Last month, with boating season in full swing, Safeco established a new specialized claim unit dedicated to handling boaters' insurance claims. The National Boat Unit, located in Spokane, Wash., is staffed by boating enthusiasts and marine experts trained to handle physical damage insurance claims for boats and other watercraft.
"We realize it can be difficult for claim professionals working primarily on auto or home claims to excel in boat coverages, liability, and damages if they see just one or two watercraft claims a year," said Jennifer Lamb, the new unit's claim manager.
The biggest difference is that boat claims usually center around mechanical problems, while auto claims predominantly involve body damage, according to Safeco. The materials are not the same, and neither are the repairs. Boat claim professionals develop expert knowledge in fiberglass hulls, fish finders, and buoys, and also must be well versed in the U.S. Coast Guard's navigation rules to determine liability when collisions occur.
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