Claims
Mooring components and failure points
| Component | Failure mode | Inspection reality |
|---|---|---|
| Ground chain at the block | Wear and corrosion where it lies on the bottom | Requires lifting; most commonly skipped |
| Swivel | Seizes then fatigues | Needs inspection out of the water |
| Riser chain | Wastage at the top links | Visible on a lift, invisible from the boat |
| Shackles and pins | Pin backs out, or the shackle wastes | Should be moused; often are not |
| Strop and pick-up line | Ultraviolet degradation and chafe | The item most often left in place too long |
| Bow fitting and cleat on the vessel | Pulls out of the deck under shock load | Owner's responsibility regardless of mooring type |
Mooring ownership and maintenance duties
- A licensed private mooring is yours to maintain, and the licence usually says so and states the inspection interval.
- A club or marina mooring is maintained by the operator, but their terms will normally limit their liability — and your insurer may still ask you for the inspection record.
- A pile berth or marina berth shifts the question to the lines, the springs and the snubbers, which are yours.
- A visitor or courtesy mooring has an unknown history, which is a reason not to leave a boat on one unattended in deteriorating weather.
Mooring precautions before storms
- Double up the mooring lines and add a second strop to a separate bow fitting.
- Fit chafe protection wherever a line passes over a fairlead or a bow roller.
- Remove headsails, covers, biminis and anything that adds windage.
- Lash the boom and secure the halyards.
- Check the bilge pump and battery before you leave the boat.
- Photograph the boat and its mooring arrangement, dated, before the weather arrives.
Evidence after dragging or breaking free
Recover the remains of the mooring gear if at all possible — the failed link, shackle or strop is the evidence of what happened and whether it was fit. Photograph the failure surfaces before anything is cleaned. Record the wind and sea state from the Bureau of Meteorology for the location, and get the inspection report and the mooring licence in front of the insurer with the notification rather than after the assessor asks.
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
- Storm and Cyclone Boat Insurance Claims Australia
- Lost Anchor and Ground Tackle Claims
- Swing Mooring Boat Insurance Australia
- Grounding Boat Insurance Claims Australia
- Product Disclosure Statement Guide for Boat Insurance
- Boat Insurance Requirements Finder Australia
- Marina Insurance Requirements Checklist
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.