DO NOT INSURE YOUR BOAT WITH PROGRESSIVE

bfernald0

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2020
407
Marina del Rey, California
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2001
Engines
8.2L Mercruiser ECT Horizons
All:

I'm presently fighting with Progressive over a prop strike on a 340 Sundancer that broke the propeller shaft. They now twice denied the claim. As a lawyer, I plan to sue them out of principal. I will be updating this thread with pictures, etc. Through this process, however, I have come to learn from multiple folks in the know, in the marine industry that Progressive is the WORST insurer out there in terms of refusing to pay on claims. I had to sign up with a new insurer at the last minute after I purchased a boat with length over my last insurer's limit. My broker recommended Progressive, because it didn't require a survey and could be placed very quickly. What I should have realized was that this undoubtedly means that Progressive does its 'underwriting' at the claims stage. In other words, they're happy to place a policy without a survey and collect the premium, but good luck when it comes to getting a claim paid.

In any event, I'll be updating this with pictures and the back and forth. In addition to fighting with Progressive, I'm cancelling my policy with them and moving it to another insurer--that requires a survey up front.

Do not get suckered by the low up front premium and no survey requirement. If you have a claim, Progressive will fight it tooth and nail.

Brandon
 
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You're a lawyer and didn't read the limits of your policy, but plan to sue anyway? You must really hate your time/money!

Were I in your shoes (which I was exactly in your shoes last summer) I'd be more pissed off about your marina than your insurance company. A good marina should be well versed in how to manage claims on old boats in such a way that minimizes the pain of their paying customer. They screwed you (I'm assuming/projecting) while Progressive is giving you exactly what you paid for.

EDIT: I should have said that I'm assuming they are denying your claim due to age of the boat/components. If it's something other than that I suspect reviewing the limits of your policy may have made no difference. :)
 
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Do you have a chart plotter that records your courses. When we had damage to the hull we were asked for our location at the time of the incident. I do not know the law but if you were off course you may not be able to claim. All our policies we have stated we must have a plotted course in order to file a claim. From 2000 to 2009 they required a paper print out to be on board before we left port.
 
In spite of opinions from the yard manager (40 years experience), the iron works that replaced the shaft (40 years of experience), and the mechanic (40 years of experience), that the damage to the propeller, shaft, etc. were consistent with the propeller striking a submerged object, Progressive sent an adjuster out who spent all of about 5 minutes inspecting the shaft, and thereafter Progressive determined that the shaft broke as a result of 'metal fatigue.' Unfortunately, every one of these folks told me that Progressive will find any reason they can to deny marine claims--that is what they are known for in the industry apparently. I then retained the services of a surveyor, who confirmed that all indications were a propeller strike on a submerged object. They've now come back with their own surveyor, who now claims it was a 'loose' shaft coupling or something, that caused the break.

This is not a huge claim relatively speaking, but it seems that Progressive intends to put their money into fighting the claim rather than paying it. I bring this to folks' attention, not so much because of my particular claim, but because literally every marine professional I've talked to about this--as soon as I mention Progressive is the insurer--I get an 'ugh' and a 'good luck getting them to pay anything.'
 
Do you have a chart plotter that records your courses. When we had damage to the hull we were asked for our location at the time of the incident. I do not know the law but if you were off course you may not be able to claim. All our policies we have stated we must have a plotted course in order to file a claim. From 2000 to 2009 they required a paper print out to be on board before we left port.
I have AIS. Provided them with track. Was in open water (200 plus feet), when the boat dropped of plane suddenly. A bunch of wood debris was in the wake. No thrust on the port engine. Ended up being a broken shaft, damaged propeller, etc.
 
I'm not sure any insurance company happily pays claims. I have had Boat US now GEICO for 30 years and never made a claim. I had an incident similar to the OP of striking a submerged log at cruise. It destroyed the prop, bent the shaft and the strut as well as cracking the strut pad on the hull of the boat. I'm sure Boat US would have covered it but the yard that was going to do the hull repair cautioned me about the insurance process. They said that given the damage, an insurance company would send not only an adjuster but would need to schedule a hull survey with a marine engineer. They said that every single time this repair shows up ......the boat sits on the hard for at least six months sometimes longer. Then they pointed out several boats that were on the hard waiting for an okay from an insurance company to proceed with a similar repair.

In the end, I sourced the shaft, prop and had the strut repaired. I hired the yard to rebuild the strut pad which is a repair they frequently do and because I was paying cash for the fiberglass work.....I went to the front of line. Even then the boat was out of the water for a month.

At some point you just do the math and see that using your insurance will cost you in a lot of ways most people don't think about: Haul out, Blocking, storage fees, wasted slip fees, deductible and the loss of a boating season. Trading a season of boating just isn't worth $4k....at least for me.
 
I'm not sure any insurance company happily pays claims. I have had Boat US now GEICO for 30 years and never made a claim. I had an incident similar to the OP of striking a submerged log at cruise. It destroyed the prop, bent the shaft and the strut as well as cracking the strut pad on the hull of the boat. I'm sure Boat US would have covered it but the yard that was going to do the hull repair cautioned me about the insurance process. They said that given the damage, an insurance company would send not only an adjuster but would need to schedule a hull survey with a marine engineer. They said that every single time this repair shows up ......the boat sits on the hard for at least six months sometimes longer. Then they pointed out several boats that were on the hard waiting for an okay from an insurance company to proceed with a similar repair.

In the end, I sourced the shaft, prop and had the strut repaired. I hired the yard to rebuild the strut pad which is a repair they frequently do and because I was paying cash for the fiberglass work.....I went to the front of line. Even then the boat was out of the water for a month.

At some point you just do the math and see that using your insurance will cost you in a lot of ways most people don't think about: Haul out, Blocking, storage fees, wasted slip fees, deductible and the loss of a boating season. Trading a season of boating just isn't worth $4k....at least for me.
same reason i carry a high deductible.
 
There are other reasons to never insure anything with Progressive. Since disclosing that may violate forum rules, I'll leave it to the reader to do their own research.

In really like their commercials, and think Flo is cute, but they won't get any of my money ever.

Boat US IMHO is the best marine insurance, at least in the state where I live.
 
Progressive offers propulsion plus coverage. $60 a year and all in water mechanicals are covered even if wear and tear. Eliminates the argument.
 
Not at all surprising. What other industry has a business model that is conflicting like an insurance company?
 
same reason i carry a high deductible.
There are other reasons to never insure anything with Progressive. Since disclosing that may violate forum rules, I'll leave it to the reader to do their own research.

In really like their commercials, and think Flo is cute, but they won't get any of my money ever.

Boat US IMHO is the best marine insurance, at least in the state where I live.

Yes, I am told Boat US is very good, as is Travelers, AIG and Chubb. Am in the process of cancelling progressive and moving my coverage.
 
I'm not sure any insurance company happily pays claims. I have had Boat US now GEICO for 30 years and never made a claim. I had an incident similar to the OP of striking a submerged log at cruise. It destroyed the prop, bent the shaft and the strut as well as cracking the strut pad on the hull of the boat. I'm sure Boat US would have covered it but the yard that was going to do the hull repair cautioned me about the insurance process. They said that given the damage, an insurance company would send not only an adjuster but would need to schedule a hull survey with a marine engineer. They said that every single time this repair shows up ......the boat sits on the hard for at least six months sometimes longer. Then they pointed out several boats that were on the hard waiting for an okay from an insurance company to proceed with a similar repair.

In the end, I sourced the shaft, prop and had the strut repaired. I hired the yard to rebuild the strut pad which is a repair they frequently do and because I was paying cash for the fiberglass work.....I went to the front of line. Even then the boat was out of the water for a month.

At some point you just do the math and see that using your insurance will cost you in a lot of ways most people don't think about: Haul out, Blocking, storage fees, wasted slip fees, deductible and the loss of a boating season. Trading a season of boating just isn't worth $4k....at least for me.

I didn't wait for the insurer. The the repairs had to be made. I paid for them. New transmission, new shaft, rebuilt propeller and rudder post. Boat was back in the water within 6 weeks. While I realize insurers make more money by saying no, if I'm going to pay the premium I expect them to stick to the contract they signed, and not try and weasel out of it.
 
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Best Boat Insurance Reviews has this to say about Progressive.
https://www.reviews.com/insurance/boat/best/

According to the link Progressive is rated best for small boats. Progressive was the only insurance company that would insure my previous boat (1971 26 foot single inboard cabin cruiser). Because of its age, no other insurance company would insure it. I had an agreed value policy with them for 8 years. During the 8th year it was totaled in a storm while tied to the dock. Progressive did require pictures of the damage and sent an adjuster to inspect the boat, but after a couple of weeks paid the agreed value on the policy. I had no complaints about the process. The money values were low though (< $10k), so I'm sure that made a difference.
 

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