With 460,000 acres of lakes, boating is a popular activity in South Carolina. Keeping your boat docked at a marina provides easy access to your vessel, but what happens if an unexpected accident occurs when your boat isn't even in use? 

Whether you're out on the water with your boat or it's sitting in the marina, you need the proper insurance to be protected from accidents. A South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you get set up with boat insurance that includes any coverages you need to stay safe on and off the water. 

Who’s Responsible If My Boat Damages Another at a Marina in South Carolina?

A boat can damage another boat in more ways than one. This includes when there isn't someone operating it, and it's docked at the marina. Consider these scenarios: 

In each scenario, your boat caused damage to another boat, but who's to blame if you weren't even at the scene? Responsibility will depend on what caused your boat to damage another. You'll always be held responsible if you're driving a boat through a marina and hit another boat. The same goes if you fail to properly secure your boat when you leave it at the marina. 

If an act of God, such as a hurricane or a fire, resulted in your boat causing damage to another boat, you would not be responsible for the damage to the other person's boat. Fortunately, whether you were negligent or not, boat insurance can protect you in these unexpected situations. 

What Does Boat Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

Boat insurance protects you and your boat from any damage that occurs to your boat and damage and injury that you cause with your boat. Standard boat insurance typically includes the following policies: 

• Bodily injury liability: If you cause a boating accident and there are injuries to third parties, this will help pay for their medical care. 
• Equipment insurance: This helps pay for damage to any equipment you keep on your boat, including fishing or sporting gear. This policy includes a list of covered perils, including fire, severe storms, vandalism, and others.
• Medical payments insurance: If you or your passengers are injured during a collision with another boat, medical payments can help pay for medical care regardless of who was at fault.
• Personal property damage: This helps pay for property damage you may experience to your boat, trailer, or engine. Personal property includes covered perils, including fire, severe storms, vandalism, etc. 
• Property damage liability: If you cause a boating accident and there is property damage to third parties, this will help pay for the damage.
• Underinsured/uninsured boaters insurance: This helps pay for injuries you and your passengers sustain if you are in a collision caused by an uninsured or underinsured boater.

Additional coverages are available based on the type of boat you operate and how frequently you'll use your boat. If you were in an accident, you'd be responsible for your deductible, and then your insurance would provide coverage up to your policy limits. Your South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you fill any gaps in coverage. 

What Isn't Covered under Boat Insurance?

Since boat insurance is customizable, you can build a policy that fits your needs, but some incidents are excluded from coverage. 

• Intentional incidents: Anytime you intentionally cause harm or property damage to or with your boat, insurance does not cover the incident.
• Non-owned watercraft incidents: You may not have full coverage if you do not own the boat you're operating. Boat insurance typically does not cover injuries or property damage caused to or by a rented watercraft. If you are renting, it's best to work with the rental company to understand your coverage. You can often purchase endorsements or temporary coverage for protection.
• Business-related incidents: If your boat is used for business purposes or is part of a property rental, you'll want a commercial boat insurance policy to get complete protection.
• Damage from negligence: If you fail to maintain your boat, insurance will not cover any damage or issues that arise from the negligence.

Is Yacht Insurance the Same as Boat Insurance?

When insuring a boat, one of the factors that insurance carriers consider is the size of your boat. Anything over 27' is regarded as a yacht in the eyes of insurance companies. 

If you're operating a yacht, you'll need to purchase a yacht policy. Yachts tend to be used for more extended travel and have other unique exposures, and yacht insurance is specialized to cover this. Here are some differences you'll find in a yacht policy vs. a boat policy:

• Yacht insurance is more inclusive of things like fuel spill coverage or towing coverage, which are typically add-ons or extras in a boat policy.
• Custom coverages such as hurricane coverage or extended navigation coverage may be available for yacht insurance.
• Additional coverage for a dinghy may be offered in yacht insurance.

A South Carolina independent insurance agent can walk you through the differences between boat and yacht insurance and make sure you're adequately protected. 

Is Boat Insurance Mandatory in South Carolina?

Boat insurance is not required by law in South Carolina, but it's worth considering if you plan to frequently use your boat. Boating accidents occur all the time across the US, including South Carolina. 

These boating stats show that accidents can happen anytime, anywhere.

• In one recent year, there were 146 recreational boating accidents in South Carolina.
• That same year, 14 of those accidents resulted in a fatality.
• In one recent year, the US Coast Guard counted 5,265 recreational boating accidents.
• That same year there were 3,191 injuries and 767 deaths.
• These boating accidents caused around $62.5 million in property damage

Without the proper coverage, you'd be left to pay for any damage you cause with your boat or that your boat sustains out of pocket. 

How Can a South Carolina Independent Insurance Agent Help?

When unexpected events happen, insurance is there to help where it can. Finding the right boat insurance starts with working alongside a South Carolina independent insurance agent.

Agents have built a rapport with local insurance carriers and know who offers the best boat insurance in the state. Agents will chat with you, free of charge, to learn about your vessel and the type of coverage you need and help you secure a policy that fits your needs and budget.