Boating

Your homeowners policy provides limited coverage on watercraft, including trailers, equipment and outboard motors. Your personal property coverage of your homeowners will cover the smallest and simplest boats and motors up to $1,000. Please note: if you have wind or hail damage, the loss is covered only when the watercraft and equipment is inside a fully enclosed building.

In Wisconsin, liability coverage (up to policy limits) is available under your homeowners policy for boats under 26 feet long. There is no liability coverage for inboard or out-board motors.

If you have a larger boat, you will need to purchase a Boat Owners policy or a yacht policy. This covers the motor, boat and trailer, as well as bodily injury or property damage caused by the watercraft.

• Examples:
  • Canoe
    • Property damage: you're covered up to $1,000 from your homeowners (deductible applies).
    • Liability: you're covered up to homeowners policy limits.
  • Metal 25-foot-long fishing boat with outboard motor
    • Property damage: you're covered up to $1,000 from your homeowners (deductible applies).
    • Liability: you're covered up to homeowners policy limits.
  • 30-foot-long fishing boat
    • Property damage: homeowners does not cover. You will need a boat owners policy.
    • Liability: You will need a boat owners policy.
  • Jet-ski
    • Property damage: homeowners does not cover. You will need a boat owners policy.
    • Liability: You will need a boat owners policy.

Contact us before you put your boat in the water and ask these questions:

• Does my policy have adequate liability limits?
• Are there discounts for taking safety courses?
• Can anyone operate the boat? Who is covered on my policy?
• Do I have coverage to tow skiers or tubers?

Motorcycles

Motorcycles are not covered by your standard auto policy; you must have a separate policy. If you store your motorcycle during the winter months, you may have removed liability coverage for those months. When you pull your motorcycle back out, make sure your policy is up-to-date and you have adequate coverage. Remember: auto insurance is required in Wisconsin, so you must have proof of insurance with you while you ride!

ATV's

ATV's are not covered by standard auto policies. Your homeowners insurance policy might cover liability, but check with your agent to make sure. It's a good idea to know:

• if there are age restrictions on who can drive the ATV.
• if your policy covers friends or family to drive the ATV.
• if there is a discount for taking safety courses.

Pools & Trampolines

Some companies will not insure your property if you have a trampoline. Know exactly what damages and injuries are covered before you allow anyone to use your trampoline.

Your insurance company can cancel your policy or deny coverage if you:

• do not follow your policy guidelines.
• fail to inform them when you install a pool or trampoline.

Golf

A player is not always able to control either the direction or destination of a golf ball. Therefore, a cardinal rule of the game is to warn people in the area who may be harmed if a ball is driven inaccurately.

Golfing accidents can occur and many take place without the person causing the accident having to pay damages. Typically, no legal fault is found where injury results from an unanticipated event. BUT, golfers are obligated to use ordinary care while playing. Failing to using the proper degree of care, precaution and vigilance under given circumstances may be negligent. Negligent acts could trigger legal action to recover damages in the event of injury.

Fireworks

In most cases, if you have a homeowners policy, you are protected. When dealing with fireworks, make sure they’re legal and that they’re used carefully and only for entertainment.

Cases where your homeowners policy does not offer coverage:

• If it's illegal for you to set off fireworks.
• Injuries to yourself or others in your household are not covered because Medical Payments and Liability coverage is designed to handle loss suffered by people outside your household.
• If the injury was not an accident, there is no coverage. Any injury could be considered intentional, even when it was not intended.

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