Hull and machinery
Physical damage to the yacht, engines and equipment. On an agreed value policy a total loss pays the value set when the policy starts; actual cash value policies cost less and deduct depreciation.
Yacht insurance, priced by hull value and home waters
Yacht insurance in the US is priced as a share of the insured hull value: brokers publish 1% to 5% a year, and most cruising yachts sit near 1.5%. Enter your hull value and home waters for a range, check what the deductibles come to in dollars, then call with the numbers in hand.
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Yacht insurance cost estimate
Published yacht insurance rates
| Annual premium, low named-storm exposureper $1,000 of insured hull value; 1.5% is the typical figure | about $15 per $1,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual premium, Florida, Gulf Coast and other named-storm zones3% to 5% of hull value | $30-$50 per $1,000 |
| $500,000 yacht, annual premiumpublished range $5,000-$25,000 | typically about $7,500 |
| $1,000,000 yacht, annual premiumpublished range $10,000-$50,000 | typically about $15,000 |
| Standard hull deductible, $1,000,000 yacht1% to 3% of insured value, per claim | from $10,000 |
| Named-storm deductible, $1,000,000 yacht5% to 10% of insured value, per storm claim | from $50,000 |
Ranges published by US yacht insurance brokers, checked October 2026: Sun Coast General Insurance Agency (rates by hull value, storm zones, both deductibles), World Insurance (1% to 5%), L.A. Insurance (1% to 3%, up to 5% for high-risk vessels) and NBOA (hull deductibles up to 3%). Large carriers such as Chubb and Markel do not publish premiums.
What a yacht insurance policy covers
Protection and indemnity
Liability for injury to guests and damage to other boats, docks and marinas, with legal defense. Many yacht forms include wreck removal when the hull is insured.
Pollution liability
A fuel or oil spill is a federal matter under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Yacht policies carry it inside liability, often with a separate limit for marine environmental damage fines.
Yacht crew insurance
If you pay a captain or deckhand, the policy needs Jones Act and Longshore cover. Carriers usually charge an extra premium based on the number of crew.
Named storms
Hurricane damage carries its own named-storm deductible. Some carriers share the cost of hauling out or moving the yacht before a storm makes landfall.
Tenders, effects and towing
Dinghies and tenders, personal property aboard, emergency towing, search and rescue, and uninsured boater cover for damage caused by someone without insurance.
Three federal rules behind the fine print
Three parts of a yacht policy rest on federal sources: the storm terms, pollution liability and crew cover. Each is quoted below with a link to the document.
The hurricane season sets the storm terms
The National Hurricane Center dates the Atlantic hurricane season June 1 to November 30, with a peak on September 10. Named-storm deductibles, hurricane plans and haul-out dates in Florida and Gulf Coast policies are written around that window, so a plan that names where the yacht will be in September matters more than one that only names a marina. Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Climatology.
Oil spill liability has a federal limit
For any vessel that is not a tank vessel, the Oil Pollution Act limits of liability are the greater of $1,300 per gross ton or $1,076,000. A spill from a yacht's fuel tanks falls under this rule, so ask whether the quote covers Oil Pollution Act liability up to that limit and not only general property damage. Source: 33 CFR 138.230, Limits of liability.
Paid crew can sue the employer
Under the Jones Act, a seaman injured in the course of employment may bring a civil action at law against the employer, with the right of trial by jury. An owner who hires a captain or deckhand is usually that employer, which is why crew liability is its own line on a yacht insurance quote. Source: 46 U.S.C. 30104, Personal injury to or death of seamen.
How a yacht insurance quote comes together
Hull value and survey
Settle the insured value first: it sets the premium and both deductibles. Older or larger yachts are usually asked for a recent survey before a carrier will quote.
Navigation area and hurricane plan
Say where the yacht is kept and how far it goes; coastal cruising rates lower than blue water. In named-storm waters a written hurricane plan with a haul-out date often lowers the rate.
Operator resume
Carriers rate the person at the helm as much as the boat: time on yachts of similar size, courses taken, past claims. A first step up to a 50-foot motor yacht is priced differently from a move between two of them.
Liability limits, crew and charter
Choose the liability limit, add pollution and crew cover if you employ anyone, and declare any charter use, which carriers price on its own.
Compare quotes in dollars
Line the offers up by premium, standard deductible and named-storm deductible in dollars, navigation limits and lay-up period. A cheaper policy with a 10% named-storm deductible can cost more after one storm.
Yacht insurance questions, answered with numbers
How much is yacht insurance?
US brokers publish 1% to 5% of the insured hull value a year, with most cruising yachts near 1.5%. That is about $7,500 on a $500,000 yacht and about $15,000 on a $1,000,000 yacht; in Florida and on the Gulf Coast the published band is 3% to 5%.
How much is insurance on a $100,000 boat?
At 1% to 5% of value, $1,000 to $5,000 a year, which matches the $1,000-$5,000+ yacht band L.A. Insurance publishes. A boat kept outside hurricane waters by an owner with a clean claims record usually lands in the lower part of it.
What does yacht insurance cover?
Physical damage to the hull, machinery and equipment; liability to others with legal defense and wreck removal; pollution liability; medical payments. Paid crew, tenders, personal effects, towing and search and rescue are added as needed.
What is not covered by yacht insurance?
Wear and tear, gradual deterioration and routine maintenance are not insured losses. Also check for a windstorm exclusion, use outside your navigation limits, undeclared charter use, and items such as sails, canvas and cushions that are often settled with depreciation even on agreed value forms.
What do yacht insurance companies require?
The insured hull value, a recent survey for older or larger yachts, where the yacht is kept and cruises, an operator resume with claims history, details of any paid crew, and for named-storm waters a written hurricane plan.
How big of a yacht does insurance require a captain?
There is no single length. Carriers decide from size, speed, value and your own experience. Chubb, for example, runs a separate luxury yacht program for captained vessels 70 feet and longer valued at $3 million or more, the range where superyacht and mega yacht cover begins.
Which companies offer yacht insurance?
Carriers with dedicated yacht programs in the US include Chubb, Markel, Travelers, Great American Insurance Group (Ocean Marine) and PURE; many owners buy through a yacht insurance broker who quotes several of them. Compare the quotes line by line, not by brand.
How do I file a yacht insurance claim for repairs?
Report it to the insurer right away and take reasonable steps to stop further damage; many yacht policies pay for those precautionary measures. Photograph everything, keep receipts, and get the adjuster's approval before repairs start.
Have the numbers? Call before you buy
Bring the hull value, a recent survey if you have one, and where the yacht spends hurricane season. We go through quotes line by line: premium, both deductibles in dollars, navigation limits and crew cover.
Call the quote desk: (702) 555-0179
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-2pm
Email: studio@yacht-insurance.net