Burned about two weeks shopping for yacht insurance before spring launch. The first thing I learned: a low premium usually hides a pile of exclusions. Check whether the hull is insured at agreed value or ACV — with ACV, depreciation eats the payout after a total loss. If the boat is older, be ready for the insurer to ask for a recent survey. Most of the confusion comes from the policy language, so a good starting point is
yacht-insurance.net — it lays out the main policy terms in plain English. Also read the navigation limits carefully: going past the listed waters can leave you uncovered. On the East Coast and the Gulf, the named storm deductible is often a percentage of hull value, not a flat amount. Don't skimp on liability either — wreck removal and guest injuries can exceed the value of the boat itself. Get at least three quotes and read the exclusions before you sign.