Boat insurance is rated on what you own, where you keep it, where you run it and how much experience you have. A 24-foot center console on a lift in Sarasota and the same boat trailered from Parrish to Boca Grande every weekend are two different risks — and a good quote reflects that.
Ricardo works with recreational owners across the Gulf Coast and Spanish-speaking boaters who have never had an agent explain hull value, agreed value versus actual cash value, or what a hurricane haul-out clause really means. He will.
Who this is for
- Center consoles, bay boats and flats skiffs
- Cruisers, sportfishers and express boats
- Sailboats and catamarans
- Pontoons and deck boats on the Manatee and Caloosahatchee
- Jet skis and personal watercraft
- Yachts kept at Gulf Coast marinas
What this coverage typically addresses
Hull coverage
Physical damage to the boat, motor and permanently attached equipment. Agreed value or actual cash value — Ricardo explains the difference and the cost.
Liability
Injury or damage you cause to other boats, docks or people. Many marinas require minimum limits.
Medical payments
Injuries to you and your passengers regardless of fault.
Uninsured boater
Covers you when the other boater has nothing.
Towing and assistance
On-water towing, fuel delivery and jump starts — the stuff that happens off Anna Maria at 4pm on a Sunday.
Hurricane / named storm
Haul-out reimbursement, storage requirements and named-storm deductibles. In Florida this is where policies differ most.
Personal effects & fishing gear
Rods, electronics and gear that aren't permanently attached.
What Ricardo will ask you for
Have these ready and the quote goes smoother. Don't have everything? Call anyway — Ricardo will tell you what actually matters for your situation.
- Year, make, model and length of the vessel
- Hull ID, engine details and estimated value
- Where it's kept (lift, slip, trailer, dry stack) and the marina or address
- Navigation area — inshore, coastal, offshore distance, Bahamas
- Boating experience and any safety courses
- Current coverage and claims history
Rated for Florida water, not a generic boat form
National call centers quote Florida boats like they're on a lake in Ohio. The questions that matter here — hurricane plan, storm-season storage, saltwater use, navigation limits, lift versus slip — are the questions Ricardo asks first, because they're what underwriters price on and what claims adjusters check.
He also quotes in Spanish for the growing number of boat owners across Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida who have been underserved by English-only agents.
Common questions
Is boat insurance required in Florida?
The state doesn't require it, but most marinas, lenders and storage facilities do. And liability exposure on the water is real. Ricardo will quote what your lender or marina requires and what makes sense beyond that.
What's the difference between agreed value and actual cash value?
Agreed value pays a set amount for a total loss with no depreciation. Actual cash value pays market value at the time of loss. Agreed value costs more and pays more; Ricardo will show you both.
Does my policy cover hurricanes?
Most Florida boat policies cover named storms but with a separate deductible and sometimes requirements about haul-out or storage. Reading this section before a storm is the single most important thing a Florida boat owner can do. Ricardo walks you through it.
Can I run to the Bahamas or the Keys?
Navigation limits are set in the policy. If you want to run offshore or to the Bahamas, say so up front so the right territory is included.
Do you insure jet skis and pontoons?
Yes, where carriers offer it. The same questions apply — where it's stored and how it's used.
Local pages
Coverage availability, eligibility and pricing vary by carrier and are subject to underwriting. Nothing on this page guarantees a premium, savings, approval or coverage.