Boat & Marine Dealer Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a boat & marine dealer business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for boat and PWC dealers, service yards, and dealer-operated marinas. Priorities reflect typical exposure; confirm against storage and marina operations.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Dealer Inventory / Physical Damage | Covers boats in inventory on land and afloat, including at shows and sea trials. | Core | |
| Marina Operators Legal Liability | Covers customers' boats in storage, service, or slips — auto garagekeepers doesn't fit vessels. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers premises, dock, and yard injuries. | Core | |
| Protection & Indemnity (P&I) | Covers liability from operating boats during sea trials and demos. | Prevalent | |
| Pollution Liability | Covers fuel spills at docks and in the yard. | Situational | |
| Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation | May apply to employees working over water — often missing from state WC. | Situational | |
| Commercial Property (Storage Buildings) | Covers dry-stack and service buildings. | Core |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed gap for this class is coverage for customers' boats in the dealer's care. Auto-dealer garagekeepers forms don't fit vessels, and marina fires spread boat to boat — NTSB found a 2020 Alabama marina fire killed eight people and destroyed 35 vessels. Dealers need marina operators legal liability sized to the most boats stored at once, plus a written fire plan, bans on heaters and lightbulbs in stored boats, and hot-work permits.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your boat & marine dealer coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Boat & Marine Dealer Insurance · Boat & Marine Dealer Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a boat & marine dealer business need?
The core coverages for a boat & marine dealer business are Marine Dealer Inventory / Physical Damage, Marina Operators Legal Liability, Commercial General Liability, Commercial Property (Storage Buildings). This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my boat & marine dealer coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.