Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-22
LEISURE
SPORTSMAN!
NOTES
ON
BOATS
By BOD JONES


Boat insurance is . subject
with many angles. In the first
place. boats don't always OPP
crate under the same condi-
tons. Boats themselves vary
widely In their design and
usage. So it's hard to general
lie. to say to your insurance
man. "Just give me q regular
policy on my boat" Here are
q few tips for when you do
discuss it with your agent.
A good place to start is with
the hazards Of boating which
may be compared roughly to
those Of driving a car. Your
boat can ram another boat or
be rammed. passengers on eli
Their boat can be injured. there
can be damage to personal
property. Or your boat may
suffer damage from going
aground. from fire or explo-
sion. A passenger on your boat
may suffer injury. bring suit
and tie up the boat as well
as your bank account for more
money than you ever dreamed
possible.
Boat insurance is not COM
pulsory. so it isn't surprising
that a large number OF boats
carry none at all. For this
reason it does cost more, but
there's no sense in paying for
what you don't need. BY care
fully considering the condi-
tons and usage your boat will
be operating under, an eco
nomical and sound policy can
be worked out with, your
agent.
For example. a boat that is
used where the traffic is heavy
is more liable to suffer COLI
sion than one where few other
boats are in use. Or II the only
passengers your boat ever car
ries are members Of your i'm
mediate family. there's no
need to be concerned about
damaging suits for personal in
jury. II your boat operates by
sail alone, the dangers of fire
and explosion are practically
nonexistent.
II you are going to trail your
boat. remember that your reg
ular automobile insurance COW
ers neither trailer nor boat.
Some policies can be worded
to cover twice-a-year trailer
ing. such as when your boat
is being hauled to the water
in the spring and returned in
the fall. BY notifying your
agent Of the specific dates when
this will be done. considerable
saving can be made compared
to a general trailering clause.
AS a general rule. a local ma
rine insurance agent who has
the confidence and trust Of
boatmen in the area is a good
person to deal with. A frank
and open discussion Of your
particular boating problems
will result in a less expensive,
but adequate. coverage than
having "the works"
Registration
When you buy a power boat,
or an cupboard measuring over
Is feet, remember that the
Coast Guard requires you to
submit a bill OF sale fully de-
scribing IL. Your nearest Coast
Guard station (this also applies
to inland waters) will then
issue you a certificate Of regis
tration and assign you a num-
Der.
The number is then applied
TO both bows in letters at least
three inches high and clearly
visible.
II you should buy a used
boat that has already been
registered, the owner should
fill in the transfer blank on
the back Of his original certifi-
cate, and enter your name as
the buyer. This is then sent
TO the Coast Guard where they
register that same number in
your name instead.
While you are visiting the
Coast Guard. it's a good oppor-
tunity to ask for a copy Of the
Motor Boat Act. II contains
everything you need TO know
about safety equipment and the
laws governing motorboat OPP
Grafton, An extra copy should
be kept aboard for reference
as well as on your home book
shelf. II isn't necessary to
know the act by heart, but II
will pay dividends TO be IA
miliar with IL.
superior V. 'hislss'i sySdis.,. lu.l
n