Claims
Checking whether a tender is insured
| Arrangement | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Included in the vessel sum insured | Covered, but only if it was declared and valued |
| Listed as a specified item | Covered to the stated amount; check it is current |
| Covered only while attached to the parent vessel | No cover when tied to a jetty ashore — the common gap |
| Under a tender sub-limit | Often well below replacement cost with outboard |
| Not mentioned at all | Assume not covered and ask the question now |
Tender security and locking conditions
- The tender secured to the parent vessel or to a fixed structure with a cable or chain lock, not just a painter.
- The outboard locked to the transom with a purpose-made bracket lock.
- The tender lifted on davits or aboard overnight where the policy requires it.
- Hull identification number recorded and, where applicable, the tender registered.
- Serial numbers of the outboard recorded and held ashore.
Evidence for a stolen tender claim
- A police report with a reference number, made promptly.
- Proof of ownership: purchase invoice, or a bill of sale if bought used.
- Serial and hull identification numbers for the tender and the outboard.
- Photographs showing the tender, the outboard and the security arrangements in use.
- A statement of where it was, how it was secured and when it was last seen.
- Notification to the marina or harbour authority, which sometimes recovers them.
Tender valuation and settlement limits
A tender sub-limit set when the boat was insured five years ago rarely reflects what a comparable RIB and outboard cost today, and market-value settlement on an inflatable is unkind: hypalon and PVC tubes are treated as having a finite life. Check the figure at each renewal, count the outboard, and consider specifying the tender and outboard separately if the sub-limit is low.
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
- Outboard Motor Theft Claims
- Boat Theft Insurance Claims Australia
- Boat Insurance Sum Insured: Choosing Your Vessel Value
- RIB and Tender Insurance Australia
- 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.