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Boat Insurance- Lower Unit Coverage Worth it?

Posted on 12/18/22 at 9:38 pm
Posted by John_V
SELA
Member since Oct 2018
1964 posts
Posted on 12/18/22 at 9:38 pm
I need to renew my boat insurance and am wondering if I should keep SkiSafe or go with Progressive. Skisafe is about $200 cheaper yearly for similar coverage, but Progressive offers a "Propulsion Plus Mechanical Breakdown Coverage". This coverage will fix any issue with the lower unit for $250 (wear and tear included). Do y'all think this is worth the extra $200/annually?
I normally only fish local Oxbow lakes so don't really anticipate the lower unit finding a tree/stump while idling/on plane.

Motor is a 2012 Merc 175 XS on a 13 Sabre. Motor has about 250hrs on her but well maintained.
Posted by Tridentds
Sugar Land
Member since Aug 2011
22298 posts
Posted on 12/19/22 at 7:22 am to
This is interesting. Did not know you could get coverage for the lower unit.
Posted by Redlos
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2005
1110 posts
Posted on 12/19/22 at 7:50 am to
I have Progressive as well but my motor is too old for Propulsion Plus. Just had them cover a lower unit replacement, they are covering a new Yamaha OBR lower. My deductible is $500.

So if you go more than 2 years without needing it you will be better off using a regular deductible.
This post was edited on 12/19/22 at 9:50 pm
Posted by CoyoteSong
Colorado
Member since Aug 2021
2603 posts
Posted on 12/19/22 at 8:13 am to
I had State Farm insurance for my boat. My deductible was $1,000. I broke off my skeg on a stump. I was not even going fast. It cost $980.00 to repair which I had to cover. I thought well at least my deductible is covered for the year. The State Farm guy told me my deductible flips every month not every year. I canceled on the spot. Have not had insurance since and that was 8 years ago. Have not needed it either.
Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
46112 posts
Posted on 12/19/22 at 9:31 am to
Most of the time the deductible is per claim not per year like health insurance
Posted by CoyoteSong
Colorado
Member since Aug 2021
2603 posts
Posted on 12/19/22 at 9:35 am to
So it’s like having catastrophic life insurance.

Glad I dropped it.
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
84128 posts
Posted on 12/19/22 at 9:41 am to
I did not add anything special to mine, and when I got line behind my prop that ruined my LU, they paid for it.
Posted by CootDisCootDat
St. Charles, The Community
Member since May 2014
1699 posts
Posted on 12/19/22 at 9:51 am to
My insurance through Progressive is $350 a year. Heard a knocking in my engine and brought it in to discover that the shaft was bent and had knocked teeth off. No worries, under Yamaha (2016 115 Sho) warranty. They rejected it and said it was from an impact. I never remember hitting anything that significant. $500 deductible and the new lower unit was around $3000.
Posted by bushwacker
youngsville
Member since Feb 2010
3838 posts
Posted on 12/19/22 at 2:10 pm to
i have progressive. i hit a reef and destroyed my lower unit. progressive got me a new one with 500 buck deductible.
Posted by John_V
SELA
Member since Oct 2018
1964 posts
Posted on 12/19/22 at 7:19 pm to
With these replies and talking to afew friends I'm thinking it might be worth it just for the piece of mind. If I pay the whole year upfront it'll be around $120 more a year so for $10/mo it seems like a no brainer.

People on The Hulltruth have taken advantage of the "Propulsion Plus" claim with good results.
Posted by LanierSpots
Sarasota, Florida
Member since Sep 2010
66346 posts
Posted on 12/19/22 at 7:45 pm to
I think it mostly depends on. Where are you fish and what your chances are of hitting something. I finished in a deep water clear Lake for many many years never hit anything on my lower unit. But if you finish a lot of shallow, stumpy water, could be worth it.
Posted by WacoTiger
Waco, Texas
Member since Nov 2003
3938 posts
Posted on 12/19/22 at 8:11 pm to
I had insurance with Progressive. They paid for 2 lower units in my Yamaha 200. Both times, it was fishing line sucked into my motor and it caused lower engine oil to leak out through the seals. Both times it cost over $3,500 and Progressive paid for both engines, less $500 deductible. It was well worth to us. We only used the boat in Big Lake.
Posted by NewIberiaHaircut
Lafayette
Member since May 2013
12024 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 1:44 am to
I had Foremost when I knocked my skeg off and they covered it.
Posted by happy hour 2
Ascension
Member since Aug 2014
391 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 1:55 pm to
I've had some bad luck (questioning claim and trying to use OEM and cheaper parts) with Progressive.
I have since switched to Foremost and have never had a claim questioned or even looked at by an adjuster (2 lower unit claims in 6 months V8 merc $20 k in claims)
But if you are shopping Thomas Hymel at Riverlands is the best when it comes to boat coverage, and he sells Progressive, Foremost and others (no I'm not Thomas, but he is my agent)


Posted by John_V
SELA
Member since Oct 2018
1964 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 7:34 pm to
Just submitted my application online for Foremost to see what they can offer.
Does Foremost offer a lower unit protection plan with a special deductible or is it your standard agreed upon deductible?
Posted by hawgndodge
Member since Jun 2009
5108 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 6:56 am to
I'm glad you don't have that agent anymore because he's an idiot. It doesn't reset every month, that's the most asinine thing I've ever heard. It's per occurrence. I've never heard of a property insurance policy having an annual deductible, only health insurance
Posted by lsuson
Metairie
Member since Oct 2013
13758 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 6:58 am to
I would get the coverage. You just never know. I got braid fishing line in my prop. Worked its way into the seal and that was that. Expensive fix.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
69009 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 7:18 am to
quote:

worth the extra $200/annually?


Do you destroy a lower unit every 5-6 years?

No, it isn't worth it. It's just financing repairs.
Posted by GeauxTigers0107
South Louisiana
Member since Oct 2009
10289 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 8:33 am to
Got Progressive with propulsion plus. Saved my butt when I hit a log I didn't see while doing 25-30pmh. Bent the prop shaft and knocked the cover off, cracking it in two places. 3500 dollar ticket when all was said and done and they covered it. And come to find out we don't have a deductible so that was sweet to not have to come out of pocket for a nickel.

Well, actually, the motor was 6yrs old at the time and hadn't had the water pump changed yet so I got all that done. So I came out of pocket for that part. If you ask me, it's worth it for what little it costs.
Posted by Insurancerebel
Madison
Member since Aug 2021
2287 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 10:54 am to
quote:

The State Farm guy told me my deductible flips every month not every year.


Should be per incident. It is not health insurance.

Never file a claim if it is under your deductible, I wouldn't file one if it is slighting over your deductible. Just don't do it.

High schools should teach insurance 101 so people know this simple stuff as they get into the real world.
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