With gasoline prices at boat docks exceeding $5 a gallon,Travelers said it is offering a unique premium discount to anexpanding number of boaters who own electric powered craft.

The Hartford, Conn.-based insurer said its electric boatdiscount of up to 10 percent is the first of its kind for theindustry.

Chantal Cyr, Travelers vice president for boat and yachtpersonal lines, said with skyrocketing fuel costs, manufacturers,while not providing specific numbers, "have all reported anincrease in demand and sales of electric boats."

Travelers, she said, did a study of electric boats and foundthem attractive from an underwriting standpoint, because suchwatercraft typically have a maximum speed of only 6-to-10 mph andtheir use is generally limited to lakes and harbors.

In addition to a low top speed, she noted "they have lesscomplex motors, less maintenance and break down lessfrequently."

She noted that Travelers is offering the 10 percent discount,which applies to physical damage and liability, for new customersand existing customers on renewal.

Kevin Kearns, a spokesman for Duffy Electric, a large Adelanto,Calif.-based manufacturer, said electric boats offer the quiet ofsailing without the work. They can be used "all day long for maybea dollar on electricity."

Typically, the company's boats have an array of 8-to-16batteries like a golf cart. Most are open canopy-topped launches.Duffy also makes a pontoon platform boat.

"There has always been a segment of boaters who prefer a quieterelectric boat, and with the rising cost of marine fuel and agrowing focus on the environment, there is no doubt that moreboaters will consider this option," Ms. Cyr said.

"As habits are changing and more people are using electricboats, Travelers is offering an innovative insurance solution thatfits the evolving lifestyle of our customers," she added.

Travelers defines an electric boat as a vessel 100 percentpowered by a propeller driven, electric, in-board source whereutility power is stored on board.

According to the carrier, most electric boats cost between $1and $2 to fully charge for 10 or 12 hours of cruising time, whichtranslates to about 10 cents to 12 cents per hour to operate.

Conventionally fueled boats, the marine industry estimates, useabout one gallon of fuel per hour for every 10 horsepower, whilediesel engines consume about one gallon of fuel per hour for every18 horsepower, Travelers said.

According to the company, it costs about $50 to run a 10horsepower gasoline engine or an 18 horsepower diesel engine for 10hours.

Travelers said an analysis of fuel costs at 13 marinas aroundthe country found it costs about 78 cents per gallon more than thenational average for automobile gasoline and about 42 cents pergallon more than the national average for diesel fuel.

The company noted that a number of states are designatingcertain waterways as electric-only navigation.

Mr. Kearns added that Europe was way ahead of the United Statesin this regard, being "more in tune with the environment" anddesignating many canals and waterways for electric only.

Travelers noted that electric boats are often utilized in speedrestricted waterways that require boats to be operated without awake.