Dry-docked on Lake Travis or offshore in the Gulf

A boat policy typically covers physical damage to the boat, motor and equipment, and liability if you injure someone or damage their property. Common additions include medical payments, uninsured or underinsured boater coverage, on-water towing, salvage and wreck removal, and coverage for your trailer.

Texas does not generally require recreational boat owners to carry insurance. Most lenders require it on a financed boat, and many marinas require proof of liability coverage before renting you a slip, so most owners carry a policy.

Often only in a limited way. Many homeowners policies cap coverage for small boats at a low dollar amount and exclude larger boats, higher-horsepower engines or liability on the water. A separate boat or yacht policy closes those gaps.

With agreed value, you and the insurer set the boat's value when the policy is written, and that amount is paid if the boat is a total loss. Actual cash value pays the boat's value at the time of the loss, after depreciation, which is usually less.

Boats kept on the coast are commonly written with a separate named-storm deductible, and some insurers ask for a hurricane plan describing how the boat will be secured or moved. We review these terms with you before you buy.

The year, make, model and length of the boat, the engine type and horsepower, its value, where it is kept (lake, marina or coast), and the operators' boating experience. Our quote form walks you through it.