Boating Safety Tips to Prevent Accidents

If boating is your passion, summer is a great time to be on the water. Utah’s no shortage of beautiful lakes and parks offering boating access. By prioritizing safety, you can fully enjoy this water sport without worrying about accidents. These boating safety tips from Maple Mountain Insurance Services in Mapleton, UT can enhance your safety on the water.

Boating Safety Tips

Like many water sports, boating comes with its share of risks. These risks, however, can be drastically reduced by observing the following boating safety rules:

  • Don’t drink and "drive" – Never drink while operating a watercraft, as it can put you at risk of an accident. Alcohol dulls your senses and reflexes and impairs your ability to operate your watercraft safely in the water.
  • Maneuver carefully and safely – Maneuver your boat carefully, observing speed limits and staying safe from other boats and people in the water. Traveling at high speeds makes it more difficult to control your watercraft or stop quickly, when necessary, to avoid an accident.  
  • Wear a life jacket – Many water deaths can be prevented through life jackets. If you’re your boat’s captain, ensure you and all your passengers are fitted with a life jacket before launching your watercraft.
  • Complete a boat safety course – If you’re new to boating, take a boating safety course to hone your skills and become familiar with boating safety. It could reduce your risk of accidents. Knowing what to do in the event of an accident could even help save someone’s life.

Contact Maple Mountain Insurance Services for Boat Insurance

We also recommend getting boat insurance for protection against mishaps on the water. To learn more about boat insurance options and costs, give Maple Mountain Insurance Services in Mapleton, UT a call.

How Can I Reduce the Risk of My Boat Being Stolen?

There’s nothing quite like the open water. The wind in your hair, the sun on your face, and the feeling of freedom as you cruise along. But if you’re a boat owner, you also know that owning a boat comes with unique challenges. One of the most pressing concerns for boat owners is the risk of theft. After all, boats are expensive items often left unattended for long periods. So how can you reduce the risk of your boat being stolen? Read on to find out.

1. Get a Good Alarm System

One of the best ways to deter thieves is to invest in a good alarm system. There are many different types of boat alarm systems on the market, so do your research to find one that best suits your needs. Some alarm systems will notify you via text or email if someone tries to break into your boat, while others will emit a loud siren. No matter which type of system you choose, ensure it is appropriately installed and set to the correct sensitivity.

2. Use a GPS Tracking Device

Another way to deter thieves is to use a GPS tracking device. If your boat is stolen, you can track its location. Ensure that the tracking device is hidden from view so thieves cannot disable it.

3. Lock It Up

Of course, one of the simplest ways to deter thieves is to lock up your boat. Use a high-quality padlock and chain to secure your boat to a dock or post. If you are storing your boat on land, consider investing in a security system for your storage facility.

4. Invest in Boat Insurance

Even if you take all of the above precautions, there is always a risk that your boat could be stolen. That’s why it’s essential to invest in boat insurance. Make sure you understand your policy and what it covers so that you can claim if your worst nightmare comes true.

Get Boat Insurance in Mapleton, UT

Maple Mountain Insurance Services offers comprehensive boat insurance policies that can give you peace of mind on the water. Contact us today to learn more about our coverage options or get a quote. We’re here to help you protect your investment so you can enjoy the open water worry-free.

What Does Boat Insurance Cover?

Insurance is meant to protect your valuable assets, including your boat. And as you plan to have a good time cruising in it, do not forget boat insurance. Boat owners often wonder how necessary boat insurance coverage is or what it protects. If you are in the same boat, the Maple Mountain Insurance Services of Mapleton, UT takes you through what is covered under boat insurance.

Physical Damage

This type of coverage protects your boat against common risks like theft, fire, sinking, and collision. It also helps protect your boat, whether it is on land or at sea. In most cases, the property covered varies, but one’s policy can cover components like anchors, motors, batteries, and safety equipment like fire extinguishers and floatation devices.

Liability Coverage

If your boat causes damage to other boats or structures, this kind of coverage helps cover any resulting expenses you may incur. Liability coverage protects you against lawsuits, including the payment of legal fees or any settlement. However, when getting boat insurance, first talk to your agent to ensure you are buying the proper coverage.

Medical Payment Coverage

Your boat may get into an accident leading to either you or the passengers getting injured. This type of policy helps cover medical expenses like X-rays, medication, and hospital bills.

Uninsured Boat Coverage

What if you get into an accident with an uninsured boater and your boat gets damaged, or you get injured? Uninsured boat coverage can help cover the expenses arising from an accident.

Are you a boat owner in Mapleton, UT? If you consider how hard you have worked to own that boat, you should do everything in your power to protect it. That is why you need insurance to safeguard it against various risks. Contact us at Maple Mountain Insurance Services today, where we can help you select the right coverage for your boat.

When is it a good idea to get boat insurance?

The Mapleton, UT area offers a lot of local amenities to residents, including access to local lakes and places to use a boat. If you would like to enjoy the warm weather in the area as much as possible, investing in a boat is a great option. If you are going to purchase a boat, there are also several situations when it is a good idea to get boat insurance. 

When Taking Out a Loan

One situation when it can be a good idea to get a boat insurance policy is when you are going to take out a loan. The cost of a boat can be quite expensive. Due to this, it often makes sense for someone to finance their boat with the use of a loan. If you are going to take out a loan, you will have boat insurance requirements that need to be met. Lenders have these specific insurance requirements as it can protect their collateral.

When Trying to Protect Asset

If you purchase a boat, you are going to be making a major investment and purchase. When you do decide to purchase a boat, you will want to protect it as well as you can. The best way to do this is with a boat insurance policy. When you have this insurance coverage, it will give the protection you need to repair or replace your boat. 

There are many situations when having a boat insurance policy will be a good idea. If you are going to purchase a boat and are looking for a boat insurance policy, you should call Maple Mountain Insurance Services. For those that are in the Mapleton, UT area, Maple Mountain Insurance Services can provide you with all of the guidance that is needed to pick a quality policy. 

Is Boat Insurance Crucial in the Winter?

How important is it really to get boat insurance for your boat during the winter? The answer might surprise you, especially if you’re new to owning one in the Mapleton, UT area. A quality insurance company like Maple Mountain Insurance Services can assist you.

Storage Doesn’t Cover It

You may think that your watercraft should be fine during the winter, as long as it’s put away for storage. The truth is not as simple as that. Your boat may be susceptible to receiving damage while it’s in storage. 

It doesn’t matter if your boat is at a marina or in a storage facility. If it’s in an area in which there are storms, like most of the country, these natural disasters can still cause some damage if the facility is hit hard by a storm. If you already have boat insurance, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t cancel it for the season. If you are just about to seek insurance for your boat or even if you already have a policy, you can talk to your provider to find out what options are available for additional protection for the harsh winter months. 

Save a Little Money

It may be possible to save some money during the off-season when you’re not using your boat. This is because only specific coverage may be necessary at those times. These include comprehensive and liability coverage.

If you’re like many people and want to find out how to pay less for insurance, even if just for a short while, reach out to an agent at Maple Mountain Insurance Services, serving the Mapleton, UT area.