MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : Insurance again (sorry!)

I've been shopping around for insurance and have just had an excellent quote from Bishop Skinner.  Anyone got any experience of their service?  Send me a message off line if you prefer!

Thanks in advance


Posted: 12/03/2005 21:51:57
By: Dave Lee
Hi Dave

Assuming that you are going for fully comp cover it may be worth checking out Bishop Skinners new for old policy.I was going to go with them as their quote did seem very competitive but once I read the 'small print' re new for old, things didn't seem quite so rosey!! I am with Noble Marine, whilst not the cheapest by far, I did write my Carbon Mast off last year only to have it replaced immediately for a new one,without any quabbles. Fantastic!

Complete contradition now. Let me know how you get on as my policy is up for renewal this month.

Best wishes.


Posted: 12/03/2005 22:27:26
By: Mag Editor
with regard to noble marine I recently broke 5mth old carbon mast in two places but noble refused to replace with new one.

I'm not saying they were right or wrong just reporting what has happened to me


Posted: 12/03/2005 23:28:01
By: toshface
I have just had 3190 written off by bishop skinner. It was blown upside down in the dinghy park (it was tied down but ropes snapped) the mast got snapped decks were holed etc the quote was for £1500 to repair the insured value was £1200. Bishop skinner accepted the quote wrote her off and then let me buy the boat back for £50! I was well chuffed my boat is now with a builder having thw work done. The damage was discovered on Boxing day 15 days later I had the check.
They will re-quote once the work is finished and a new value agreed upon.


Posted: 13/03/2005 00:03:43
By: Martin Smith
I have used them to insure a 14 and RS600 claimed twice over the last seven years they seem very good go me back sailing very quickly. They tick all the box's with me.


Posted: 13/03/2005 01:24:54
By: Not a Merlin Sailor
I use Noble on the basis of others recommendation and have not had a problem with them, but then - touch wood - i've never had a claim with them either. They are certainly not cheap, but i'm assured they are very good.

Admiral Marine very kindly bought me a new spinnaker after the Abersoch nationals unpleasantness and then refused to reinsure me the following year due to "The frequancy and severity of claims". It had been 5 years since my previous claim which was for a new gunnel!!


Posted: 13/03/2005 08:47:06
By: Chris M
Sorry Chris, I think that was me in 2003 as Admiral Marine had to fork out £1,700 in 2 claims, taking out the transom and colliding with a motor-cruiser


Posted: 13/03/2005 10:28:17
By: Andrew M
Ah well, perhaps they had a bad year.

To be honest they weren't cheap either!


Posted: 13/03/2005 20:40:59
By: Chris M
Self insure.
Just put your premiums in the building society and they'' buy you a new boat in no time as to the 3rd party bit just do that and that alone some people especially in the armed forces have blanket policies that covers one for losing a Battleship or running over a cat with a tank plus all the usual 3rd party driving and sailing risks.


Posted: 14/03/2005 10:00:19
By: Actuary
If you look at the prices of some of the more "Bling Bling" boats on the for sale guide, at your usual 150 or so per year it would take quite a while to pay for your brand new Winder Tales after the wind had picked it up and thrown it round the boat park or fallen off the trailer and been hit by a lorry.

10000/150 = Too long to go without sailing.


Posted: 14/03/2005 10:57:28
By: Done the Maths
If its only 150 per year then no wonder they are so dracinian in who they insure a price check  from for instance the Etchells Class suggests that if 10K is the capital value say 12 all up then the premium woulkd be more realistic at £700.00. But I take the point but if you keep claiming then they are also trying not to make a loss!


Posted: 14/03/2005 11:00:47
By: Actuary
Thanks guys.  Bishop Skinner provide new for old cover on the carbon spars, but sails are subject to a 10% deduction in value per annum - fair enough.  In terms of detail the cover seems to be comparable to most of the competition, but the premium is quite a bit cheaper!


Posted: 14/03/2005 19:55:23
By: Dave Lee
Bishop skinner rocks!


Posted: 14/03/2005 22:50:51
By: sufard a resent los
Here we go, eat my words.

Bishop Skinner £85 to insure 'Terrabyte' £3250, fully comp incl Racing Risks, accidental damage etc... Skinners it is.


Posted: 15/03/2005 09:28:22
By: Mag Editor
This really does seen very inexpensive almost too good to be true let's hope it isn't and drives heavy premiums down.


Posted: 15/03/2005 14:34:23
By: Actuary
Just insured first Merlin with Bishop Skinner, not insured a boat for some years, Value £1900, full racing risk, transit risk etc. fully comp premium £72. Dont think the premium can be beaten but cant comment on claims etc


Posted: 15/03/2005 21:43:11
By: Tight Northerner
OK folks, lets try not to hit one another quite so hard this year and Bishop Skinner will continue to insure at reasonable rates (Tom Stewart aka Sycamore Magnet please look at this thread).  Maybe the premiums are dropping as the most sailed boats now are the bombproof Winder Tales, and carbon masts can often be repaired - alloy ones were always written off if even badly bent as they were never the same again.  Problem is that Merlins do seem to contest starts and windward marks fairly aggressively.  I am seriously considering taking lengths of pipe lagging to Salcombe and the Champs this year to stick on my gunwales.  May not be pretty, but nor is 2 ft of duck tape on each side holding on the bits while the epoxy sets underneath


Posted: 15/03/2005 22:25:00
By: Andrew M
£105 for my 1999 Winder Tales - Noble quoted £240 despite 6 yrs no claims and all the discounts.
Never Claimed so can't say about efficiency.


Posted: 18/03/2005 14:46:39
By: Dave Lapes

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