Watercraft Insurance

Redwood Insurance Brokers makes watercraft (pleasurecraft) insurance clear and practical for Kiwi boaties. We’ll help you cover your boat, sailboat, or jet ski and the gear that goes with it, explain what’s included (and what’s not) in plain English, and match the policy to how you actually use it: on the water, on the trailer, and in storage. If you ever need to claim, we’re in your corner to help drive it through.

Why watercraft insurance matters

Boats, sailboats, and jet skis are a lot of fun, but often expensive to repair or replace. Damage can happen at speed, at the ramp, in storage, in a storm, or while towing. And when something goes wrong, you don’t just lose a craft, you lose weekends, trips, and a big chunk of budget.

The right cover helps you bounce back from accidents, storm damage, theft, vandalism, and liability, depending on your policy and its structure.

What we help with

We can help you organise cover for:

  • Boats, launches, sailboats and personal watercraft (jet skis)

  • Hull and machinery (damage to the craft itself)

  • Trailer cover (included vs separate varies by policy)

  • Outboards and engines (theft and damage conditions matter)

  • Masts, rigging and sails (cover, limits and exclusions vary)

  • Marine liability (damage to other boats/property and injury claims where relevant)

  • On-water and off-water risks (at the ramp, on the trailer, in storage)

  • Gear and accessories (electronics, fishing gear, safety equipment, availability and limits vary)

  • Optional extras depending on insurer and craft type (salvage, towing assistance, consequential loss and more)

We’ll talk through how you use it and what would hurt most to replace, then recommend cover that fits your risk and budget.

Free insurance review

On-water, on the trailer, in storage (three different risk zones)

Many claims occur when the craft isn’t even on the water: reversing at the ramp, trailer accidents, theft from storage, storm damage, or vandalism.

Plain-English takeaway: we make sure your cover matches the full lifecycle of owning a watercraft, not just the fun bit.

The “gotchas” we look for

This is where a broker earns their keep. We check for:

  • Agreed value vs market value (what you’ll actually be paid if it’s written off)

  • Use and territory restrictions (where you can take the craft and when)

  • Racing and high-risk activity exclusions (including club racing, varies by insurer)

  • Skipper requirements (experience, licensing where relevant, alcohol exclusions, named operators)

  • Security and theft conditions (locks, tracking, storage requirements)

  • Maintenance and seaworthiness expectations (poor maintenance can cause claim issues)

  • Trailer cover assumptions (not always automatic, sometimes limited)

  • Gear and electronics limits (items may need to be specified or have sub-limits)

  • Rigging, sails and mast damage rules (what counts as accidental damage vs wear-and-tear, and what needs to be specified)

  • Gradual damage and corrosion exclusions (saltwater reality check)

If there’s a gap, we’ll tell you straight and explain your options.

How Redwood does it differently

Independent
We compare options across insurers and recommend the best match for your situation.

Advice, not just a quote
We explain any your cover in plain English so you can choose confidently.

A sharper risk lens
We look for gaps, overlaps, and exclusions that can bite later.

Claims advocacy
If you need to claim, we’re in your corner, helping drive it through to a fair outcome.

Fast-moving
You deal with people who can make progress, not a maze of corporate handoffs.

Our process (simple, on purpose)

  1. Quick chat: what you own, how you live, what you want protected

  2. Review: we check your current cover (or start fresh)

  3. Recommendations: clear options, clear trade-offs

  4. Placement: we organise the policy and confirm key details

  5. Ongoing support: updates, changes, renewals, and claims help

If you need to claim

When something goes wrong, the last thing you need is to become a part-time claims manager.
We help you:

  • understand what to do first

  • lodge and progress the claim

  • provide the right info without overcomplicating it

  • keep momentum with the insurer and other parties

FAQ’s

  • It can cover damage to the craft, theft, storm damage, and liability, but cover varies a lot by insurer and craft type. We’ll explain what’s included and what isn’t.

  • Not always. Some policies include it, some treat it separately, and limits/conditions vary.

  • Often yes, especially if you’re around other boats, ramps, marinas, or towing skiers. We’ll help you choose a sensible limit.

  • Often yes, but conditions can apply. We’ll confirm how your policy responds across storage, towing, and on-water use.

  • Usually not if it’s gradual or maintenance-related. We’ll talk you through how policies treat saltwater wear and gradual damage.

  • Yes. We can arrange cover for sailboats, including consideration for masts, rigging and sails. Cover and limits vary by insurer and policy wording, so we’ll confirm what’s included and what needs to be specified.

  • No. We also help with homes, vehicles, businesses and specialist risks. This page is focused on NZ pleasurecraft and watercraft cover.

Want a free second opinion on your watercraft insurance?


Bring your current policy (or just tell us what you want covered). We’ll review it, explain what matters, and show you options.

Free insurance review