Boat Insurance Coverage: Lower Unit Protection With Progressive

Progressive Boat Insurance offers a wide range of coverage options for boat owners, including protection against physical damage and liability coverage in the event of causing damage or injuries to others while boating. One of the key benefits of Progressive's boat insurance is its optional Sign & Glide® on-water towing coverage, which provides assistance with jump-starts, soft un-groundings, and fuel delivery if your boat breaks down on the water. Additionally, they offer mechanical breakdown coverage called Propulsion Plus®, which covers the repair or replacement of the lower unit of an outboard motor or the upper and lower units of an inboard/outboard motor in the event of a mechanical breakdown, even if it's due to general wear and tear. This coverage starts at a low price of $38 per year.

Progressive's Propulsion Plus® mechanical breakdown coverage

For as little as \$38 per year, you can add this coverage to your policy and have peace of mind knowing that you're protected in the event of a mechanical issue with your boat's motor. This coverage is especially useful for older boats, as it ensures that you won't be left stranded on the water due to a mechanical failure.

The Propulsion Plus® coverage is ideal for boat owners who want the added security of knowing that their boat's motor is protected, even if it's beyond the typical warranty period. It's important to note that this coverage does not apply to jet drives or inboard motors.

By adding the Propulsion Plus® mechanical breakdown coverage to your Progressive boat insurance policy, you can rest assured that you won't be faced with unexpected repair or replacement costs for your boat's motor. This coverage option demonstrates Progressive's commitment to providing comprehensive and customizable insurance solutions for boat owners, ensuring that they can enjoy their time on the water with added peace of mind.

Comprehensive and collision coverage

These coverages are often referred to as "insurance," but they are actually add-ons to a boat insurance policy rather than separate types of insurance. They are not required by state law, but they are typically required by lenders if you are financing your boat or keeping it at a marina. If you own your boat outright, these coverages are considered optional.

If you carry comprehensive and collision coverage, Progressive will pay what it costs to return your watercraft to its pre-accident condition or better. For example, if you hit a submerged object and damage your 10-year-old motor, which is valued at $3,000 but costs $8,000 to replace, Progressive will cover the replacement cost, saving you $5,000 in depreciation.

Additionally, Progressive offers optional Propulsion Plus® mechanical breakdown coverage, which includes the lower unit of an outboard motor. This coverage can repair or replace the lower unit, even if the breakdown is caused by general wear and tear. It starts at $38/year and does not apply to jet drives or inboard motors.

Fuel spill coverage

Progressive's boat insurance also covers wreckage removal if your boat sinks. However, they will only remove your sunken boat if it is legally required. For instance, if your old boat sinks while docked, the Coast Guard may require you to remove the wreckage and address any fuel spills. In this case, Progressive will cover the costs up to your policy's property damage liability limits.

In addition to fuel spill coverage, Progressive's boat insurance offers comprehensive and collision coverage, liability coverage, uninsured/underinsured boater coverage, medical payments coverage, fishing equipment and carry-on items coverage, and more. Comprehensive coverage protects your watercraft from events outside your control, such as theft, vandalism, fires, hurricanes, and other weather-related issues. Collision coverage pays for damage to your boat if you collide with another watercraft or object, regardless of fault.

You can also add optional coverages to your Progressive boat insurance policy, such as Sign & Glide® on-water towing, which provides towing assistance, fuel delivery, jump starts, and soft ungroundings if your boat is disabled on the water.

Wreckage removal

Progressive boat insurance covers wreckage removal if your boat sinks. This is automatically included in every Progressive boat insurance policy. Progressive will cover the bills up to your policy's property damage liability limit. However, Progressive will only remove your sunken boat if it is legally required.

For example, if your boat sinks while docked, the Coast Guard may require you to remove the wreckage and address any fuel spills. In this case, Progressive will cover the costs.

Progressive also covers fuel spills, no matter how they happen. For instance, if your boat sinks in open water and discharges fuel, Progressive will pay to clean up the fuel and mitigate damages, up to your policy's limits.

Progressive's standard boat insurance coverage includes full replacement cost, bodily injury & property damage liability (BI/PD), water sports coverage, and optional boat insurance coverages such as total loss replacement, Sign & Glide® on-water towing, fishing equipment or carry-on items coverage, and Propulsion Plus® mechanical breakdown coverage.

On-water towing

Progressive's Sign & Glide® On-Water Towing coverage is an optional service that costs $30/year in all states except Florida ($50/year). It covers on-water towing, jump starts, soft un-groundings, and fuel delivery if your boat is disabled on the water.

Here's how it works:

• On-Water Towing: If your boat breaks down on the water, Progressive will arrange and pay for a licensed tow operator to tow your boat to the nearest point of repair or removal.
• Jump Starts: If your boat's battery is dead or too weak, Progressive will arrange for a jump start.
• Fuel Delivery: Progressive will arrange for the delivery of gasoline, oil, or other fluids if you run out of fuel on the water.
• Soft Ungrounding Assistance: If your boat/PWC is surrounded by water on all sides and is in a stable and safe condition, Progressive will provide assistance to refloat your vessel.

To request these services, you can call Progressive's dispatch center or use the Sign & Glide app on your smartphone. With the app, you can also monitor weather conditions, check tide forecasts, and share your precise location with the dispatch center if you're lost on the water.

It's important to note that Sign & Glide does not cover disentanglements that require a diver. Additionally, if you arrange services without going through Progressive's dispatch center, reimbursement is available with limits of $250 per hour or $3,000 per disablement.

Frequently asked questions