Wharrams/Home Builds difficult to insure?

[Geminidawn]

Hi All, I was just at a seminar with Lloyd's and I was having a word with one of their insurance experts. He was stating that even though it is now compulsory in some places that you have to have at least P & I (3rd party) insurance, for some groups it is not always easy to find people who will insure them. Owners of old classic and historical craft are an example. I'm wondering if it is the same for Homebuilders and Wharram owners?

[Ann and Neville Clement]

When we were trying to find insurance for Peace, we discovered that getting builder's insurance was easy, but getting actual sailing insurance was not so easy.  Pantaenius was my old insurer and they were willing to cover me as a single hander trans Atlantic in my old boat, but they did not cover any catamarans anywhere.  Then I called several more insurers and got mostly "not interested" comments about wooden, home built, flexibly connected catamarans.  But finally I spoke with Toby at St Margaret's Insurance and he was positive and happy to write us a policyso that is when we proceeded with the build.  He recognized the Wharram as a seaworthy boat and also knew that if the owner was the builder, then the owner could always fix what they have built and he knew that any damage would be either taken care of without insurnace, or for a small claim.  Also if the owner is the builder, the owner will be more careful of the boat.  Another insurance company also had discovered these truths and it was in Cardiff, Wales in Britain but I am not remembering the name.  I do know that if the build is according to the plans, then the insurance company is lots happier about that.  Getting Wharrams to approve any alterations to the plans seemed like a good idea to us, so we got that in writing and the insurance company was grateful.  Of course, we had very, very few changes to the plans.  Changes take lots more time to complete and amateurs do not have enough experience to know how strong or heavy to build those changes. 

     I suggest sticking to the plans and calling around to get quotes.  A while back some folks wrote in about the insurance companies interested in Wharrams.  Perhaps an update on that list would be good now.  St Margarets insures Peace for $250,000 US Venezuela to Canada.

     Ann and Nev

[Geminidawn]

Cheers Ann & Nev. lots of worthwhile info and some really good points there. I just wanted to get an idea for those who are insured how easy or hard they found it. My own boat is not even finished yet but prior to the build I phoned around and got more or less the same response you did, once they heard "catamaran" the politely declined.