The Passion of Boating

I recently had the pleasure of speaking at a gathering of York Bassmasters .    The camaraderie in the room  was great as they exchanged friendly jabs and taunts about the past season.   From the energy in the room you would think it was the night before a big tournament, not a frosty night on the cusp of a long winter.     What brought them together was a shared passion for fishing and boating.   

York Bassmasters

This type of gathering will repeat itself hundreds of times over the winter at marinas, yacht clubs,  Power Squadron meetings,  and other boating groups.      It doesn't matter if it's sailing, fishing, antique and classic boat collectors; they gather because of their shared passion for boating.     I don't know of many golfers, skiers, cyclists or cottagers that get together unless it involves golfing, skiing, cycling or cottaging.    Yet I can lists dozens of boating groups and marinas that  have plans to get together this winter when the the boats are all laid up ashore.  This shared passion is a special part of the boating lifestyle.

As I reflect on this it reminds me that my business is not so much about insuring  property as it is about insuring your lifestyle.    There are lots of insurance brokers who can insure your "stuff" but do they really understand what boating means to you?  Can they help get your boat repaired in time for the fishing tournament, sailing regatta, or rendezvous ?  Do they know the surveyors, chandleries, repair shops, marina operators, and other people in the boating industry that can get you boating after an accident?  Are they part of boating lifestyle and support it outside of normal business hours?   This is the difference between insuring property and insuring the boating lifestyle.

There are only a small number of insurance brokers dedicated to serving the boating community in Canada.   In the New Year I am going to publish their names and contact information on this blog .  It might seem crazy listing competitors on my own blog but there is one good reason.   If you insure your boat with the wrong company there is a better chance that you will have a problem that could cause a financial loss.   One bad experience or a big loss might just  cause you to give up on boating altogether.   That would be a shame and from a selfish point of view I would never have the chance to earn your business.    Most of all I want people to enjoy hassle free boating with  peace of mind that comes from having the right insurance.

We have been insuring boaters for over 60 years and we love what we do.   At Skippers' Plan Insurance  -  We Share Your Passion.