Increasingly marinas are requiring evidence of liability insurance for overnight guest moorage for recreational boaters. A number of marinas in British Columbia are requiring liability insurance limits that are often higher than most boat insurance policies. In the past, the upper required limit was $2 million and some of these marinas are considering raising the limit to $3 million in 2025. The trend for marinas to request proof of liability insurance emerged in 2024. Some marinas are still at $1 or $2-million, however, the future trend may require evidence of $3 million for liability coverage, especially for super yachts.
How to meet marina liability insurance requirements? You can request your boat insurer to increase your liability coverage, which would of course increase premiums. Alternatively, you can use your vessel’s liability coverage along with an Umbrella Policy to fulfill liability limits. The Umbrella Policy should name your boat’s underlying policy. The combination of these two policies is normally accepted as proof of liability coverage at marinas.
Be sure to carry copies of your insurance declaration pages. To show evidence of liability coverage, you may be asked to list the insurance underwriter, policy start/end dates, and coverage limits.
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