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Boat Safely This Summer

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Boating season is in full swing in Florida waters. Whether you’re hitting the Gulf of Mexico or one of the many rivers and lakes in our beautiful state, boating is an excellent way to get outdoors, even when it’s as hot as it has been lately.

If you’re a new boat owner—and even if you’re more experienced—here are some basic reminders to help your next boat trip be nothing but smooth sailing.

Before you launch

Familiarize yourself with the rules of the water. This includes such things such as knowing what signs and symbols mean and rules for encountering other vessels on the water. You may want to take a boater safety course, and if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, you are required to do so by law if you operate a motorized boat of 10 horsepower or more. Boating safety courses are inexpensive or even free.

Equip your boat properly. Make sure you have the safety equipment you need in case of an emergency. This includes a fire extinguisher, a radio (cell service on the water can be spotty), a paddle or oars, and a noise maker such as a whistle or horn to draw attention to your location if something goes wrong. And most importantly, make sure everyone onboard has a Coast Guard approved personal floatation device (life jacket)—even your pet! There are different types of life jackets for different types of water, but the best one is the one you’ll wear. Life jackets should be worn while on the water, since you may not have time to put one on if an emergency arises.

Stock your boat with basic first aid and tool kits, and make sure you have plenty of drinking water on hand.

Check weather conditions—especially those for wind and small-craft advisories.

And before you set out, leave word with someone about where you’re going and how long you expect to be gone.

On the water

Once you’re on the water, aside from enjoying the beautiful scenery, make sure you keep a sharp lookout at all times. Watch for other vessels, swimmers, shallow water, debris, and any areas where the natural environment is delicate—in some cases, watch out for manatees! These slow-moving creatures suffer injuries at the hands of boaters every year.

Maintain a safe speed and distance from other vessels. Follow the rules of the water, and take extra care in busy areas, such as boat launches or docks.

Make sure all passengers ride safely—not on the bow, gunwales or seat backs, and that everyone wears their life jacket.

Never operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

L & M Insurance Group has boat insurance

One more thing: Enjoy the water more knowing that both your boat and your financial liability are protected by boat insurance. Most boat insurance policies cover physical damage to or theft of the boat itself, property damage you cause to another vessel or structure, and medical payments for injuries to you (the boat owner) and your family. You may also want coverage for injuries to people other than your family, guest passenger liability (coverage for someone using your boat with your permission), and/or coverage for your boat trailer and accessories. Discuss which deductibles and limits are right for you with your insurance agent.

If you need boat insurance, please give L & M Insurance Group a call at (813) 672-4100 or contact us online by clicking here. We write boat insurance policies in addition to our competitive homeowners, renters, auto, and commercial insurance. Our agency is located in Riverview, and also serves Brandon, Valrico, Lithia, Tampa, and surrounding communities.

For more information:

The Florida Boater’s Guide

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Need to Insure a Boat? Check Out American Integrity Small Boat Owners Insurance

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We’re lucky in the Tampa Bay area to be able to enjoy our boats and water sports nearly year round. But before you hit the bay, lake, or river, do you have the insurance coverage you need for your boat? Even if you don’t have to carry insurance to satisfy a lender, many marinas require proof of boat insurance before they will allow you to dock, and you should also have coverage in place to protect your liability.

As an independent insurance agency, L & M Insurance Group represents many quality insurance carriers—not just one. From time to time, we’ll draw attention to one of our carriers and what they specialize in. This month we want to introduce you to American Integrity, an A-rated, Tampa Bay-based insurance company, focused on insuring Florida consumers. Today we’ll discuss their special small boat owners insurance program, and later in the month, we’ll share information about their excellent homeowners insurance program.

Small watercraft

American Integrity’s small boat owners insurance is specifically designed for small watercraft (up to 30 feet with underwriting approval), including sailboats, bass boats, pontoons, cruisers, and personal watercraft such as Waverunners and Jet Skis. Some features of the program:

  • Boat policies can be written with hull coverage, liability coverage, or both
  • Boat policies can be written on an Agreed Hull Value or Actual Cash Value basis
  • Boating Liability coverage can be purchased up to $500k as a Combined Single Limit or Split Limits
  • Boat policies can be written with a maximum of two owners with an endorsement
  • Uninsured Boater coverage is included with the Boating Liability limit, but can be excluded for a reduction in premium
  • Fuel spillage coverage is included
  • No need to file a navigation plan with them

In addition to the above, American Integrity offers optional coverages, including Bahamas coverage, mechanical breakdown, medical payments, personal effects, and supplemental liability for boats you rent.

Discounts available

To lower your premiums, American Integrity offers several types of discounts, including ones for taking safety courses (state-certified, U.S. Power Squadron, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, or U.S. Coast Guard’s Captain’s License), as well as a multi-program discount if you have your homeowners insurance with them.

If you’d like to see if an American Integrity small boat owners policy is right for you, please call us at 813-672-4100 or email us for a boat owners insurance quote.

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We Can Insure That! Let L & M Insurance Group Help With Specialty Insurance Coverage

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You already know L & M Insurance Group can get you great deals on your homeowners, car, and business insurance (and if you don’t, contact us today for a free quote!). But what if you buy a recreational vehicle, boat, or personal watercraft? Where should you go for insurance? Wonder no longer—we can insure that!

We want to be your one-stop insurance agents. Not only can we insure your home, car, and business, we can also provide specialty insurance coverage.

What is specialty insurance coverage?

Simply put, specialty insurance coverage is insurance for special or unique items or situations not typically covered under a standard home or auto insurance policy. This might include insurance coverage for classic cars, boats, ATVs, motorcycles, RVs, or personal watercraft.

In addition, important coverages such as flood insurance and umbrella policies can also be considered specialty insurance.

Protection from financial loss

The purpose of any insurance is to provide protection from financial losses—both physical losses and liability losses. Once you have the basics covered—insurance on your home and vehicles appropriate for your situation—you should consider what losses you might incur that would not be covered by those policies. What assets do you want to cover—like boats, RVs, and other “toys,” for example? You may need flood insurance, since flood damage is not covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy, or an umbrella policy to protect your financial assets in case of a lawsuit.

This might sound confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. As an independent agency, L & M Insurance Group has been serving Riverview, Brandon, Gibsonton, Apollo Beach, Tampa and nearby communities for more than 10 years. We represent dozens of financially stable, A-rated insurance companies, and we will be happy to advise you in choosing the right specialty insurance coverage for your needs. Please call 813-672-4100, contact us, or visit www.landminsurancegroup.com for more information.

Insuring Your Toys—Peace of Mind When It’s Time to Play

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Insurance for Toys, Insuring Boats Personal Watercraft RV's and more

One of the best things about the Tampa Bay area is the climate—when other people are getting ready for winter, we’re still able to play outside! And many of us have the “toys” to do just that—toys like boats, RVs, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and personal watercraft. But remember, accidents do happen, and while they’re fun, these grown-up toys can also be dangerous and expose you to the risk of a lawsuit.

 

That’s where L & M Insurance Group can help. Before you hit the water or the trail, make sure you have enough insurance coverage for your toys if something goes wrong. Most of these vehicles aren’t covered by a basic auto or homeowners policy, so you’ll need to buy specialized insurance for them. This insurance doesn’t have to be expensive, and it’s certainly cheaper than a lawsuit!

 

When insuring your toys, you’ll want to be sure you’re covered adequately for:

  • Bodily injury—pays for injuries you cause to others if you’re responsible for an accident.
  • Property damage—pays for property you damage if you’re responsible for an accident.
  • Collision—pays for damage to your toy if you hit something.
  • Comprehensive—pays if your toy is stolen or if it’s damaged by something other than a collision, such as fire, extreme weather, or vandalism.

 

We also recommend you carry an umbrella policy (excess liability coverage over and above your other insurance) to further protect your assets in case you are sued. Please ask your L & M Insurance Group agent if you have any questions about your umbrella coverage, or if you need a quote for an umbrella policy.

 

Remember, if you can drive it, register, and tag it, you probably need insurance coverage for it!

 

Insurance coverage is meant to protect you from financial hardship due to accident and/or lawsuits. Talk to your L & M Insurance Group agent about what coverage you need to protect your assets and safeguard your lifestyle. Please call us at 813-672-4200 if you have any questions, or you’d like a free, no-obligation quote for insurance on a boat, RV, personal watercraft, or ATV. You can also contact us online by clicking here.

Boat Safe This Summer

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Brandon Boat Insurance Florida

It’s easy to see why Florida is the number one boating destination in the United States—we have thousands of miles of tidal shoreline, Intracoastal Waterways, lakes, and rivers to explore. The waters around Tampa Bay are especially beautiful, and boaters can go from roaming a secluded beach to pulling up to the dock at one of Tampa’s waterside restaurants—all in one day!

Unfortunately, Florida also is the national leader in boating fatalities each year. At L & M Insurance Group, we want to see you out enjoying the boating life, not coping with a life-threatening emergency. Here are five basics to help you boat safe this summer:

  • If you haven’t already, take a boat safety course. Click here for a free online safe boating course endorsed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
  • Inspect your boat each time you get ready to take it out. Among other things, inspect the hull for damage, make sure the boat’s lights work properly, and that you have enough fuel. (Click here for a full pre-departure checklist.)
  • Make sure all safety equipment is in good working order, including life vests (see below), fire extinguishers (make sure yours is U.S. Coast Guard approved), emergency flares, and a carbon monoxide monitor (especially if your boat has an enclosed cabin). If your boat is 16 feet or more, you must also have at least one Type IV throwable flotation device, such as a life ring or flotation cushion. Also make sure you have a first aid kit on board.
  • Have a life vest for every person on board your boat. Make sure the vests fit properly and are in good condition. Most important: make sure everyone actually wears his or her life vest. The main cause of boating fatalities is boaters falling overboard who are not wearing life vests—an average of one person a week. Remember, it’s the unexpected event that poses the most danger—rough water or losing your balance, for example, can land you overboard with no time to find and put on your life vest.
  • Don’t drink alcohol while boating. It’s illegal to operate a boat under the influence of alcohol, and your judgment and reaction time decline even faster in a boating environment than on land. The use of alcohol is involved in about a third of all recreational boating deaths, and the penalties for “Boating Under the Influence” can include fines or even jail time.

And, of course, make sure your boat insurance is current before you brave the waves. Give L & M Insurance Group a call at 813-672-4100 for a boat insurance quote. Our boat insurance policies are designed to fit the needs and budget of today’s boater. Happy boating!