Claims
Lost anchor and ground tackle scenarios
| Situation | Usual treatment |
|---|---|
| Anchor fouled and slipped to save the vessel | Often covered, and may fall under sue and labour |
| Rode parted in heavy weather | Turns on the condition and age of the rode |
| Chain or shackle failure from corrosion | Wear, generally excluded |
| Windlass clutch failure running the chain out | Mechanical breakdown; check the wording |
| Anchor lost with no identifiable cause | Difficult; mysterious disappearance wording may apply |
| Anchor stolen from the bow roller | Theft, subject to security conditions and evidence |
| Ground tackle lost when the vessel dragged and grounded | Usually part of the larger grounding claim |
Anchor equipment condition
Chain and shackles are consumables. Galvanising fails, links wear at the contact points, and a swivel is only as good as its weakest pin. Where the rode parted, the assessor will look at the failed end: a clean fracture at a worn link supports gradual deterioration; a shackle pin that has backed out supports something else entirely. Keep the recovered end of the rode.
Recording an anchor loss
- Mark and record the position, so the gear can be recovered if practical — recovery is usually cheaper than replacement.
- Buoy the anchor before slipping it if there is any time to do so.
- Photograph the remaining rode end and the bow gear before anything is cut or tidied.
- Record the conditions: wind, sea state, how long you had been anchored, how much scope was out.
- Notify the insurer and ask whether recovery costs are recoverable.
Anchor cover limits and excesses
- Whether ground tackle is insured as part of the vessel or under a separate equipment limit.
- Whether there is a sub-limit specifically for anchors and chain.
- Whether depreciation is applied to chain by age.
- Whether a second anchor and rode stowed aboard is covered.
- Whether the windlass is treated as machinery, with a breakdown exclusion attached.
Read the wording before you need it
Almost every disputed marine claim turns on a definition, an exclusion or a condition the owner had never read. The PDS guide explains which sections decide claims.
Related guides
- Boat Insurance Claims Australia: Incidents and Disputes
- Mooring Failure and Dragging Claims
- Storm and Cyclone Boat Insurance Claims Australia
- Grounding Boat Insurance Claims Australia
- Boat Insurance Exclusions Explained
- Product Disclosure Statement Guide for Boat Insurance
General information onlyThe information on sailboatinsurance.com.au is general educational information only. It may be wrong, incomplete or out of date, and you should not rely on it as a substitute for the current policy documents or professional advice. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and is not personal financial product advice. Insurance cover depends on the actual policy wording, Product Disclosure Statement, certificate of insurance, endorsements, exclusions, limits, sub-limits and underwriting decisions that apply to your vessel. Always read the current policy documents before buying, renewing or changing cover. For legal, financial or insurance advice about your own circumstances, consider speaking with an appropriately licensed professional.