INSURERS, AND WHAT THEY REQUIRE

Having insured Delta Moon with Haven Knox Johnston, for as long as I owned her, I can honestly say that I would recommend them to any fellow Moonraker owner. Members may recall the article in Moonrakers International recounting the occasion I had to tow a 35ft Viscount 80 miles up the East Coast after it had experienced outdrive problems, and later how HKJ got hold of the wrong end of the stick, when I was claiming for  damage sustained during that tow. They, (HNK) offered to pay for it to be put right, which I declined as, all along I was just keeping them informed of the claim I was making against the owner of the Viscounts insurers. So I know they neither quibble or keep you waiting. No one wants to have to make a claim, but should the necessity arise then HNK, in my experience are second to none, and always extremely helpful, as the article supplied by Chris Knox Johnston set out below demonstrates, nothing is too much trouble. 

Just to set the scene:- Chris lets you know just what his, and other, insurers require in the way of surveys, certificates and reports etc. Oh yes! For good measure, He has supplied three fact sheets covering every aspect of  boat insurance. You can access them at the foot of the page.

In view of rules over surveys as follows:-

1. Any vessel up to 25 years old will not normally require any type of survey

2. Any vessel over 25 years old will usually require a current out of water survey by an independent qualified surveyor prior to attachment.

3. Surveys done for any previous owner are not acceptable unless the surveyor has agreed to pass it on to the new owner, However we will accept "updates" for the new owner done by the surveyor on the original report.

4. We will usually look at (without guaranteeing to accept) surveys up to 12 months old. On these surveys we will also accept an update from the same surveyor without the need to have a complete new survey.

5 At HKJ, where we do ask for a survey at attachment, we do not normally ask for another survey for as long as the client remains insured with us for that vessel. Some insurers require a new survey every 3 - 5 years.

 6. If vessels are moored and used on the inland system of the United Kingdom, we will also accept (subject to the age of the vessel) the BW safety Certificate Part 1 and, if the vessel is over 25 years old and under 30 years old, we will accept the BW safety Certificate Part 2 (on the hull) provided it is "done" out of the water by an approved surveyor.

Chris Knox Johnson has written a "Fact Sheet" on surveys which is set out below if this is of interest. This is one of a series of 9 such "Fact Sheets" H.K.J issue. 

SURVEYS

No-one should buy a second hand boat without having it surveyed. There will also be occasions when an insurer will require sight of a survey report before agreeing to provide cover on some vessels.

Those over a certain age, home built, refitted and the like.

THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB

1). Find a surveyor who is knowledgeable in the type of vessel involved

2). The surveyor must be independent of the buyer, the seller and any intermediary involved in the sale.

3). Be sure that the surveyor carries a professional indemnity insurance.

4). Check whether the surveyor has any qualifications or is a member of a professional bodies, such as the Yacht Brokers, Designers and Surveyors Association. To find a surveyor telephone the association or ask at the local Yacht Broker for their recommended list.

WHAT TYPE OF SURVEY

1). A condition survey itself should be full, covering the whole craft including engine(s), rig, hull, deck, fittings and the like

2). A survey should be done out of the water i.e. "dry"

3). To be acceptable to an insurer (and each insurer may have their own rules) any condition survey for insurance purposes should be not less than one year old.

4). A survey done for someone else, such as the previous owner or a previous potential buyer, should not be relied upon. While it may be a useful guide the surveyor involved only has a responsibility to the person who commissioned the survey and to no-one else.

5). If there is a survey in existence, done for someone else, it may be possible,

as well as more economic, to re- approach that surveyor for an "update" rather that commission a new survey.

6). Any survey will contain recommendations. These can be (and should be ) divided up in some sort of order of priority such as:-

a). Those that must be attended to before the craft is put back into the water

b). Those which can be done after the craft is afloat but before she is put back into commission.

c). Those which should be done soon but can wait until the next lay up period.

d). Those which need doing to "keep the craft in good condition".

7). Once the recommendations have been attended to, the surveyor should be called back to check and confirm, in writing, that his (the surveyor's) recommendations have been complied with to his (the surveyor's) satisfaction.

CONDITION REPORTS

On some craft, usually smaller craft, an insurer may only ask for a condition report. In these cases the craft should be inspected by a knowledgeable (boat builder and the like), independent (not one who has worked on the boat) person. He should be asked to confirm in writing that the craft is in sound, sea (or river) worthy condition, is suitable for the use to which she will be put and is being and has been well maintained.

INLAND WATERWAYS SAFETY

CERTIFICATES

While these are not full condition surveys, Haven Knox Johnston will accept them in lieu of a survey in craft over 25 years old provided both section 1 and section 2 are completed. Section 2 has to be completed by a surveyor and also done out of the water. However craft of 40years old or more may still have to be the subject of a full out of water survey.

HOW OFTEN

While it is wise to have any "elderly" craft regularly checked over it is up to an owner how often the vessel should be surveyed. Some insurers, however, ask for surveys on a regular basis, every 3 or 5 years. Haven Knox Johnston do not do so where the vessel is insured with us for the same owner. It is wise to ask any insurer, who requests a survey, how often, after the acceptance of the first one, there will be a request for another. A survey may seem an expensive irritation but while any owner will feel that they "know" their own boat it is essential that an independent, qualified, insured person is called in when necessary.

Chris Knox Johnston