it that are unthinkable now. I just did not know better. One of the things I did was I put a new 1992 Johnson 200 carb engine on it and sold off the older 150. It was tremendous. Especially up here at 400O ft high were horsepower suffers from less air. It would rocket on plane and wouldn't stop until it hit 57mph. That was with a t-top I put on, trolling motor, cannon downriggers and everything else. (clocked on my Lowrance) It was a thrilling boat. IT was a great feeling to outrun ski boats, etc with fishig poles hanging out the back. It was a wolf in sheeps clothing. It makes my 150 feel slow by comparison. It didn't feel or look too heavy as far as transom weight. It handled great. It made the boat a better boat. That was then, this is now. It is interesting that boats with outboards are tagged with max hp plates. I don't think boats with conventional IOs stern drives have plates stating max horse power. They may but I haven't noticed. I wonder why. I have several friends who have pulled there 7.4 (454 big blocks) and had them worked over and jumped the hp 100 or more. No problems, no liablity, no calls to the agent. Another friend who just got a new Ford crewcab disel had it worked over with chips and a turbo that would spin alittle more. Result? At least a 100 hp more and no problems, no liablity, no calls to the agent. Just not fair. I would love another 200 on my 18OR Sterling
Whaler72	posted 09-18-2003 10:06 PM ET (US) Hey Pat: Are you thinking about over powering that pretty 17OR? That 100 looked kind of skimpy to me. Maybe you could hang a six banger on the transom, it seemed wide enough to handle a much larger motor. Best regards, Chuck P.S. leave to Minnesota to have a law about motor size.
captbone	posted 09-18-2003 10:28 PM ET (US) Progressive will insure it, if you want it.
Moe	posted 09-18-2003 10:39 PM ET (US) "There are a whole lot of people in Louisiana "outside of the law". " There are a whole lot of people in all states who have ridiculously low minimum coverage, or no insurance at all, on their car, much less their boat. Despite financial responsibility laws in most states. No need to worry about overpowering if you don't bother with insurance. That's why I have plenty of uninsured/underinsured coverage. -- Moe
Over the LINE	posted 09-19-2003 08:23 AM ET (US) Not sure if that was a dig against the "Third World Country" that is the State of Louisiana or not. Lets just say that I am both overinsured and overpowered. According to Daddyshrink, I am still "outside the law". In response to Whaler Sailor, I found no exclusions in my Progressive policy. Good Luck
whalersailer	posted 09-19-2003 01:53 PM ET (US) Interesting... This exercise was actually for a friend of mine who was looking at an overpowered 20' Outrage. Though I must admit that I had been thinking about putting the Johnzuki 140 4S on my 17 (it actually weighs LESS than the 90-115 - go figure). At any rate, I just got off the phone with my Progressive agent (I have had auto insurance with them for 5+ years). That conversation was very enlightening. I asked for a quote to insure my boat with a 140. She spoke with the underwriters who informed her that Progressive will NOT insure any boats that have power exeeding the mfgs. rating. I asked her if it was just in MN (they do insure boats in MN), and she said that it was not. According to her, all of Progressive won't insure them (I asked about a surcharge, and she said no). I mentioned that I have a few friends (ok, I don't really know you guys, but you all seem like a decent bunch!) who have overpowered boats insured with them. The response was that they would not cover a claim or a boat if it was found out that the boat was overpowered. I'm sure you guys have read your policies and are indeed covered with Progressive. I just find it odd that I got a completely different answer to my inquiry. Thoughts? -WS