Questions from Towergate Mardon

[Lady M]

Has anyone here been sent a list of questions from Towergate Mardon which must be answered otherwise renewal will not be invited?  I can answer three of my four questions quite confidently but am not sure about the first part of this one.  'Is the boat professionally built and in a good state of repair?'  My uncertainty is because my boat was purchased by the first owner as a sailaway which he fitted out.  Especially given the longevity of steel narrowboats, which sometimes have a number of owners, this seems quite an odd question to ask. 

[Arthur Marshall]

I would assume "built" means making the hull, not the fitting out. So as long as he didn't nail it together in his back garden you can answer yes to that, and, as a boat not in good repair is about to sink, and I don't think yours is, you can say yes to that too.

It's probably a scheme by the insurance company to open a few more loopholes in case you ever make a claim. 

[David Mack]

Is this just a yes/no question or can you input some text? For the latter I would just say it is a professionally built steel hull and cabin, and was fitted out by the first owner. That way they can't quibble in future.

[Lady M]

Yes - that's my problem.  The available answers are either YES or NO.  There is an option to ring up, which I will probably take, but I thought I would ask here first if anyone else had received a similar communication.

[mrsmelly]

12 minutes ago, Lady C said:

Yes - that's my problem.  The available answers are either YES or NO.  There is an option to ring up, which I will probably take, but I thought I would ask here first if anyone else had received a similar communication.

Rather than just ring up, also ask the question via email so you have a written reply they cannot wriggle out of. Ive done that with my house insurance re a very ambiguous bit re drains.

[David Mack]

There is another option. Just bin the questionnaire and go to another insurer. Which is exactly what lots of their longstanding narrowboat customers have done since their canal insurance expert left and the marine department was taken over by people who know nothing about inland boating.

[Lady M]

In an ideal world, that is exactly what I would do.  However, when I got quotes from some other insurers, they wanted to charge me at least double what Towergate ask.  

[Tony Brooks]

Have you tried Craftinsure? I found them competitive but I am not sure they offer live aboard policies.

[pearley]

55 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

Have you tried Craftinsure? I found them competitive but I am not sure they offer live aboard policies.

They have no problem with liveaboards and will add contents to your policy for an additional premium.

[Lady M]

I didn't try Craftinsure due to their attitude to cover damage.  

[Tony Brooks]

1 minute ago, Lady C said:

I didn't try Craftinsure due to their attitude to cover damage.  

 

I don't know what that is about, I never noticed it in the policies I have had with them. I suppose they might have a larger excess on claims for cratch cover or pram hood damage. I believe some insurers do this for soft top cars.

[ditchcrawler]

I have gone back with Michael Stimpson, at least he knows what a Narrowboat is

[David Schweizer]

4 hours ago, David Mack said:

There is another option. Just bin the questionnaire and go to another insurer. Which is exactly what lots of their longstanding narrowboat customers have done since their canal insurance expert left and the marine department was taken over by people who know nothing about inland boating.

 

Wasn't that Michael Stimpson who, I believe, has recently set up independantly.

[ditchcrawler]

6 minutes ago, David Schweizer said:

 

Wasn't that Michael Stimpson who, I believe, has recently set up independantly.

Correct, he is now with a company called Circle Marine 

you can contact him by email at Michaelstipson at the above company  .co.uk

Edited September 21, 2022 by ditchcrawler

[David Mack]

2 hours ago, David Schweizer said:

 

Wasn't that Michael Stimpson who, I believe, has recently set up independantly.

Yes. Went independent for a while on leaving Towergate, and is now with Circle Marine as Ditchcrawler says.

[Lady M]

Thanks to all who responded for their various comments.  Towergate have confirmed by phone that their phrase, 'the boat', means the structure not the fit out.

[stagedamager]

My confidence in Towergate and their underwriters had somewhat plummeted this week as my renewal has gone up £165 and they wanted to know what type of engine i had in my butty.

Michael Stimpson will be getting a call.