I am thinking about trying out a tournament this year, and have a question. Is liability insurance required for the boat if you enter a tournament? I have never insured my boat before. It is not worth alot, and I never thought I would need it.

If you have to have insurance to fish in a tournament, or have any other comments about ins., please post up.

i dont think you need insurance to fish tournys, or ive never been ask for insurance info or any thing, but you might want to look at getting insurance on your boat and tackle, because i know if any one stills any thing off my boat my insurance will cover it.

All FLW, BASS and FOM tournies require liability insurance for the boater entrant.  And you are required to show proof of it on request.  Which they often do when you check in for the tourney.

 I'm sure any of your larger organized tourney's are going to require it.  On the  bright side, it is not too terribly expensive.  My liability portion of my annual insurance is only around $20 for $100k/300k liability coverage but thats part of my entire insurance package.  It might be more if you just go liability by itself.  

All tournament trails require you have liability insurance, except Club events probably, except if that club is affiliated with the FLW or BASS.

American Bass Anglers, FLW, BASS, BassChamps and Fishers of Men all require you to have insurance on the boat.  Plus why wouldn't you want it, incase you hit another boat or do something stupid on the water, wouldn't you want to be insured for dirt cheap?  Wouldn't wanna see you in court getting sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars cuz you didn't have insurance.

Yes you need it for tournamets

anyway, why wouldn't you have it? not just for tournaments, but for your own safety. I know you said your boat isn't worth much, but liability insurance isn't to replace your boat, but other peoples boats or stuff if your in an accident. What if you out in you "cheep" boat and you hit a expensive boat. Who pays? you. with out insurance its out of your pocket.

I know BASS req. a $300,000 min liability insurance. it was $100,000 a few years ago and they upped it to $300,000. alot of guys in my club compained at first that this would "hurt them" and make it "to expensive" to fish. then they found out it only raised their rate $20 or so a year. Mine went up $12

you wouldn't drive a car with out atleast liablility insurance, why would you run a boat without it? your only protecting yourself.

For the money, the $20.00 0r so is still uch cheaper than a lower unit. Or even better yet someone elses life

CERTAIN INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL NOT INSURE YOUR BOAT IF IT IS JUST FOR TOURNAMENT FISHING....OR IF THEY THINK YOU WILL BE FISHING IN TOURNAMENTS.  I HAVE INSURANCE ON MY BOAT, AND WHEN ASKED IF I WOULD BE FISHING TOURNAMENTS...THEY TOLD ME TO SAY NO.  CHECK WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY FIRST.

I've fished B.A.S.S., Bass Champs, Bass-N-Bucks and McDonald's Big Bass Splash. You must have proof of insurance, boat registration, USCG max outboard plate, working live well, and meet all USCG safety regulations. Most except for B.A.S.S. will not ask unless you have won money but B.A.S.S. wants it up front. B.A.S.S. is the only one that requires a minimum of $100,000 of insurance coverage.  

Squid is right. Most of your regular insurance companies will not insure you for tournaments. You may need to seek out a company that specializes in tournament insurance. It's still not expensive.

If anyone wants the name of a great company, pm me and I'll get you the information. A guy I know personally totaled his boat on the way to a tournament when some lady ran off an exit ramp right into him at full speed. He had only had the boat a few weeks and it was brand new. This company had him back in an identical boat within two weeks. He paid zero. I'm not a rep for this company, I just have friends who insure through them and I've heard zero bad about them.

I would not go the "check no" even if you fish tournaments route. Most importantly it is fraud. Second most importantly is if you do crash in a tournament and they find out - you are up a creek. It's just not worth it and 20.00 is not much a year to "check yes". Better safe than sorry.

B

You need to check about your draw partner. Are you considerd a guide.

Garnet

CATT, your behind the times. BASS, FLW, BASS Federation Nation, and The Bass FEderation now require the boater to carry $300,000 liability. Proof must be carried with you in the boat at all times.

Not only to you have to carrie Ins. You have to sign a wavier for whoever is putting on the tournament so as to release thim from any liability. I also have

my draw partner to sign a wavier for me also. This is to protect my famly in

the event we were to have an accident that were to cause the death of both of us. I talked to an attorney for a while on this and he said that neither of the

waviers might not holdup in court. :-?

CATT, your behind the times. BASS, FLW, BASS Federation Nation, and The Bass FEderation now require the boater to carry $300,000 liability. Proof must be carried with you in the boat at all times.

Cool   8-)

I aint fished a BASS tournament since 2001

Worse for me, it's been since '92! Just getting the desire again. Now, I just have to get in that "zone" again. I think the head is the hardest thing to get right at that level.

You realize in this day and age that waivers of liability are not worth the paper they are printed on? Especially informal ones signed at the ramp.  I'm not bashing, just food for thought.

B

anyone know of a company to get club liability insurance without having to affiliate with anyone?

I also found out if your boat is 20 yrs old or older it's hard to find any insurance company that will talk to you

I've never had insurance on my boat. If I hit a jetskier, it won't be an accident.  

You add it to your Home owners policy for about $70-100 per year. This does'nt

cover any thing but the other person. If you don't have a home owners you will

have to have your parents put it on their policy. If this is the case then the boat will have to be in their name also. They will have to sign for you to use it in a tournament. I had to do this with my son. 8-)

It costs me $108 per year for full coverage/100 deductable on my 2003 PT 175 Basstracker. The was I look at is eventually something is going to happen and I want to be covered.

Allen