Boats come in different sizes, conditions, and sizes. It is for this reason that it is not possible to give an exact number on how long does a boat survey last for insurance in Fort Lauderdale. Insurance companies also have varying requirements when insuring boats. This makes it harder to estimate how long an insurance survey will be valid. All the same, it is possible to give a ballpark figure.
The answer to the question of how long does a boat survey last for insurance is 5 years. Once the current survey is older than five years, many insurance companies will require that you provide a new survey report when applying for boat insurance. It is, however, good to note that this is not always the case. Some insurers will accept a survey that is 10 or even 15 years old. This is because there are factors that influence how long a survey is valid. There are many situations that will force you to get a fresh boat survey report even if the current report is not yet five years. These are the factors we will be looking at in this post.
You have done major changes to the vessel
One of the main reasons an insurance company will recommend you get a fresh marine survey is if you have made some major work on your boat since the last survey. In this case, the surveyor will require that you update the survey so that the report reflects the new value and condition. This will be required even if it is only a year since the last survey.
It’s a wooden vessel
Wooden vessels are more prone to damage. As a result of this, insurance companies will require a fresh survey more often. For example, you may be required to update the insurance survey report once every 2 to 3 years.
How you use the boat
What do you use the vessel for? The answer to this question will determine how often you need to update your insurance survey report. If you often use the vessel in rough waters or to transport heavy cargo, you may have to get a fresh insurance survey done every time you want to renew your insurance coverage.
As you can see, how long a boat survey lasts for insurance will depend on the type of boat you own, how you use it, and the requirements of the insurance company. With that in mind, the best way to answer the question of how long an insurance survey will last is to speak with your preferred insurance company. An insurance broker will be happy to answer all the questions you may have on insurance surveys and let you know if you need a fresh survey.
How Long Does a Boat Survey Last for Insurance