Coverage for life on the Delta
The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta puts a maze of sloughs, channels and marinas within a short drive of Stockton, and many Central Valley boaters split their summers between the Delta and the foothill reservoirs. A homeowners policy gives a boat very little: often a small amount for a small boat kept at home, and little or no liability once it is on the water. Boat insurance is written for the hull, the engine, the trailer and what can go wrong while you are underway or tied up at a slip.
What boat & marine insurance covers
- Hull and machinery — the boat, outboard or inboard engine, and permanently attached equipment, against collision, sinking, fire, storm and theft.
- Agreed value or actual cash value — agreed value sets the payout for a total loss when the policy starts; actual cash value subtracts depreciation at the time of the loss. We show you which one each quote uses.
- Boating liability — injury to passengers, swimmers, skiers or people on other boats, and damage to docks and other vessels.
- Wreck removal and fuel-spill liability — the cost of raising or removing a sunken boat and cleaning up fuel, which can follow a sinking at a marina.
- Trailer — physical damage to the trailer, when added.
- Medical payments, uninsured boater, on-water towing and personal effects — fishing gear, electronics and water toys, with their own limits.
What boat policies usually exclude
Wear and tear, osmotic blistering, marine growth, rot, and gradual engine wear; racing; chartering the boat for money; and losses outside the navigation area written on the policy. Many policies also carry a lay-up period, months when the boat is expected to be out of the water. If you run the Delta year-round, say so before the policy is written.
Which boats must be registered in California?
The California DMV says any sailboat over eight feet long and any boat with a motor, no matter the size, must be registered with DMV to operate legally on California waterways. A boat trailer is registered separately, and a vessel brought in from another state must be registered within 120 days. DMV registers vessels at field offices or by mail. Source: California DMV, Boat/Vessel Registration. Your CF number and hull identification number (HIN) are what we use to quote.
Do I need a California Boater Card?
Yes, if you operate a motorized boat. The California Division of Boating and Waterways says that beginning January 1, 2025, all boaters regardless of age must carry a California Boater Card when operating on state waterways. DBW also says DMV-registered vessels operating in fresh waterways, such as the Delta, must display a current Mussel Fee sticker next to the registration sticker; it is a separate DMV purchase. Source: California Division of Boating and Waterways. Anyone you let run the boat needs their own card too.
How much does boat insurance cost?
Boat premiums are built from the boat and the way you use it. The main inputs are hull value and age, length, engine horsepower and top speed, hull type, whether the policy pays agreed value or actual cash value, the navigation area (Delta and inland lakes versus coastal waters), how many months the boat is laid up, whether it sits in a marina slip or on a trailer at home, and the operators’ experience and boating safety courses. Liability limits and the deductible you pick finish the picture. We price your boat on those facts and show how each choice changes the quote.
Why boaters work with us
We are an independent brokerage, so we compare marine policies from the carriers we represent instead of offering one company’s form. We ask where you keep the boat (marina slip, dry storage, or a trailer in your driveway), how far you run, and who drives, and we explain the navigation limits and lay-up rules before you sign. English and Spanish.
Get a boat quote
Have these ready: year, make, model, length and hull type; engine make, horsepower and fuel type; HIN and CF number; purchase price and any survey; trailer VIN; where the boat is kept; and each operator’s boating experience and Boater Card. Call (209) 670-1556 or request a quote below. We also write personal watercraft insurance for jet skis.
Buying a used boat? Send us the listing and the survey before you close, and we will tell you which policy forms fit its age, value and where you plan to keep it.
Ready for a quote? Call, walk in, or send the form
Call (209) 670-1556 Request a Quote
956 W Robinhood Dr, Stockton · Mon–Fri 10am–6pm · Walk-ins welcome · Se habla español · ITIN accepted. Insurance City Agency, LLC · CA License #6003045. Reviewed by Santo Militello, California-licensed agent and owner (CA Lic. #1737723). Our licensed team brings more than 70 years of combined insurance experience.
