 I had decided
to go kayaking after work one day, and that morning, I’d carefully
loaded my kayak onto my cartop racks, strapped it down and tied bow
and stern lines to the car. I had driven 15 miles, including several
miles on the freeway, and I was only one stoplight away from work.
As I pulled forward in the line of waiting cars, I heard what sounded
like a horrific automobile crash. The front of my boat lurched down
toward the hood of my car, and small pieces of fiberglass floated
down like falling snow sprinkling my -windshield.
I quickly realized what had happened: The cheap bow tie-down strap
I got at the hardware store had come loose from the car, and the
car’s front tire had run over it. My six-month-old sea kayak
had broken in four places. The smallest crack was five inches long;
the largest break was a nine-inch open gap bridged by the sheer
extrusion.
I got the bowline out of the way and very slowly drove the last
quarter mile to work feeling very sick. I wasn’t sure what
I was going to do next. As I stood in the parking lot, I suddenly
thought that my car insurance would cover my kayak, as I had been
driving at the time of the accident. Isn’t that what insurance
is for? Feeling a little better, I grabbed my insurance card out
the glove box, headed to my office and called the 800 number on
the card.
I told the agent what happened and asked if I could make a claim
through my automobile insurance. She told me that this sort of
thing was covered by homeowner’s insurance. I have both policies
covered by the same company, so I was transferred to the claims
department to initiate a claim. When she got back to me, she informed
me that my homeowner’s policy had a $1,000 limit of coverage
on watercraft, whether it’s a kayak, rowboat, canoe, powerboat
or sailboat. This $1,000 limit applied as well to watercraft equipment:
trailers, furnishings, equipment and outboard engines or motors.
At first, that seemed like more than enough to cover the damage.
I started calling around to get some estimates for repairs. I found
a shop that could do the work, but they couldn’t guarantee
a time frame. My kayak could be “shelved” if more important
work came up, and it could take up to three months to get it back.
Meanwhile, I learned from my insurance agent that kayaks, as watercraft,
are regarded by insurers as a higher liability than other types
of recreational equipment and are not as well covered. My agent
also speculated that my home-owner’s policy rates would go
up if I made this claim. I had been receiving a 15 percent annual
discount from this particular company because I’d made no
claims in nine years. I had to weigh if it was even worth it to
make the claim, pay my deductible of $250 and face increased premiums
for however long it would take to earn back the lower rate for
being claim free.
Fortunately, I have a good friend who has quite a bit of experience
building and repairing fiberglass kayaks. Together we did most
of the repairs in a weekend, and my kayak was scarred but seaworthy.
These days when I transport my kayak, I use a bow tie-down that’s
just long enough to tie to the bumper but not long enough to get
caught under a front tire.
My kayak was salvageable, but if the damage had been beyond repair,
my insurance policy would not have come close to covering the cost
of replacing it. Even carbon-fiber paddles, dry suits and PFDs
carrying VHF radios and GPS units can be costly to replace, so
it’s a good idea to find out how your insurance covers your
kayak and your equipment before you need to make a claim.
Each insurance company may cover watercraft and related equipment
differently. Don’t assume your existing home or auto policy
covers any loss you might suffer. On a homeowner’s policy,
a kayak would only be covered for the “named perils”—fire,
theft, etc.—listed in the policy. Damage or loss suffered
while you’re on the water would not be covered. A separate
boat policy would include a different set of “named perils” appropriate
to boats, but it would still be important to review the extent
of the coverage.
Homeowners and renters with insurance policies can include specific
items on their existing policies and have them insured for exact
replacement cost. A special listing can cover your loss if someone
steals your car with your kayak on the rack or steals your kayak
from your garage. You’re also covered if your kayak comes
off the car and injures bystanders or passengers in another car.
It even covers you if you drive over your bowline. It won’t
cover damage due to wear and tear, gradual deterioration, manufacturing
defects or damage intentionally caused by the policy holder.
If you have any specific items you’d like to make sure are
adequately insured, call your agent. With my kayak and all my paddling
gear now included in an addendum to my policy, everything is covered
at its replacement cost for just about any type of loss for around
30 dollars per year with no deductible to be paid. It’s reassuring
to know that if I have another bit of bad luck, it won’t
cost me a fortune to get back on the -water.
Jon Hansen is an Intake Counselor for the Oregon Department of
Corrections. He learned to paddle on the north Oregon coastal waters
of Tillamook County and recently did an 80-mile tour of Lake Chelan
in Washington State.
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