Claims
Hidden damage after a grounding
A boat that comes off a sandbank under its own power and motors home looks fine. Weeks later the keel bolts weep, the rudder bearing has play, or a bulkhead tabbing has cracked. Grounding damage is frequently structural and frequently invisible from the dock.
- Keel-to-hull joint movement, cracking or bolt loading
- Rudder stock bend, bearing damage or skeg cracking
- Bulkhead tabbing failure from shock loading
- Saildrive or shaft alignment and strut damage
- Hull laminate crushing or delamination at the point of contact
- Steering gear damage that only shows under load
Salvage and recovery approval
A boat aground on a falling tide, on rock, or in surf can go from recoverable to total loss in hours. Salvage terms agreed under pressure can be extremely costly. Where it is safe to wait, contact the insurer before committing — most have salvage arrangements and will direct the response.
Navigation and maintenance exclusions
| Issue | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Outside the insured area | Cover may not respond at all, regardless of cause |
| Reef or marine park | Environmental liability can exceed the hull claim |
| Alcohol or fatigue | May engage an exclusion depending on the wording |
| Known hazard, marked on the chart | Rarely fatal to a claim, but will be examined |
| Delayed inspection | Makes causation harder to establish |
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is running aground covered by boat insurance?
Grounding through navigational error is normally an insured event under Australian pleasure craft policies. Cover can still fail on other grounds, such as being outside the insured cruising area.
Should I haul out after a minor grounding?
Yes, if there is any chance of structural contact. Grounding damage is often invisible afloat, and a contemporaneous inspection is the evidence that links later damage to the event.
Related guides
- How to Make a Boat Insurance Claim
- Keel Damage Insurance Claims
- Rudder Damage Insurance Claims
- Salvage and Wreck Removal Insurance
- Navigational Limits in Boat Insurance
- Pollution Liability and Boat Insurance
- Boat Insurance Claims Australia: Incidents and Disputes