Just wanting some insurance tips from anyone out there.
I'm renewing Home and Contents Insurance and want to make sure that surfboards and windsurfing gear are covered and that we are covered for any liability while sailing/surfing. Windsurfing seems to fall in a grey area with a lot of insurers. Some cover everything, others gear only, others only boards under a certain size and others nothing.
So far Suncorp and GIO will cover both gear and liability. Can anyone recommend any others? (HBF and SGIO won't and QBE have restrictions on board size)
Thanks
Believe that there is at least one British insurer (back of boards mag) that will insure you and gear fully comp, can't remember which one but jh2703 knows.... PM him
AAMI insures your boards and gear (as long as they are specified items) in your house and to and from the water. I don't know about on the water though, I would think highly unlikely. You could actually try to get boat insurance, ring a few of them and ask the question. Truth is that unless you ask the right question you wont get an answer you can work with as the people in the call centre aren't necessarily insurance experts. I would also email or ring the windsurfing association in your state and ask them the question if you are a member, they have insurance for members I just dont know what it is.
Westpac Insurance (premium home contents) will cover your gear anywhere in Australia (but not while being used) for loss or damage.
ANOTHER BIG HINT: A digital photo of all your gear laid out on the lawn/paving will be very handy if you ever have the misfortune to make a claim.
Mobile unspecified valuables and the photos on cd will sort any issues.
I have recently left GIO as they no longer cover windsurfing gear. 4 years, no claims but it seems it is now Suncorp/GIO policy.I would return to them immediatley if they insured our gear as I was very happy with the service and price over the years.
Thanks all.
Seems GIO or Suncorp are the best option to cover gear for theft (never expected cover for damage) and us for liability on the water. (liability has been the hard part to find)
Fullmoon - was it GIO or SGIO you left? I just spoke to GIO and they have sent me through policy wording confirming all still covered.
For anyone else looking at this have looked again at GIO's policy wording and confirmed with their customer service that windsurfing gear/windsurfing is
- Covered for theft from home (p10)
- Not covered for theft away from home (p 16 and 76) but may be able to included as a specified item
- Covered for legal liability (p 52)
Have you included your gear as a specified item michellem?
They wouldnt insure our gear despite it all being in a "Lock up box".
They work off an underwriters manual that we dont see that states that windsurfing equipment is liable to be left unnatended on the beach therefore the percieved risk is too great.
Haven't even thought about legal liability and i've lost my book
.
If they have insured your gear as specified you have no issue as GIO seem to be really good other than the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing
Just reassessing our home and contents insurance.
We have been with Wesfarmers general insurance trading as Lumley insurance since 2004 because of the windsurfing gear. We both sail, so double the gear... We have all our windsurfing gear insured as specified contents which is insured anywhere in Australia and when temporarily removed to elsewhere for 60 days anywhere in the world.
We haven't had a claim in this time, so can't comment on what happens when you claim. The reason I am looking at other insurers is that the premium increased 29% last year and as it is coming up for renewal I am trying to do my homework first.
AAMI looked good initially but fine print. If the specified content is inside a motor vehicle at the site they will only pay $1000 in total, even if you have specified content insurance. eg. if your gear gets stolen out of your van while it is parked at home you are not covered!! Anywhere away from the home - yes.
Going to check out suncorp and GIO now....
