Boat owners anxiously waiting to get their vessel out of storage and back in use, each Spring. The boat comes out in the spring, plays during the summer, and inevitably is put into hibernation/layup during the cold winter months. Maintaining your boat is a constant process. It takes a little work to winterize and then de-winterize your boat. It may be tedious, but it's necessary to your machine's longevity and your savings when done properly. Before we dive into our quick tips, all boats and engines are a little different / unique.  These steps are a guide and you should... Continue Reading →

Beware of SSO SSO (Struck Submerged Object) and there is no-limit to what the object may turn out to be.  Yesterday we posted about a large shipping container seen floating off the coast of South Carolina.  Last week a fisherman spoke of a container floating off the coast of SW Florida. About 1400 containers fall of ships every year.  Most boaters hit things like: oyster beds, stumps, logs, submerged watercraft, shopping carts, refrigerators, crab traps, buoys, moorings, old pilings or pieces of docks.  Those are on normal days.  After storms the list is infinite what may be floating just below... Continue Reading →

How to Launch Your Boat with Precision The weather has finally warmed enough and the water is calling. You’ve prepped everything at home, started the motor with the earmuffs, put the plug in, checked the bilge, lights work, you are all set for a get day on the water and fueled up. Launching a boat can be very stressful... Follow these steps to a smooth, safe and efficient boat launch.   1. KNOW THE LAUNCH Look at the ramp for any submerged hazards, sharp drop-offs, broken concrete, low over hanging limbs or algae-covered slippery spots.   2. CHECK YOUR BOAT... Continue Reading →

10 Boating Basics Boating how hard can it be?  Buy a boat, put gas in and call a friend.  There are always friends willing to go boating with you.  Fun! Well if you are not prepared the adventure can become adventurous. 1)  Train Driving a boat is different than driving a car.  Because you’re 16 or 60, and are a “Good” driver doesn’t mean you will be safe boating.  There are navigation buoys (Red Right Return), direction of boat traffic on lakes,(it is supposed to be counter clockwise.)  Right of ways.  The 3 W’s -Wind, Waves, Wakes.  Swimmers, skiers, “Jet... Continue Reading →

Congratulations, you’ve bought that special boat.  Whether it’s for commercial use or pleasure, you are seeking Boat Insurance: You’ve worked with an agent and given them all the details about who you are, if the boat will be insured in the name of your business or you personally.  Make, model, serial #, does it have a trailer, where you plan to use the boat and where you will keep it when you are not using it, how much personal property you might have onboard, folks in tropical storm areas-what is your storm plan and many more answers. Your agent then... Continue Reading →

Every year there are an estimated 360,000 deaths worldwide related to drowning making it the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury death and a cause for major concern (World Health Organization). Unfortunately, children make up a large percentage of these drowning accidents particularly if they are under 9 years of age. The chance to drown is exacerbated for kids when boating because of a variety of additional factors that can make the environment more difficult for inexperienced swimmers. Beach and Boating Safety Tips Water Safety When Around The Ocean Swimming from your boat in the ocean, in a river, or... Continue Reading →

Tuesday Tips – Understanding Boat Insurance We will cover several terms in the typical boat policy.  Boat insurance is often not regulated like a home insurance or auto insurance policy.  In fact most states don’t require minimum limits of coverage; making it even more important to understand your risks. Why have boat insurance?  The most common answer is in case my boat is damaged or stolen. That is important especially for your loan holder.  However, the other reason is incase people are injured. Our First Tuesday Tip:  Medical Payments *Please review your policy as not all policies in the boat... Continue Reading →

Protection & Indemnity Insurance – What is it??? If you own a boat and have an insurance policy, you may have noticed in your policy you have Protection and Liability (P&I).  Has it ever been explained?  We will try to offer a brief explanation and highly encourage you to speak to your agent. If you look at your policy and you don’t have P&I coverage, please contact a marine Insurance specialist like Gallagher Charter Lakes.  This is a brief overview of P&I. FOR THE VERY LARGE OCEAN VESSELS P&I is liability coverage for the boat or ship owner.  Most of... Continue Reading →

Renting your place with your boat… More and more, people are renting their homes via apps and sites like; airbnb, VRBO and many more. This is often great for the renters and the owners. 5 Considerations: 1st- Is it legal in your area to rent your home 2nd- Does your home insurance policy cover your for rental exposures? 3rd- If you have a boat on the premise? Do you have insurance for rental watercraft coverage?  This is not standard in boat and yacht policies. 4th- You will need a rental agreement that is specific to the boat.  You will need... Continue Reading →

1st, as with all insurance products, find a company with a strong financial outlook.  Is the policy from an “A rated” company?  Standard and Poors, Moodys and A.M. Best, provide letter ratings on insurance carriers; ‘A’ being the top rated and it goes down from there.  The insurance is only good if the company can financially stand behind the product, even in the case of a catastrophe.  That means, paying claims. Also, will you speak with people when you call claims or have to follow endless prompts, only to leave messages on a machine and wait for a return call?... Continue Reading →

Hurricanes-Threatening the East Coast and Hawaiian Islands.  There are several storms spinning along both coasts. Want to remind our policy holders that most yacht and charter boat policies cover some portion of the cost to haul out and secure your vessel on the hard.  Review your policy and execute your storm plan sooner rather than later. Now is the time to get your boats secured until the storm passes. As boaters, there is nothing we can do to change severe weather.  We must be prepared and execute a plan for our safety and the safety of your boat and other... Continue Reading →

USCG Urges Boater Safety: Thanks to NACO for sharing this article Labor Day Weekend Reminders The Coast Guard urges boaters to use extra caution while out on the water this Labor Day weekend. Coast Guard crews, along with local and state law enforcement agencies, will be patrolling, conducting safety checks, and watching for people boating while intoxicated or operating in an unsafe manner. Never boat under the influence: It is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There are stringent penalties for violating BUI/BWI laws, which can include large fines, suspension or revocation of... Continue Reading →

7 Tips to keeping your boating season safe - Most of these tips come from Sheriff and Coast Guard sites With the Labor Day Holiday comes the sign that summer is ending and in many places, the boating season is wrapping up.  This weekend, many people will head to the beaches, lakes and seas for one final time on Labor Day Weekend to celebrate with friends and family. However, a relaxing day on the water could turn deadly if boaters are not following safety guidelines. Coast Guard and Sheriff patrol warn those who head out to the waters this weekend-... Continue Reading →

Shared from NACO All Gulf Members who own and/or operate a USCG vessel with a Certificate of Inspection From: Capt Bob Zales, II Re: All COIs issued from Sector Mobile I own and operate a USCG COI vessel out of Panama City, FL which is under the purview of USCG Sector Mobile. I recently renewed my COI under the 5 year renewal requirement. When I received my new COI someone at Sector Mobile had changed my original route of navigation which was to operate up to 100 miles offshore from Apalachee Bay, FL to Brownsville, TX, the area under USCG... Continue Reading →

Source WorkBoat Magazine: Coast Guard busts 147′ Florida yacht for illegal charter By Kirk Moore on August 21, 2018 WorkBoat Article The motor yacht Golden Touch II underway on Aug. 19, 2018, in the vicinity of Nixon Beach, Fla. Coast Guard photo. The Coast Guard’s campaign against illegal charter operations bagged a 147′ yacht in Florida Sunday, when an enforcement team found the boat overloaded with passengers and lacking a certificate of inspection. The 147’x28’9” Golden Touch II was carrying 47 passengers off Nixon Beach on Key Biscayne near Miami when it was stopped and boarded by a crew from... Continue Reading →

Hurricane Lane -Threatens the Hawaiian Islands.   This is the first hurricane threatening the US this year.  You all probably remember the tremendous effects of the two hurricanes in 2017. Want to remind our policy holders that most yacht and charter boat policies cover some portion of the cost to haul out and secure your vessel on the hard. Now is the time to get your boats secured until the storm passes. As boaters, there is northing we can do to change severe weather.  We can be prepared and execute a plan for our safety and the safety of your boat... Continue Reading →

Gallagher Charter Lakes Marine Insurance specialists, takes training and development seriously, with a little fun mixed in. This year the team headed to Saugatuck, Michigan, a port along the coast of Lake Michigan. Working with a Captain there on "BOAT" , a 55 foot Chris Craft, we observed the channel navigation as well as the extensive safety measures followed  preparing for a voyage and during the trip. Safety of guests and crew are serious business.  Having a process and following the procress lead to a safe and enjoyable trip for everyone. Enjoy your guests and enjoy each trip by following... Continue Reading →

You are pretty successful at catching fish.  Looking to be your own boss and do what you love. Your love of the water and spending time with many types of people has you believing you can make a life out of fishing. Obviously, you understand the currents and how to catch a lot of fish.  How to get your tackle to do exactly what you need in order to catch fish. TO GET STARTED YOU NEED THESE 5 THINGS: 1. FIRST YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR A US Coast Guard captain’s license. http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=054-09&category=captains-license-info This is a legal requirement to operate the... Continue Reading →

Summer officially begins this week.  And Charter Lakes Marine Insurance wants you to have a safe and enjoyable experience while you are out on the boat. Summer time means: boating, fishing, beach getaways, picnics, baseball games, golf and just getting outdoors. Exposure to the UV rays can be very dangerous. Those dangers are magnified while on the water. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 3.5 Million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year and on the rise.  90% of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to the sun’s UV rays. If you love being on the... Continue Reading →

As the weather warms up, many of us head to lakes, rivers, or the ocean to fish, waterski, cruise, and relax onboard a boat, yacht or other personal watercraft. With nearly 12 million registered recreational boats in the U.S.*, it’s no wonder the waterways are a popular place to go. But, before you head out with friends and family, take note of a few important safety tips. 1. Make sure everyone wears a life jacket. Victims drowned in approximately 80% of fatal boating accidents. Of those, 83% were not wearing a life jacket. Insist that your crew and guests all... Continue Reading →