Insuring an older sailboat is rarely straightforward. Once a boat passes 30 years old, most insurers stop relying on the owner’s word and start relying entirely on surveys, risk profiles, and the work history of the vessel.
When I purchased my 1990 Ericson 32-200 Sure Shot, I learned quickly that sailboat insurance has its own logic, its own blind spots, and its own dealbreakers. This post summarizes the problems I ran into and the steps that ultimately led to stable coverage.
1. The Initial Problem: Insurers Don’t Trust Old Boats Without Proof
When I first tried to insure Sure Shot, I ran into the same wall many owners of 1980s–1990s cruisers run into:
- Most major carriers won’t issue policies without a survey less than 24–36 months old.
- Some won’t insure certain hull ages at all.
- Offshore plans (Hawaii, Mexico, etc.) require additional approval or exclusions.
Even though I had documentation from the previous owners and a well-maintained hull, insurance companies don’t insure stories—they insure reports.
Fortunately, Tracy’s survey from 2023 was recent, thorough, and professionally done.
That gave me leverage.
But there were still complications.
2. The Catch: Survey Recommendations Become Insurance Requirements
What many sailors don’t realize is this:
If a survey lists recommendations, insurers treat them as mandatory—even if the boat is structurally sound.
My survey had a small list of items marked as “correct immediately,” including:
- installing proper overcurrent protection on unused positive leads
- clearing up DC-DC charger circuits
- fixing the cracked rudder
- replacing the corroded exhaust riser
- renewing stiff engine cables
- ensuring the holding tank selector valve is secure
Some insurers require these items to be completed before they will bind coverage.
Others give a grace period (typically 30–90 days).
The takeaway:
A survey is not just for you. It becomes the insurer’s checklist.
3. Dead Ends With Several Carriers
During my search:
Some carriers declined outright
- They didn’t insure older sailboats.
- They didn’t insure boats in the Bay Area.
- They didn’t insure boats with non-standard modifications (synthetic rigging, LiFePO₄ banks).
Some carriers would only offer liability coverage
This is common for older boats—especially if the insurer doesn’t like the electrical system, rigging age, or structural items flagged in the survey.
Some carriers demanded a haul-out
Even though the boat had been hauled recently for the survey, several carriers refused to quote without a brand new haul-out photo set.
Insurance moves on their timeline, not yours.
4. The Finally-Working Solution
The path forward ended up being simple:
I used the most recent full survey
Tracy’s 2023 survey was recent enough, detailed enough, and thorough enough to satisfy most underwriters.
I submitted a written plan addressing each recommendation
This showed:
- I understood the issues
- I was competent to fix them
- The work was reasonable and already in progress
Insurers love documented plans.
It makes their risk math easier.
I accepted a policy with an initial compliance window
Rather than shopping for a perfect company with perfect terms, I chose a carrier that:
- used the existing survey
- offered full coverage
- gave a reasonable timeline to complete required items
- didn’t push back on lithium batteries or synthetic rigging
- didn’t require a new haul-out
This was the most balanced solution.
5. What I Would Tell Any Sailor Insuring an Older Boat
1. Get a good survey and keep it recent.
Without a proper survey, the insurance process is guesswork.
2. Don’t hide known issues.
Insurers aren’t impressed by optimism—they want documentation.
3. Electrical clarity matters more than cosmetics.
Lithium batteries, unprotected circuits, and legacy wiring are a larger red flag than old sails.
4. Provide a written compliance plan.
Treat your boat like a small engineering project; insurers respond well to competence.
5. Don’t chase the “perfect policy.”
The right policy is the one that:
- gives you real coverage
- accepts the survey you have
- gives you time to finish the work
- doesn’t try to turn your boat into a new build
Conclusion
In the end, I didn’t solve my insurance challenge by finding a special insurer—I solved it by presenting the boat clearly, professionally, and honestly.
The survey proved the boat was structurally sound.
My documentation proved I understood the remaining work.
And the insurer provided reasonable terms once they had confidence in both.
Older boats aren’t hard to insure when you treat the process like a technical inspection, not a negotiation.
—J