Weather Warning for Boaters

In my experience as a broker and sailor I see too many boaters that are care-free and/or reckless when it comes to the weather.    Weather should be  a critical consideration for every boater so why do so many ignore it and what can be done to educate people ?



Meteorological resources are readily available but they are useless if ignored.     I have to bite my lip listening to one sailor tell me how he was knocked over and dismasted during a severe thunderstorm.   The damage is covered by insurance but why would you take your crew out in  dangerous weather that was forecasted?    The common refrain is that it was a nice sunny morning so nobody  checked the forecast.    The forecast  was overlooked but what about the changing clouds,   decreasing barometric pressure, the wind shift when the front passed or the arrival of the storm's gust front?    This person was out for a day sail and thinks he's a victim of the weather but he is really a perpetrator of a bad decisions  and poor seamanship.   Is this result of  ignorance,  lack or training,  blind faith that search rescue services are always available or is it something else?

Trouble can also come when  people focus on the boating activity while ignoring the environment.    Not every significant weather event is predicted accurately  but in most cases nature provides plenty of warning.    Yet every year in Canada fishermen are found dead next to overturned boats,  sailors more concerned about the regatta than the storm need rescuing,  and power boaters  fail to safely arrive  at their destination  due to severe weather.  The vast majority of these events are preventable with just a little education and common sense.

Here are a few of my suggestions to help you avoid becoming a "weather victim".

1. Educate yourself about the weather by taking a course.  
2. Train yourself to keep a "weather eye"
3. Develop a weather check routine 
4. Install a weather app with radar on your desktop or phone
5. Never leave the dock without checking the marine weather forecast
6. Experiment with and cross reference Aviation weather reports
7. For longer trips prepare for extreme weather  instead of reacting to the consequences.
8. Share you experience with other boaters.
9. Never forget that  it is always better to be on the dock wishing you were boating than to be on the water praying you make it back to the dock. 

Let's all do our part to make this a safe and fun year on the water.

    

Are Sailing Helmets an Idea Whose Time has Come?

Ten years ago there was a spoof article  announcing helmets were now mandatory for sailors in Canada.  The article elicited real passion and anger from people who felt our society and sport was becoming too soft.   Following the 2013 America's Cup and with helmets becoming de rigueur in other sports I wonder if sailing helmets are an idea whose time has come.  

America's Cup teams came to the line  dressed for battle in helmets and protective suits with emergency air bottles, knives, and communication systems.  Team New Zealand  looked  like fighter pilot Terminators.  Their website even  featured a group photo of the team with Tom "Top Gun" Cruise.   If you ignore Luna Rossa's ridiculous silver suits the AC teams looked cool and nothing sells safety gear like seeing it on the top pros.   It has succeeded with snowboarding, skiing, wakeboarding, cycling and others.    You can't  compare the risks of catamarans "foiling" at 40 knots to recreational sailors and I'm not suggesting you should.  Nor am I advocating for helmet use.   I think helmets will migrate into performance dinghies like 49ers and Moths and wonder if this is a trend that will change the standard for safety gear  in sailing and other boating activities.   What do you think?

Maverick visits Team New Zealand

I expect the old guard will  be brutally dismissive of sailing  helmets while lamenting the wussification of society at large.  But  how many of them are on the water sporting dorky wide-brimmed hats for protection from the sun?   To each his own but talk about wussies; what's a little sunburn compared to permanent disability, mental impairment or death  from  a head injury?    There will also be people who will say helmets don't always work and if you consider former F1 driver Michael Schumacher's current situation you can't argue that point?   The future is not really about what the salty dogs think.  The trend and the future of sailing sailing helmets is going to hinge on the attitudes of younger sailors.   




We have no issue wearing gear  to protect us from the elements or for safety (PFD) so why not consider protection for your noggin?   I'd like to receive your comments on this blog or  let's have the discussion on Twitter @SkippersPlan #sailinghelmets





 

Crates Keswick receives 2013 Award for Claim Service Excellence

The inaugural Skippers’ Plan Award for Claim Service Excellence was presented to Crates Marine Sales, Keswick at last week’s Toronto International Boat Show. With the award, Skippers’ Plan Insurance annually honours the company that provides the best claim service based on post-claim surveys and client feedback.

“We strive to provide outstanding claim service but we cannot deliver on this promise without industry partners committed to the same level of excellence,” notes Andrew Robertson,Vice President of` The CG&B Group that operates Skippers’ Plan marine insurance. This was the initial presentation of the recognition that will now be awarded each year at TIBS.

Greg Crate (left) and Andrew Robertson

In accepting his company’s accolade, Greg Crate affirmed that Crates is dedicated to taking every aspect of pleasure boating very seriously and that extends to claims management. Founded some 80 years ago, Crates this year is opening its sixth location in Belleville ON, an area that has been previously underserved with first class marine repair facilities.

How Much Does Boat Insurance Cost?

If you are planning to buy your first boat this is something you need to confirm before you buy.    The short answer is "It depends, but it's less than you might think".   Some boat owners can get good coverage for less than it costs for two tanks of fuel.

It Depends...

There are several factors that go into the rating of boat insurance.  Different insurance companies will apply different standards but most consider the following

1. Insured Value - higher the value the more it costs.
2. Top Speed - the faster the boat will go you go the more you pay.  
3. Type of Boat - Construction , equipment, type of drive and other factors
4. Age of boat - Older boats have lower values but are surcharged 
5. Operator Experience & training- new boaters may be charged more,  discounts offered for boating courses
6. Prior claims - prior claims can increase the costs by up to 50% or more
7. Navigation area - adding coverage for the southern US or Caribbean can double or triple your premium
8. Special Considerations - Is this a kit boat, homebuilt, experimental design, or heavily modified the premium will be higher

TIP: Boat insurance policies vary in significant ways from one insurance company to the next.  Policy wordings are not standardized so DO NOT COMPARE POLICIES  BY PRICE alone.   The least expensive policy may just provide the worst coverage and pay less on claims.

Ignoring all other factors  the following schedule illustrates how just the boat type will affect premium for a boat worth $50,000.  

    
          Boat Type                               Annual Premium*

Cruiser/trawler	$688
Sailboat	$444
Ski boat	$632
Bass boat	$799
Runabout  60 MPH speed	$582
Runabout 80 MPH top speed	$898
Pontoon boat	$625

*Premium for new boater with no prior experience, no boating courses and no claims.  

Keep in mind that not all companies want to insure every type of boat.    A company that does not like to insure bass boats may offer a quote if you have other business with them  but it might not be your best option.     

My job  is to match your needs and experience with the right company to provide you with the right coverage at the best possible price.    It only takes a few minutes and it could save you a bundle.  What do you have to lose?  Contact me at 1-800-661-7211 or andrew.robertson@cgbgroup.com  

Where is Recreational Boating Going?

Boating Ontario Association is conducting a comprehensive survey to help in determining the future direction of recreation boating in Ontario. The survey will help determine future services required to support the recreational boating industry.

Thank you for contributing to this survey.  It takes about 10 minutes to complete.
www.boatingontario.ca/2014boatersurvey    All entries must be received by April 30^th, 2014.

COLREGS and Insurance claims

The "Rules of the Road" for mariners are uniform around the world  and  commonly known as the Collision Regulations (COLREGS for short).   Insurance companies use the COLREGS to apportion fault if a collision does occur.  These  regulations have existed for decades but  collisions continue because some boaters ignore the rules or misinterpret how they are applied.   

One of the common misinterpretations involves sailboats on opposite tacks.  Consider a scenario where  a boat leaves  Toronto Harbour on starboard tack and another leaves Hamilton on port.   One skipper is engrossed in a good book and the other has a new chart plotter that he is trying to learn.   Both fail to maintain a proper lookout and they collide in the middle of Lake Ontario.  

After reporting the incident to the insurance company  the starboard boat is surprised to discover he is considered 50% at fault.   "Starboard boat has right of way so why am I at fault?".   To understand the insurance company's position you need to read   COLREG Schedule 1 - Part B. 

The words "right of way" do not appear  in these  regulations.   They identify a give-way vessel and the stand-on vessel and each has obligations to avoid a collision.    A sailboat on port is the give-way vessel when approaching a sailboat on starboard so why is the starboard boat 50% at fault?    The reason is Section 2 Rules only apply to vessels in sight of on another.    The boats are equally at fault for the collision because neither kept a proper lookout in breach of Rule 5 - Look-out.    The port-starboard rule (Rule 12a) is part of Section 2 and  doesn't apply because they did not see each other approaching.

The stand-on vessel also has an obligation to keep clear if they see the other boat is not taking appropriate action to avoid the collision.    But it all starts with maintaining a constant all-round visual and audio lookout.  

If one boat was found not at fault their insurance company can recover repair costs from the other insurance company.  The innocent party is then reimbursed their hull deductible.   So in addition to preventing collisions there is also a financial motive for understanding and adhering to the COLREGS.

The complete  Collision Regulations are available on the Transport Canada Website.      If you have any questions about insurance and the collision regulations send me an email.

The Personal Connection...

I saw this on LinkedIn and will be sharing it with my staff as we prepare for the Toronto Boat Show.  

Gadgets & Gizmos

One the best parts of the boat show season is checking out the latest boating gadgets and gizmos.  Here's a list of the items on my list for the Toronto International Boat Show.  You can find the complete list of new products at the TIBS New Product Showcase .

SMS100 Text Box Maretron

Now you can send text alarms to your phone using NMEA2000 -Low Batteries, HW Bilge, Door Open, Hatch Open, Heat, Smoke, Lights On and so much more. Up to three phones can be connected.
Booth: G567

Ocean Signals New "rescueME" PLB1.The Worlds smallest Personal Location Beacon

CMC Electronics
Introducing the world’s smallest PLB • 30% smaller (typ) by volume • Easily fits in lifejacket • Retractable Antenna • 7 Year Battery Life • 7 year warranty • High brightness strobe light >1candela • 66 channel GPS receiver • Unique mounting clip and flotation pouch
Booth: G239

Beer 2 Go 

Rose - A - Lane Gifts

Double Wall Insulated Wine Tumbler. Made of high quality tritan plastic, BPA free. No more broken glass on boat, patio, or pool. Helps maintain ideal temperature, does not sweat and stays cool.

 

 

SmartPlug Boatside Retrofit Plug & Inlet Kit - 50A

Transat Marine
Overheat protection, triple waterproof seal and no-twist connection. A safe alternative that is affordable to upgrade and easy to install. Kits now available in 50A as well as 30A.
Booth: G-417

 

 

Vaavud Smartphone Wind Meter

Transat Marine
Made of a one-piece durable plastic rotor and low-friction Teflon bearing, the wind meter communicates directly to the magnetic field sensor in your smartphone. Download the free app on the Apple Store or Google Play.
Booth: G-417

Vexilar SonarPhone

Radioworld Inc
SonarPhone turns your smartphone or tablet into a fully functional touch screen sonar system that will rival the performance of sonar systems.
Booth: G462

 

Lowrance Spotlight Scan Sonar 

Introducing a new level of angler-controlled, surround-scanning underwater views, the new sonar solution provides picture-like images of key fishing areas.
Booth: G462

Raymarines New ECI-100 Universal Engine and Control Interface

CMC Electronics
Bridge engine instrumentation and drive-by-wire steering with Raymarine autopilot and navigation systems.
Booth: G239

Get Into Sailing

An innovative new program from Ontario Sailing that is being launched at The Toronto International Boat Show.   Save the date and get your club involved.

 

Get into Sailing

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Ontario Sailing is launching a campaign to get more people onto the water through our member clubs, schools, camps, and affiliates in their community.

On Saturday June 21, 2014 we invite members to open their clubs to individuals and families for free on-water introductory lessons in windsurfing, dinghy, keelboat, powerboats and more. This is an opportunity for clubs to promote their programs and services to help more people get out on the water!

 

http://www.ontariosailing.ca/About_Us/Events/GetIntoSailing/GetIntoSailing.php 

Sailboat Rigging & Maintenance

Sailboats over 15 years old that still have the original wire rigging have a high rate of rigging failures and dismastings each year.   This in turn is causing more insurance claims which can have an inflationary effect on the premiums paid by all.   It also results in more lost time on the water as finding a suitable mast for an older boat can be difficult.      

Sailboat rigging was not built to last forever.  This may seem like common sense but far too many sailors are either too cheap to replace worn out rigging or unaware of the problem.    Others think they will notice the signs of wear and tear in time to replace worn rigging.  The fact is too many sailors find out about their defective rigging as they dive for cover with  the mast collapsing into the cockpit (and onto their guests and crew).  

For those too cheap to perform proper maintenance and replace old rigging I offer the following video from Yachting Monthly and two insights.  Make sure you have a good first aid kit and tools on board for cutting away your rigging after the mast comes down.  Secondly,  get ready to pay higher insurance premiums.

For everyone else this article by Dixieland Marine Surveys does a great job explaining the problems and the expected lifespan of your wire rigging.  

Sailboat Rig Problems: A Surveyor's View