Protection for your boat and other watercraft
Agreed value vs. actual cash value on the boat itself.
Hull coverage repairs or replaces the boat after a covered loss — collision, sinking, fire, or storm. Agreed value pays a stated amount; actual cash value subtracts depreciation. For a larger recreational boat, that difference is often the whole conversation at claim time.
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The base watercraft policy is the printed form. An endorsement is a taped-on change — adding coverage, taking it away, or renaming who is insured. Optional coverages ride along with the policy. Separate policies sit beside it.
Form names and availability vary by carrier. This is a map of add-ons we commonly shop in Illinois — not a promise that every company offers every item.
Base policy
Watercraft policy
Hover an add-on to read it, then click to pin it here — a review list for your next conversation with an advisor.
Send this list to an advisor →We’ll open the contact form for this coverage so an advisor can help you decide which add-ons belong on the policy.
Safety guidance and coverage terms for Illinois boaters.
Whether you own a paddle boat or a power boat, you want to enjoy your time on the water without worry. We will help you leave your worries on dry land and fully enjoy your time on the water.
A solid watercraft policy pairs liability with hull coverage, then we check lay-up period dates and navigational territory so recreational use on Illinois lakes is actually contemplated.
Getting out on the water should be carefree, but owning and running a boat brings several financial risks. Watercraft insurance means you can stop worrying about those risks and get back to relaxing on your boat.
Boat insurance (or watercraft insurance) policies usually have two standard elements, with two optional extras that are worth considering. One standard feature is insurance coverage for physical damage to the boat, whether that be from a collision, fire, severe weather, theft, or vandalism. The other standard feature in a boat insurance policy is liability, meaning you are covered for damage you cause to other boats or people, along with the associated legal costs. Look for insurance policies that cover the costs of cleaning up any oil spillages if your boat is severely damaged, as well.
One optional element of watercraft insurance is coverage for theft of or damage to your personal possessions kept or used on your boat. This is well worth considering when you think about the costs of sports or fishing equipment and expensive gadgets. You can also get optional boat towing and assistance coverage that protects you against the costs that come up if your boat breaks down while out on the water.
Spending time on the water is fun. Talk with us about getting the proper boat insurance coverage in place today.
Request a watercraft quote to get started.
The same watercraft policy add-ons from the explorer above, listed out. Form names and availability vary by carrier.
Endorsement
Locks the hull value instead of depreciating at claim time.
Newer boats and well-kept used boats often belong on agreed value, not actual cash value. After a total loss, ACV can land well below what it costs to step into a similar hull. Agreed value is an underwriting choice, not a free upgrade.
Endorsement
Physical damage for the trailer, not just the hull.
A watercraft policy may schedule the boat and omit the trailer, or cap trailer value. Illinois owners who tow to Fox Lake, Chain O’Lakes, or Michigan need the trailer on the form. Highway collision while towing is a different claim than a hull scrape at the dock.
Endorsement
Scheduled rods, reels, and electronics for serious anglers.
Tournament tackle and graph units can exceed a generic effects limit. Scheduling fishing equipment is the boat equivalent of jewelry scheduling. Serial numbers and photos help. This is still not a warranty for a fish-finder that simply dies.
Endorsement
Clarifies freeze damage while stored — often restricted.
Freeze claims on engines and plumbing are a frequent winter dispute. Some forms exclude freeze unless winterization is documented. An endorsement or a warranty on the policy can spell out what “properly winterized” means. Keep the marina’s winterize receipt.
Endorsement
Defines when the boat is laid up versus in navigation.
Lay-up dates matter in Illinois. A boat that is declared laid-up but launched early can become a coverage issue. The navigational period and the storage location (indoor vs shrink-wrap) should match how you actually winter the boat.
Optional coverage
Tow back to the ramp or marina after a breakdown.
On-water assistance is not the same as a trailer on I-90. Optional towing coverage can pay a tow vessel to bring you in after a mechanical failure. Limits are per-incident. It does not replace hull coverage if the boat is damaged.
Endorsement
Phones, bags, and tackle that are not permanently attached.
Hull coverage is the boat. Fishing rods, coolers, and electronics in a bag are often personal effects with a small sublimit. An effects endorsement raises that cap. Homeowners contents might respond off-premises — or might not, depending on the form and the peril.
Separate policy
Extra liability over the watercraft policy after a serious injury.
Boats and guests are a liability mix. Umbrella can sit over watercraft if the underlying limit meets the umbrella’s requirement. We check that the boat is listed or not excluded on the umbrella — a common miss when the hull is written separately from auto and home.
Learn more →Optional coverage
Protects you when the other skipper has no liability insurance.
Not every boat on an Illinois lake carries meaningful liability. Uninsured watercraft coverage is the marine cousin of uninsured motorist. Optional on many forms, and easy to skip until a weekend crash with an underinsured rental boat.
Endorsement
Towing tubers, skiers, or wake sports — confirm it is not excluded.
Some watercraft forms restrict or exclude towing people. If the boat is used for tubes and skis on inland lakes, we confirm watersports liability is included or added. A guest injury behind the boat is a liability claim, not a hull claim.
Endorsement
Pays to pull a sunk or stranded boat when required.
If a boat sinks in a channel or at a rented slip, someone has to remove it. Wreckage removal can be an extra limit or included to a cap. Marinas and inland lakes do not always absorb that cost. We check it on policies that run Great Lakes or busy inland water.
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