Alishahi InsuranceIndependent Insurance Broker
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Who insures it · 4 named markets · read 2026-10-28

Who insures marinas and boat dealers?

Marinas and boat dealers is a risk most standard carriers decline on sight. The markets below say in their own published appetite or program pages that they write it; each line links to that page with the date it was read.

4 markets publicly write marinas and boat dealers: Markel, Great American Insurance Group, RLI, Travelers. 4 admitted carriers. 1 on admitted paper.

By Sam Alishahi, independent insurance broker

The markets

Who says they write it

From each market's own appetite, product or program page (or a trade article quoting it), read on the date shown. Appetites change: the linked page controls. A market listed here isn't necessarily one this agency is appointed with; a licensed broker reaches most of them directly or through a wholesaler.

MarketWhat they say they writeWherePaperSource
Markel
Admitted carrier		Ocean marine for marinas and boat dealers: marine property including boat dealer inventory, building and contents, business income, hull physical damage; page lists 'Marinas and boat dealers' under what it offers
“Markel's ocean marine coverage is recognized as a top insurer of marinas, both in the US and globally.”		not statednot statedmarkel.com · read 2026-10-28
Great American Insurance Group
Admitted carrier		Marina and Boat Dealer program: full-service marinas, boat dealerships, yacht brokerage; marina operators legal liability (bailee), boat dealer physical damage for inventory, yacht brokers legal liability, charterer's legal liability
“Coverage designed to help protect businesses operating marinas, boat dealerships, and related services”		not statednot statedgreatamericaninsurancegroup.com · read 2026-10-28
RLI
Admitted carrier		Marinas, boatyards, boat dealerships, boat repair yards, marina slip rental and mooring, yacht brokerage, yacht clubs; marina operators liability incl. commercial ship repair liability, dealership inventory, marina equipment, yacht broker's liability
“RLI provides tailored property, liability and supplemental coverages for marinas, boatyards, and dealerships.”		Available nationwideAdmittedrlicorp.com · read 2026-10-28
Travelers
Admitted carrier		Ocean marine: marine services suppliers insurance for companies on or around the waterfront, including marinas, boat dealers, boat manufacturers, charterers, ship repairers, terminal operators, stevedores, shipyards, port authorities; also luxury yacht insurance for pleasure craft
“such as ship repairers, terminal operators, boat manufacturers, marinas, wharfingers, charterers, boat dealers, stevedores”		not statednot statedtravelers.com · read 2026-10-28

Intact Ocean Marine marina operators PDF returned 404 and was dropped. Markel's page mentions admitted and non-admitted only in portal descriptions, not for ocean marine.

How marinas and boat dealers gets placed

Standard markets first where any will look at it; when they won't, the placement goes through surplus lines, where a licensed surplus lines broker places it with an eligible non-admitted insurer and files the state's surplus lines tax and stamping forms. In California, risks on the Department of Insurance export list can go to surplus lines without the usual diligent search of admitted carriers. Surplus lines policies aren't backed by a state guaranty fund, so the insurer's financial rating matters more.

What an underwriter will want before quoting: a full description of the operation, years in business and the owners' experience, revenue or payroll, loss runs (five years where available, currently valued), the contracts or venue requirements that set the limits, and photos or safety plans where the hazard is physical.

I'm licensed in 49 states and Washington, DC and your request stays with my agency, not passed to another agent. In Florida, where my licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime.

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