One more thing I would like to add as we are discussing the risks of being in a situation without insurance.
It has to do with loaning your boat i.e. letting someone other than you (or a COVERED family member) pilot it. Many people (generally amongst friends) are asked to transport a boat to a ramp, from a ramp to a dock, or perhaps to help someone pull their boat in the spring or fall etc. all of which involve them driving someone else's boat or someone else driving theirs.
All of these situations put the owner in a potentially bad spot, rentals aside from this comment. This is my take but I could be wrong:
- If you drive someone else's boat and are involved in an accident, I assume you won't be covered because you are not the owner hence are not the Insured;
- The owner would not be covered because the driver is not a Named Insured;
In 2007 I did lend my boat to my brother for his one week stay on Squam but prior to that I had my Insurer add him as a Named Insured and I got that confirmation in writing. They went along with it no problem at all nor was there an extra charge from (BoatUS and their Insurer) to do so.
Many years ago I read something-perhaps in a boater course-that general maritime law/admiralty law makes the owner of the boat liable for acts someone else caused because that other person was piloting YOUR boat. And the fact you were a hundred miles away when it happened is no protection.
Ugly no matter how you look at it if there is no insurance protection (assuming you have enough to begin with). And the downside can mean massive personal financial responsibility for those involved who for whatever reason get no insurance protection for an incident.
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