Does Boat Insurance Cover Blown Engine?

Whether boat insurance covers a blown engine mainly depends on how it happened. If it’s due to an accident, or unexpected incident such as fire, or natural disasters such as a severe storm, then your boat insurance will cover it.  

However, if your boat’s engine stopped working due to negligence of proper maintenance, gradual wear and tear, manufacturer's defects, reckless boating, or pre-existing conditions, your boat insurance won’t cover the blown engine.  

Understanding the difference can save you from costly surprises. So, without further ado, this article explains particular circumstances when boat insurance covers a blown engine and when it doesn’t.  

When Does Boat Insurance Cover a Blown Engine?

Your boat insurance may cover a blown engine if the damage occurs in an accident or results from an unexpected event beyond your control, such as a collision, fire, or weather conditions. These situations are generally considered covered events under most policies. 

Here’s a detailed breakdown of accidental damages and unprecedented incidents in which boat insurance pays for blown engine repairs or replacement. 

If you’re looking for a reliable insurance agency offering the cheapest boat insurance policy to cover a blown engine, you should explore our wide range of boat insurance solutions.

Accidental Damage

The standard boat insurance will cover accidental damage to repair or replace your boat’s engine up to the policy’s coverage limits. Now, if you’re at fault for the accident, then the liability coverage will pay the expenses to repair the other boater’s engine.  

On the other hand, if your boat gets damaged due to an accidental collision, whether it’s due to hitting an object like underwater rocks or another boat, the collision insurance coverage will pay for your boat’s engine repair and replacement cost.  

Additionally, the boat collision insurance will also cover any repair or replacement costs if your boat’s engine gets damaged due to any accidental impact while it’s docked or parked at the harbor or in a safe location.    

Unexpected Events

Even if your boat is safely docked at the harbor, it can get damaged due to many unexpected events that are beyond your control. These unexpected events may include accidents like a fire outbreak, extreme weather conditions like a severe storm, acts of vandalism, or criminal activities such as theft or piracy.  

So, if your boat’s engine gets damaged due to these unprecedented events, the comprehensive boat insurance coverage will pay for its repair and replacement expenses up to your policy’s coverage limits.    

Read More: What Does Boat Insurance Cover and Not Cover?

When Boat Insurance Does Not Cover a Blown Engine?

There are circumstances where your boat insurance coverage may not cover a blown engine. Typically, the engine is the most expensive part of the boat. So, before purchasing a boat insurance policy, it is crucial to understand the following exclusions.  

Wear and Tear

Typically, the main purpose of boat insurance is to provide financial security and backup from accidents, not to cover routine upkeep. So, if your boat’s engine gets damaged due to gradual wear and tear, it clearly demonstrates negligence on your part, especially for skipping required or routine maintenance.   

Reckless Boating

If you indulge in reckless boating activities like unnecessarily speeding, pulling dangerous stunts, or piloting the vessel under the influence of alcohol or any mind-altering substance, leading to a blown engine, there’s a high chance that your boat insurance policy won’t cover it.  

This is mainly because these reckless boating activities show deliberate actions that can lead to an accident, and most importantly, they also violate the policy’s terms and conditions, where you’re obligated to cruise safely and responsibly.    

Manufacturer’s Defects

Once you file a boat insurance claim, your insurer will investigate it to determine whether you’re eligible for the coverage under the agreed terms and conditions. So, upon investigation, if the insurer finds that the engine damage is due to manufacturing defects, your boat insurance policy won’t cover the damage.  

In this case, you will have to claim your boat’s warranty if it's available and still valid. If not, then you’d have no option but to fund the engine’s repair and replacement costs out-of-pocket.    

Pre-Existing Conditions

If your boat had any pre-existing conditions before your boat insurance policy came into effect, which have developed over time, resulting in a blown engine, there’s a high chance that your boat insurance policy won’t cover it.  

For example, if your boat’s engine was partially damaged in an accident before you bought coverage and it later deteriorated to the point of failure, the insurer would classify it as a pre-existing condition and refuse to pay for repairs or replacement.

Read Also: Does Boat Insurance Cover Sinking?

Types of Boat Insurance Policy that Cover a Blown Engine

Not all boat insurance policies cover engine damage; in fact, only certain types provide financial protection if your engine fails due to a covered event. If you want coverage for a blown engine, consider the following policy options. 

• Comprehensive Coverage: Protects against non-collision events like fire, theft, or storm damage that may affect the engine.   
• Collision Coverage: Pays for engine repairs or replacement if damaged in a collision with another vessel or object.   
• Mechanical Breakdown Coverage: Optional add-on coverage for sudden, accidental engine failures that are not caused by wear and tear.   
• Extended Engine Coverage: Broadens protection to include more engine components and scenarios beyond standard policies.   
• On-Water Boat Towing Coverage: Covers towing and assistance costs if your boat becomes disabled on the water.

Final Remarks: Does Boat Insurance Cover a Blown Engine? 

Yes, boat insurance does cover a blown engine, but only for accidents and unexpected events like theft and natural disasters. Just like any standard insurance policy, boat insurance has common exclusions such as wear and tear, reckless boating, manufacturer’s defect, and pre-existing conditions. 

Moreover, only a few types of boat insurance policies cover a blown engine, which includes liability coverage, comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, mechanical breakdown coverage, extended engine coverage, and on-water boat towing coverage.  

Remember, the engine is the boat’s most expensive part, and repairing it can be very costly. In general, the cost range of repairing or replacing a boat’s engine is $500 to $20,000 on average. For large boats, the cost can even extend from over $66,000 to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the boat’s size, type, and the price of the engine. 

So, to protect your finances and to avoid a hefty financial loss, it is essential to ensure having boat insurance that covers a blown engine. If you need guidance or consultation to determine the right coverage options within your budget, you can fill out the contact form to get a free quote, or you can use our online portal to find an agent nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does boat insurance cover a cracked engine block? 

Yes, boat insurance covers a cracked engine, but only if it gets damaged in an accident and unexpected events such as theft, fire outbreak, or natural disasters. 

What to do if your boat's engine blows and you still owe money? 

If you have inadequate insurance coverage, then you will either have to pay out of pocket to cover the boat’s engine repair cost or consider selling it as a salvage product at a cheaper price.  

Is a blown boat engine repairable? 

Yes, a blown boat engine is repairable, but that depends on the extent of damage and the availability of the required spare parts. However, in most cases, severe damage often requires replacing the boat’s engine.  

Can you do an insurance claim on a boat’s blown engine?  

Yes, you can claim insurance on a boat’s blown engine, but if the damage is a policy exclusion, such as gradual wear and tear, reckless boating activities, manufacturer defects or pre-existing conditions, then your claim may get denied.