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Yacht insurance specialists
for over 50 years

With over 50 years' marine insurance experience, Yachtmaster has built a reputation for excellent service and expertise in pleasure craft and marine trades insurance. 

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Specialist marine insurance broker

For over 50 years Yachtmaster Insurance has been providing specialist boat insurance to the marine pleasure craft community. The experience and expertise we have gained allows us to find solutions for almost any marine insurance requirement.

Yachtmaster has access to a wide range of solutions from across the boat insurance and marine trades insurance markets. Using our expertise we are able to find competitive marine insurance solutions from the every day cruising yacht to the more unusual risks.

Yachtmaster founder, Max Burgess, started providing yacht insurance in Boston, Lincolnshire in 1969 as Sydney Burgess and Partners. In 2003 Yachtmaster was born and has since earned an enviable reputation in the marine pleasure craft insurance market. In recent years we have expanded our range of marine insurance products to include commercial marine trades insurance. 

Yachtmaster works with you to find the right solution from our panel of insurance providers. Our philosophy is always to ensure we get the right cover for your needs whilst always endeavouring to keep premiums at a reasonable level.

In 2023 Yachtmaster Insurance became part of the Noble Insurance Group, a privately owned group of specialist insurance providers and also proud owners of Noble Marine Insurance, specialist boat insurance provider.

To get a quote call us on 01394 615755 or Get a Quote online

Marine Insurance FAQs

Most importantly, boat insurance will provide you with third party liability cover if you were to cause damage to other people’s property or injury to another person.

In addition Comprehensive boat insurance can provide you with financial protection if your boat is involved in an accident, stolen or damaged by fire or storm.

Boat insurance is not actually a legal requirement in the UK however most marinas, harbours and in recognised mooring areas require evidence of third party boat insurance.

Most lakes and reservoirs require the same, and you will need to produce proof of third party boat insurance to obtain an inland waterways licence. Also most organised events such as racing will require evidence of liability cover.

In addition to third party liability cover most people will want to insure their boat for damage including from fire or theft to protect their investment and ensure that they are able to stay on the water as much as possible. 

It is important to make sure that your boat insurance is adequate for your needs, and not to forget additional equipment such as trailers, trolleys and safety equipment that can be easily overlooked and are often costly to replace. Most accessories and equipment that is specific to your boating activities can be covered by boat insurance if you opt to include them. Boat insurance will usually cover:

  • Accidental Damage
  • Fire or Explosion
  • Theft or Attempted Theft
  • Malicious Damage / Vandalism
  • Storm Damage
  • Your liability for damage or injury to other parties

Boat insurance policies generally do not cover:

  • Wear, tear, depreciation, gradual deterioration e.g. corrosion or electrolysis
  • Mechanical breakdown
  • Damaged deliberately caused by you
  • Faulty workmanship

Boat Insurance cover and exclusions will vary between insurance providers so it is important that you review your policy wording, schedule and Insurance Product Information Documents as soon as you receive them

It is also a condition of many boat insurance policies that your boat is maintained correctly and in a seaworthy condition. Whilst it is important to ensure your boat insurance policy will be valid in the event of a claim, this is also good practice to ensure that you and your passengers and/or crew are safe when on the water. It is important to ensure that all systems of a boat are checked and, as necessary, maintained in accordance with manufacturers guidelines or generally acknowledged best practice. If you are unsure it is worth getting professional advice from a yard or surveyor.

This depends on the type of boat, who’s using it, where it is being used and what it's being used for. Small craft cover like dinghy insurance starts from around £40 per year and smaller yachts a few hundred pounds.

Yachtmaster can provide boat insurance for most types of pleasure craft including:

  • Canal boat Insurance
  • Motor Cruiser Insurance
  • Motorboat Insurance
  • Narrowboat Insurance
  • RIB Insurance
  • Speedboat Insurance
  • Yacht Insurance
  • Charter Yacht Insurance
  • Dutch Barge Insurance
  • Widebeam Insurance

We will ask where a boat is going be used when we obtain quotes for you. This is normally referred to as the boat's cruising range. Where possible it is better to share plans for the year ahead when getting a quote or renewing a policy so that we can secure the best terms for you.

We can arrange racing cover for most sailing craft. The cost and cover will depend on the type of race and the type of craft you have.

If you sell your boat and replace it with a new or different boat then you can keep the same policy and simply swap the boat insurance over. There may be an additional premium if the new boat is of a higher value, or deemed a higher risk by your insurance provider.