Marine
Insurance for Florida charter captains and the boats that earn their keep.
The moment a passenger pays to step aboard, everything changes: the license you need, the law that covers your crew, and — the trap that catches the most captains — the fact that a personal boat policy excludes charter use entirely. We write commercial marine for the captains who fish, dive, sail, and tour Florida’s waters, with the hull, liability, and crew pieces in one coherent package.
Who we cover
Trades & operations we write
- Inshore & flats guides
- Offshore & sportfishing charters
- Six-pack (OUPV) charters
- Dive & snorkel boats
- Sightseeing & eco-tours
- Sailing charters
- Crewed yacht charters
- Boat clubs & rentals
What you’ll likely need
The coverages that matter for charter boats
We tailor the program to your operation — these are the policies most charter boats accounts carry.
Florida requirements
What Florida actually requires
The specifics generalists miss — and we don’t.
- Paying passengers require a USCG captain’s license — an OUPV (“six-pack”) ticket caps an uninspected vessel at six passengers; carrying more takes an inspected vessel (COI) and a Master license.
- A personal boat or yacht policy almost always excludes hire and charter use — the boat needs commercial hull + P&I with the charter operation declared.
- Injured crew fall under federal maritime law (Jones Act, maintenance and cure) — not Florida workers’ comp — and the policy has to be endorsed for it.
- Marinas, dockage agreements, and most booking platforms require liability proof with the marina named as additional insured.
Questions, answered plainly
Charter Boats insurance FAQs
My boat already has insurance — doesn’t that cover my charters?
Almost certainly not. Personal boat and yacht policies exclude carrying passengers for hire, and a denied six-figure injury claim is how most captains find out. Charter use has to be declared and written into a commercial marine policy from the start.
What exactly is a “six-pack” charter?
An uninspected vessel run by a captain holding a USCG OUPV license, limited to six paying passengers no matter how big the boat is. Carrying a seventh takes a Coast Guard–inspected vessel and a Master license — and an insurance program sized to match.
Do I need workers’ comp for my mate or crew?
Crew injuries at sea are governed by federal maritime law — the Jones Act and maintenance-and-cure — rather than Florida workers’ comp, and a standard comp policy may not respond. The fix is crew coverage endorsed on the marine policy; we make sure the two don’t leave a gap between them.
What happens to my coverage during hurricane season?
Florida marine policies carry a separate named-storm deductible, and many carriers require a written storm plan — where the boat goes, who moves it, by when. We set that up at binding, because June is a bad month to read your hurricane page for the first time.
Ready to cover your charter boats business?
Tell us about your operation — a real advisor will shop A-rated carriers and get you options, usually the same day.