When looking for boat insurance your mind needs to be on your protection.  There are numerous mishaps that due to the nature of being on the water can make boating an element of risk – fun, yes – but there are risks.  Your policy is designed to allow you to accept reasonable risks and move on to enjoying life, in this case, life on the water. 

No boat insurance policy will protect you from all disasters (if there were one it would be cost prohibitive anyway).  In talking with your agent you will find that you have many options to choose from.  Protection and Indemnity obviously are the prime concern. 

However there are supplemental packages you can consider, such as flood insurance (a boat, tied to a dock when the water rises, due to a flood, does not rise with it, it sinks).  If this is a new area for you, talk to other boat owners and compile a list of situations they have experienced, and whether they were insured for these situations.  Listen to the voice of experience! 

When speaking with your agent, keep in mind his job is to protect you, protect the company he works for and protect himself (as to sales).  Tough spot to be in - so learn what you can from him as to the company(ies) he represents, what they have, what their rates are and balance this with what you learned from speaking with boat owners. 

Get what you feel you may need, and if cost is a factor, carefully determine what you can live without.  If you cannot see how where you live (or where you keep your boat) can be affected be a flood, why pay higher premiums for flood insurance?  

Be certain that you get a boast insurance policy that will meet your needs as well as your budget.