Boating is a passion for many, but operating a boat engine repair shop, storage facility, or mobile marine service brings specialized liability and property exposures. Colonial General Insurance Agency, Inc. offers a focused Boat Engine Repair Insurance program to help agents place coverage for these niche marine service risks quickly and efficiently.
Overview of the Program From Colonial General
Colonial General is a managing general agency and excess & surplus lines broker with deep market relationships across the Western U.S. This Boat Engine Repair Insurance program is designed for businesses that service, store, maintain, or transport boats and marine engines. The program combines broad garage and garagekeepers coverages with optional property and in-transit protections to meet the needs of small repair shops through larger multi-bay marine service centers.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
This program fits a range of marine service operations, including:
- Boat engine repair shops and independent marine mechanics
- Marine service garages and multi-bay repair facilities
- Boat storage yards and winterization facilities
- Boat dealerships with in-house service departments
- Mobile marine service providers and towing/tow-repair operators
Typical acceptable operations include engine diagnostics, mechanical repairs, routine maintenance, winterization, and transport/towing of customer vessels. Risks that perform major structural alterations to hulls or install nonstandard aftermarket modifications may require additional underwriting review.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
Colonial General markets a robust commercial garage program tailored for marine exposures. Key features include:
- $3,000,000 aggregate liability capacity
- Garage liability limits up to $1,000,000 per accident
- $5,000 medical payments
- Garage Keepers coverage on a primary basis (specified causes of loss)
- In-transit coverage for towing and mobile service operations
- Dealers physical damage and false pretense coverage
- Fire legal liability and broadened coverage endorsements
- Optional property coverage to protect buildings, equipment, and business personal property
These options let you tailor limits and coverages to fit a client’s operations—whether a single-bay mechanic or a dealer with multiple service lifts and storage racks.
Underwriting Notes and Minimum Premiums
Colonial General works with admitted and non-admitted markets depending on state and risk characteristics. Underwriters look for clear descriptions of operations, up-to-date safety practices, and complete loss histories. Clean loss runs and documented safety programs (lift procedures, secure storage, towing protocols) typically produce the most competitive terms.
Minimum premium requirements vary by carrier and state; the underwriting team is willing to review small and mid-size accounts as well as more complex risks. Provide detailed submissions that describe tow radius, storage capacity, number of bays, and whether customer vessels are stored indoors or outdoors.
Territories and Availability
The program is available in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Admitted markets are available in some states; non-admitted options can be used for harder-to-place risks.
Why Work With Colonial General?
Colonial General brings decades of specialized underwriting and broad market access for garage and marine service exposures. Agents benefit from fast turnaround, responsive underwriting, and the ability to place both standard and more complex marine service accounts. The MGA’s experience placing garagekeepers, in-transit, and dealers physical damage coverage makes it a practical option when your client’s operations include repair, storage, or towing.
Have a client that needs coverage? Connect with a market specialist to discuss submission requirements or request a quick quote: Connect with a market specialist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of accounts are a good fit for this program?
This program is ideal for boat engine repair shops, marine mechanics, boat storage facilities, and boat dealers with service operations.
Is Garage Keepers coverage included?
Yes. Garage Keepers coverage is available on a primary basis for specified causes of loss to protect customers’ boats while in the insured’s care, custody, and control.
Which states is this program available in?
The program is available in AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Can towing operations be covered?
Yes. In-transit coverage for towing and mobile service operations is available, which makes this a good fit for mobile marine technicians and tow/recovery services that handle customer boats.
Are boat dealers eligible for this program?
Yes. Dealers with service departments and on-site repair operations are eligible, including dealers who provide diagnostics, repairs, and storage services.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.