[AIS] Boat Insurance Claim Experience to Share

[Doug Mann]

This is a short story of our recent experience in making a significant insurance claim for a repair on our boat with our insurance company Markel.  I'm writing completely voluntarily but the least we feel lead to do in spreading the word of our very positive experience with Markel.

On our way out the Great Lakes we had what we considered a minor grounding incident on Lake Huron.  We notified our agent 'just in case' for the record.  In diving the boat a few days later there was surprising visual damage to the hull. This lead to lifting the floorboards and discovering a cracked rear keel stringer.

With this finding we notified our agent of a probable claim.  Within the day we had received a confirming email from the Markel Claims Specialist.  In the meantime we had researched a yard for haul out, inspection, and repair.  

I then called the Markel Claims Specialist re advice for proceeding and was given these simple steps;
- get the boat to the yard of our choice
- haul out and inspect
- prepare a detailed estimate thereof with pictures and forward.

Markel would then review the estimate and if comprehensive send out an overnight check the same day. And that is precisely what happened - simple as that!  

I need to mention however that the 'inspection' involved a full day and a half of grinding away fiberglass inside and out to get down to solid material to rebuild from - a significant effort by the yard that was built into the estimate.  Along with pictures and documentation the estimate was then prepared (with ~120 hours labor), submitted and accepted.  And the next day the yard had the check in hand - to which this very professional and established Canadian yard also commented on this very positive experience with Markel USA!

We really can't say enough of this great experience.  At some level we're not surprised by this as we've always also had a very positive experience with our Minnesota agent over the years - if you are interested we would be happy to pass along his name!

Best,
Doug & Mary
S/V Zipporah



Sent from my iPad