Covered for the wipeout: insuring an electric boat

Nobody buys a boat dreaming about the insurance paperwork. But if you own an electric boat, it is worth five minutes of thought before the first session, not after the first wipeout.

Electric boats are not uninsurable. Far from it. But the lithium battery pack draws questions that a petrol engine does not, and a few owners have found that out the hard way.

We read what insurers and safety bodies say, so you know what to have ready.

Why batteries get attention: the set wave

Insurers worry about fire. Lithium batteries rarely fail, but when a damaged or badly installed one does, the fire can spread fast.

Pantaenius, a large yacht insurer, says electric boats bring unique challenges for insurance and that lithium systems often mean cover needs adapting. It cites a fully electric yacht that had difficulty securing insurance because of its lithium battery system (Pantaenius).

That is the exception, not the rule, but it shows why paperwork matters.

Professional vs DIY: who wired the quiver

The single biggest factor is who installed the battery system.

Pantaenius says insurers prefer modifications and repairs to be carried out by professionals, and that the insurer assesses whether work was done by certified professionals to industry standards (Pantaenius).

One owner who converted his own boat to electric found that several insurers wanted a surveyor's report before considering cover, and that lithium batteries fitted by amateurs required a comprehensive review of the battery system by a qualified professional (Practical Boat Owner). He got cover in the end, after a survey and a few safety additions.

Tell your insurer: don't drop in uninvited

If you fit, change or upgrade a lithium battery system, tell your insurer first.

The Boat Safety Scheme is blunt about it: you must tell your insurer about an installed lithium battery system, or risk being left uninsured in the event of an incident (BSS).

The same applies to a new motor, a bigger battery bank or a change in how and where you charge.

What to have ready: your boat's CV

Make your boat easy to say yes to. Have these ready:

• Installation details. Who fitted the system, when, and to what standard.
• Battery and charger specs. Maker, model, capacity and chemistry.
• Maintenance records. Pantaenius calls a well-documented maintenance history "a CV for your boat".
• A recent survey, especially for custom or modified boats.
• Safety equipment. Smoke alarms, extinguishers and escape routes that meet current standards.

Questions to ask the insurer: read the conditions

Before you sign, ask:

1. Is the battery covered as part of the boat, and at what value?
2. Are there conditions on where and how I charge?
3. Does cover change if the boat is stored ashore with the battery removed?
4. Am I covered when towing the boat or transporting batteries?
5. Which waters and countries does the policy cover?

Our verdict: paperwork beats panic

So, is insuring an electric boat a problem? Rarely, if you are prepared. Factory-built boats and professional installations usually go through without fuss.

Home conversions take more work: a survey, a professional review of the battery system and honest disclosure. Do that, and most insurers will find a way to cover you.

Read our guide to battery safety and fire on board, which covers the safety kit insurers like to see.