We moved the office downtown to 80 Richmond St W Suite 700 and now we are moving the blog. We recently launched our new website and with this change we had to move from BlogSpot to Word Press. All new posts will appear at www.skippersplan.com/blog and I will migrate the previous entries as time permits.
Summer finally arrived although some are still debating this fact. For you this marks the start of the prime boating season. For insurance companies it marks the beginning of peak claim season. Add to that all the new boat sales and you can understand why this blog has not seen much action recently- a trend that will continue for the next few weeks.
So what have we seen so far this year? We have the usual racing boats bumping, raccoons dumping, power boats crashing and masts that are smashing. We also saw an increase in claims due to snow load collapsing buildings and boat covers.
Lessons Learned and Relearned
Much can be learned from the mistakes and misfortune of other and a few themes are recurring this year. Here are the top three for 2014 so far.
Sailboat rigging does not last forever. An earlier blog post discusses sailboat rigging and maintenance in more detail but know that you are going to pay for the replacement rigging whether you have a claim or not. Why wait until you have a broken mast claim to pay for new rigging? THIS ALSO INCLUDES ROD RIGGING.
Blue Poly tarps from Canadian Tire don't provide protection from 700lbs of snow piled on your boat. If you use this type of tarp build a rigid frame to avoid crushed canvas tops and a damaged windshield. Snow load damage is covered but you are going to lose time on the water waiting for repairs. Winter also brought down a number of dilapidated old barns and sheds due to snow load. Storage in your buddy's old barn may be free but it is not the best option. It also attracts lots of animals.
Nature Sucks (and chews). Raccoons, mice, squirrels and other varmints continue to cause significant damage to boats. They eat cushions, hoses, sails, canvas tops, electrical wiring and carpets. If you see one crossing the road please do not swerve. They might just be headed to your boat.
Fortunate is how we mostly feel but there was a significant amount of of luck and opportunity that got us this far.
After a month of projects , upgrades and maintenance work we were finally ready for our first sail today - May 31. Problem was there was no wind but that is a minor issue. We had to get away from the dock to run the engine and test the auto helm.
The peel Regional Marine Unit had other plans for us. Not 2 minutes outside of the Port Credit and we were being tailed by the "PoPo" as my son likes to say after spending too much time online.
Our 2014 boating season was officially going to start with a safety inspection by the officials. Thanks to many visits to The Rigging Shoppe https://www.facebook.com/The.Rigging.Shoppe I was confident we were in compliance with the safety equipment regulations. Meanwhile, I think Erica was patiently awaiting my arrest and detention. I should have discussed the required safety equipment with my crew before we departed. On a light wind day with calm seas it is an easy mistake to make.
The safety inspection was now underway.... Operators Card, Toronto Harbour License, VHF license , flares, fire extinguishers, sound signalling device, life ring, heaving line, life jackets, bailer, anchor - check! Boat license? Aw crap, that was one thing we never got covered. Fortunately I followed the advice of my my yacht broker - Pat Sturgeon of Pat Sturgeon Yacht Sales - and had a copy of the bill of sale on board. The law allows 90 days from the date of purchase to acquire a boat license and I was only 60 days in. Having the BOS on board proved we were still on the right side of the law. With the safety check complete and the skipper not in custody we carried on with the sea trial on a beautiful spring day.
The police inspection served as an important reminder to always be ready for emergencies - even on sunny days with no waves and light wind. The police officers were polite and friendly but this was still business. It was obvious they noticed the missing bow numbers, no Canadian flag and we still had the US hailing port shown on the transom - heat score! Post inspection we got the Canadian flag flying off the stern.
I must admit I was embarrassed it took a bit of searching to locate some of the required safety gear. This gear should be close by and ready to go in seconds of an emergency. I fell short by not having it better organized before leaving the dock. This has now been corrected and next time it will be on deck before being asked by the officer. Regardless, Erica was impressed we passed the safety inspection.
I really hope we are stopped again on our next departure from Port Credit Harbour. If Erica and the kids can answer the officer's questions and produce the required gear without my direction then I will feel better knowing we are better prepared as a crew.
As indicated in a prior blog, spousal approval can be the most important factor in that final step towards buying the boat of your dreams. In our case, it was not a quick process.
My sailing career began at the age of 3 in B.C. during a weeklong vacation on a Thunderbird with my mother, father, 5 year old brother and a very unhappy beagle. Looking back on it, I can’t help but think that my mother was one intrepid lady. If you have ever spent a week on a Thunderbird than you know of what I speak - creature comforts are few and the quarters are pretty tight.
Mom, Smitty and me in Howe Sound
That was the beginning and also the end of pleasure sailing for me for many years to come. From racing on a Wayfarer in the Niagara River to the occasional night out on a C&C 30 in Port Dover with my father's friend Hadley Jackson, I grew to think that sailing meant tactics, tacking, and very little comfort. Fast forward 20 years and I found myself racing in Toronto - this time on, you guessed it, a Thunderbird where I met my husband and learned about spinnakers, race tactics, the correct method for using doughnuts to distract your competition in a downwind race and how to pee in a bucket. Those days of racing were some of the best times of my life, but a couple of kids and a busy job quickly spelled the end to my passion for racing and before I knew it my sailing days appeared to be at an end. But then the campaign began for a new boat. At first, the boats I was shown were awesome because they had "lots of room for storing sails" or they "would be great to race on". No, thanks. We've got one of those already. And then, over time, the campaign began to change. Visions of a cruising life were slowly forming - cushions, running water, a place to pee that I wouldn't subsequently have to empty over the side of the boat and some exciting destinations that would make for some pretty fantastic summer weekends. I admit, I made him work hard for it.
Can we afford it? "Look, I found the perfect boat and it is a great deal. Let's drive to Cleveland in the middle of the ice storm so you can see what I mean". Will the kids like it? "We'll take them places with swimming pools and great food, and if worse comes to worst we can plug them in with video games while we sit under the stars and drink wine".
What about the dog? "We'll get her a life jacket and bring her along".
Can I have cushions? "You can have as many cushions as you want".
The vision became clear. I could see how a boat would fit into our family like and enrich it in many ways. We are still waiting to get the boat into the club, but our first adventure is already planned - a day game of the Blue Jays and a night spent at Island Yacht Club. Sounds like a great way to confirm that we have made the right decision - and are officially cruisers.
Most sailors start off in the dinghy classes when they are young and many have fond memories of time spent in Opti's, Lasers, 420s, and many others. Young sailors are only concerned about the boat itself (and rightly so) while the responsibility for storage, transport, maintenance and insurance falls to their parents. If Mom & Dad are not sailors this can be a bit confusing and overwhelming so let me demystify one important aspect of dinghy sailing for you - Insurance.
The Cottage Boat
If you have a Laser at the cottage the most reasonable option is adding it to your home or cottage policy. The home policy coverage is normally not as good as a stand-alone boat policy but it will meet the needs of most cottage sailors. If you can't get it added to your policy then buying stand-alone coverage is easier than trying to find a new insurer for the cottage. Caution - if you attend that one regatta on your lake each year make sure the policy does not exclude racing.
The Club Racer or Sail training boat
When you move into this category it is time to seriously consider a stand-alone boat policy. This policy will provide better coverage for physical damage, liability protection while racing and you will deal with adjusters experienced with boat repairs if there is a claim. Our Skippers' Plan policy for day sailors was designed for just for this type of sailor. Pricing is reasonable and you get agreed value coverage so there is no depreciation applied on claims. Our policy covers you while sailing anywhere in Canada and the contiguous USA (no Alaska or Hawaii) from April 1 to November 15. The boat is also covered on shore during the winter. If you plan on doing Mid-Winter regattas in Florida we can add an endorsement on request.
Coverage is provided for the trailer/dolly up to $1500. This also covers you when transporting the boat behind your car or on a car-top carrier. This is important protection if you are doing regattas away from home.
Our policy provides Medical Coverage up to $1000 for emergency treatment not covered by Canadian Health care coverage. If you race in the US and find yourself in an Emergency Room with a broken arm or needing stitches you will appreciate having this extra coverage. This is something you won't likely get from your home insurance.
The deductible on most boats is $100 and the premium ranges from $108 to $307 depending on the boat type and value. Liability coverage is included at $1 million and can be increased to $2 million for an additional $20.
What is not Covered?
Lock box for gear and spars
Every policy has exclusions so it is important to know what they are. Typical exclusions include wear and tear, gradual deterioration, scratching denting and freezing. These are the minor nicks and bruises that come from racing a boat or repeatedly launching and hauling on shore. Dinghies aren't a good place for personal effects like phones or iPods and are not covered. It is best to leave these on shore. Our policy also excludes theft of equipment or outboards unless they are locked up. If you do a lot of regattas get yourself a box on the trailer that can hold your rudder, centreboard and other gear so you can lock it up.
If you have any questions or special needs for your dinghy give us a call and we will do our best to get you an answer and find a solution. Call 1-800-661-7211 for a quote and we'll send you one of our signal flag stickers for the cockpit. They are UV protected and essential for any serious racer.
A New Chapter Starting Soon for the Skippers' Plan Brand
In the last two days there has been a flurry of announcements and press releases about Arthur J. Gallagher acquiring the majority interest in The Noraxis Group. This is big news in insurance circles but not for consumers because Noraxis was really an invisible entity to the public. So how does all this affect Skippers Plan customers? I'm glad you asked.
Noraxis is a group of independent insurance brokerages of which The CG&B Group (present owner of Skippers' Plan) is a prominent member. Once regulatory approval is received and the deal closes in July the Noraxis brokerages will be merged with the existing operations of Arthur J. Gallagher (Canada) to create the fourth largest insurance brokerage in Canada. The new Canadian operation will be a division of Arthur J Gallagher International which is the 4th largest global brokerage. So as of July 1 Skippers' Plan brand will be owned by one of the top 4 brokerages in the world. When Skipper's Plan was founded 60 years ago my Grandfather Bill Robertson aspired to reach $200,000 in gross premiums. He could never have imagined the brand would be owned by a global brokerage like Arthur J Gallagher.
Being part of a global entity like Arthur J. Gallagher may seem like a big change to some. I never set out to be part of brokerage the size of AJG but I am extremely excited about our future. Like Skippers' Plan, AJG is a family founded organization. We share the same background, values and entrepreneurial spirit which is a great place to start. Truly succeeding in business is about more than just the bottom line. A company that espouses these values is one I am excited about being part of.
After the deal closes my customers will continue to be served by the same competent team of brokers and support staff. This was true when Robertson & Robertson became part of The CG&B Group and it will be the same within AJ Gallagher Canada. When I joined CG&B my clients benefitted from the additional knowledge and products that became available. Once we become part of AJG the sky is the limit and my clients will benefit from being served by a global insurance network withe the values of a family run business.
Nobody can know for certain what the future holds but the plan is to grow with the same team and management that brought us this far. Behind the scenes know that we will continue to develop new products and coverage enhancements but know we are doing it with the knowledge and support of the fourth largest brokerage in the world - Our brokerage. Our values won't change but we are going shake up the Canadian insurance market over the next five years.
The peel Regional Marine Unit had other plans for us. Not 2 minutes outside of the Port Credit and we were being tailed by the "PoPo" as my son likes to say after spending too much time online. 
The police inspection served as an important reminder to always be ready for emergencies - even on sunny days with no waves and light wind. The police officers were polite and friendly but this was still business. It was obvious they noticed the missing bow numbers, no Canadian flag and we still had the US hailing port shown on the transom - heat score! Post inspection we got the Canadian flag flying off the stern.
When you move into this category it is time to seriously consider a stand-alone boat policy. This policy will provide better coverage for physical damage, liability protection while racing and you will deal with adjusters experienced with boat repairs if there is a claim. Our Skippers' Plan policy for day sailors was designed for just for this type of sailor. Pricing is reasonable and you get agreed value coverage so there is no depreciation applied on claims. Our policy covers you while sailing anywhere in Canada and the contiguous USA (no Alaska or Hawaii) from April 1 to November 15. The boat is also covered on shore during the winter. If you plan on doing Mid-Winter regattas in Florida we can add an endorsement on request.
