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 →

2018 Hurricane Season begins June 1st.  What is your Plan? We hope everyone takes the best precautions they can to protect their property, and then best to just head away from the storm path if you can to protect yourselves and your family.  If you don’t have a plan, now is the time to put one together.  If you have a plan, now is a good time to review the plan. This is also a good time for us to remind everyone and provide you with the best information we can with regards to protecting your boat from damage. As... Continue Reading →

This Memorial Day we at Gallagher Charter Lakes honor the memory of those brave Americans who have stepped forward, put on the uniform of our nation, heroically fought to defend our freedoms, and made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can breathe as free people.  Let us never forget their service, sacrifice, and dedication to liberty.  God Bless these heros!   Continue Reading →

With the unofficial kick-off to summer arriving this weekend, many are planning long days on the boat. It’s surprising that in some states as much as 50% of boats for pleasure use are not insured.  (#uninsured #underinsured) So today, we are going to discuss some points to ponder. Boat insurance is more than covering your $2,000 - $10Million dollar vessel in case of a total loss.  There are agreed value policies and actual cash value policies.  Ask your agent the difference. What happens if you injure someone? I’ve seen it twice, another boat doesn’t see the skier in the water.... Continue Reading →

Hiring the right marine surveyor There are a lot of boats for sale right now and it seems there are a lot of folks out looking to get into boating this year. Anyone who has owned or purchased an older boat probably knows the pains of survey requirements. It’s one of the catch 22’s of owning an older vessel, and it’s often a tough pill to swallow in an all but otherwise enjoyable process.  You know the boat is in good condition so why should you have to pay somebody to tell the insurance company what you already know? The... Continue Reading →

Spring has finally sprung.  Many seasonal “Skippers” are itching to get their boats in the water.  That means all the preseason checks on land.  Oil, fuel, battery, cleaning, put the plug in… Verify your license, registration and insurance are all current. Memorial Day is just around and the corner and for those in the North, that kicks off the unofficial summer boating season.  We all are hoping for warm sunny weather.  What can go wrong? As you load the SUV/Truck/Car;  the cooler full of deliciousness.  Hitch up the boat. Did you inspect the trailer: Inspect the tires!  Look for cracks... Continue Reading →

A mechanical breakdown can cost you a whole season, not to mention a lot of money. In addition, depending on the cause of loss, your boat insurance policy may or may not cover it. Just like your vehicle. Keeping up on the maintenance of your engine(s) is key to its longevity. Paying attention to new noises, vibrations, smells, etc. that you did not notice before and having a good mechanic take a look at it can also save you a lot of heartache in the long run. Many boaters in the North East, North West and Midwest are starting to... Continue Reading →

Hey guys and gals We just wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year and big Thank You for your business! If you are not a current customer, give us a try! We have many specialty marine insurance carriers we work with and can typically find you a boat insurance policy with better coverage and a lower premium. Thanks again! Team Charter Lakes Continue Reading →

Claims service should be one of your primary concerns when purchasing any boat or yacht insurance policy. After all, isn’t that the reason you’re buying the policy in the first place?  Here at Charter Lakes we believe claims service is the value behind any marine insurance agency and the policies they sell.  Not to toot our own ‘ships whistle’, but proof is in the pudding as they say, so we thought we would share a few recent email comments from our clients who had to make a boat insurance claim…. “I can’t thank Charter Lakes enough for everything they have... Continue Reading →

“I want to do that!” is the cry we hear from people who see Dan Hernandez on television. These folks are doing more than adding sportfishing to their bucket lists, they are heading to the internet in droves to book charter boats for their family vacations. I recently read an article about the economic impact of fishing in Sport Fishing Magazine. I was struck by the magnitude of the numbers and the immense buying power of anglers: One million jobs are supported by sportfishing, mostly in the travel service industries and in the production of gear and boats – That... Continue Reading →

We would like to make a clarification concerning the cover article written in our Holiday Newsletter as it relates to a reference to Catch Shares regulation. For the past 30 years, the Guided Sport Fishing Industry has been supportive of Charter Lakes Marine Insurance.  We take that support seriously and are committed to supporting our clients and the industry as a whole in their pursuit of their business interests.  Whether the issue is related to the Coast Guard, the DOT or fishery management regulation, our only concern is that the Guided Sport Fishing Industry is treated fairly.  That was the... Continue Reading →

Grand Rapids, MI – Charter Lakes Marine Insurance announces the introduction of the Disappearing Deductible for the NACO Group Insurance Plan. NACO member policyholders will see their hull deductible disappear with our new Disappearing Deductible policy feature. Beginning in 2011, at your first renewal, your original elected deductible will drop by 25%. Each subsequent year you remain claims-free, your hull deductible will drop another 25% until it reaches zero. Once it reaches zero – it stays that way as long as you remain claims-free and insure with Charter Lakes and the NACO Group Insurance Plan. Current policyholders of the NACO... Continue Reading →

In the marine insurance business this phrase relates to dressing up a cheap policy to make it look more attractive than it really is. When you purchase a marine insurance policy you are transferring the risk of charter boat ownership to an insurance company who agrees to bear the risk in exchange for a premium. However, the insurance company writes the insurance policy. You have very little input into the terms and conditions of coverage. That is why it is so important to work with a marine insurance specialist who represents many marine insurers and understands the differences in policy... Continue Reading →

Many captains operate their business as a corporation but fail to inform us they are incorporated. It can be confusing if you own your boat personally and run your business as a corporation. Who should you insure? The answer is both you and your corporation should be listed as named insureds on your policy. Operating your charter boat business as a corporation is done primarily to transfer the liability of that business to the corporation and shield you from personal liability. To make this transfer complete, the corporation should be listed as a named insured on your charter insurance policy.... Continue Reading →

Taking the public for hire is serious business. The captain needs to be aware of who he/she is taking out. For many passenger’s, this is their first time on a boat and they most likely do not have any idea how to operate it or what to do in an emergency situation. If you or your captain fall overboard or have a serious medical condition, will your passengers know what to do? The following are some of what should be covered with your passengers before leaving port on each trip: • Show them where the life jackets are located so... Continue Reading →