Loudoun Insurance and South Riding Insurance, Northern Virginia Zip 201*-221*, Near 20152

U.S. Coast Guard Safety Initiative Asks You to Boat Responsibly

U.S. Coast Guard Safety Initiative Asks You to Boat Responsibly

As boating season approaches, the U.S. Coast Guard is once again expressing concern over the continuing increase in boating fatalities and injuries, and plans to step up its safety education for boaters. Statistics show that for the second consecutive year boating fatalities increased (710 deaths in 2006) as did the number of reported injuries. The reports also reveal some other disturbing facts:

Two-thirds of all fatalities were due to drowning and 90 percent of the victims were not wearing a life jacket. Simply put, over 50% of boating deaths could have been prevented if the victims had worn a life jacket.

Alcohol was the leading contributing factor in approximately one-fifth of all boating fatalities.
About 70 percent of all boating fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction.

The most reported type of accident was a collision with another vessel. (Talk to www.south-riding-insurance or www.loudoun-insurance.com for a comprehensive Boat Insurance Policy). However, capsizing and falls overboard are the most reported types of fatal accidents and accounted for the vast majority (59 percent) of all boating fatalities.

Overall, operator inattention, carelessness/reckless operation, excessive speed and passenger/skier behavior are the leading contributing factors of all reported accidents.

Here are some simple tips boat owners and their passengers can take to insure their safety while enjoying recreational boating:

Wear your life jacket - As evidenced above, wearing a life jacket is the single most important thing you can do to ensure your safety on the water. And it doesn't matter how great of a swimmer you are, you should still wear a life jacket!

Take boating safety courses - Boat owners, operators and passengers should complete courses offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and others. The Coast Guard Auxiliary encourages everyone who might be put in a position of having to take command due to incapacity of the owner/operator to take a basic safety course. Here at NOVA Insurance Group, we can provide you some additional info. materials.

America’s Boating Course (ABC) is a new electronic, basic boating course produced through a partnership between the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadrons®. It’s available online at www.AmericasBoatingCourse.com and on CD-ROM.

Get a free Vessel Safety Check - Boat owners are encouraged to take advantage of free safety checks offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. It’s your best way to learn about potential problems that might put you in violation of state or federal laws, or — worse — create danger for you or your passengers on the water. Vessel Examiners issue no citations. And there are no penalties for not successfully completing a Vessel Safety Check.

Don't drink and boat - In the marine environment — motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind, and spray intensify the effect of alcohol and drugs. These “stressors” cause fatigue — and dramatically affect a boat operator’s coordination, judgment, vision, and reaction time.
Levels of blood alcohol or medications that would have little impact on land can potentially cause a much greater degree of impairment for the operator of a boat. So never boat under the influence!

The complete 2006 Boating Statistics report is available from the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating at http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/boating_statistics_2006.pdf.

Labels: Boat-Insurance, Fairfax-Boat-Insurance, Fairfax-Boats, Loudoun-Boat-Insurance, Loudoun-Boats, South-Riding-Boat-Insurance, Virginia-Boat-Insurance

posted by Khalid Umerani @ 9:22 AM
NOVA Insurance (20152) Group - Loudoun Insurance

Ensure Your Boating Experience Is a Real Pleasure Cruise

Ensure Your Boating Experience Is a Real Pleasure Cruise

Published reports from the U.S. Coast Guard show that boating deaths and injuries increased for the second consecutive year in 2006. Aside from the disturbing trend in boating deaths, the biggest change was actually in the amount of property damage, $43 million in 2006 as compared with $38 million in 2005. www.south-riding-insurance.com

These statistics should serve as a powerful reminder to all watercraft owners to review their insurance coverage. Owners of canoes, small sailboats, and small engine powerboats (many of them residing in South Riding 20152, Chantilly 20151, Aldie / Stone Ridge 20105 and Ashburn / Brambleton 20148) generally have limited coverage for physical damage included with their homeowner's insurance policy, but liability coverage has to be added as a policy endorsement. Physical damage coverage is typically equal to 10 percent or less of their home's property value. If you find the coverage limits offered by your homeowner's policy to be insufficient, you'll likely need a separate boat insurance policy.

Since no coverage exists under a homeowner's policy for larger boats, yachts, jet skis and wave runners, a separate boat insurance policy is a must. Coverage for physical damage includes the hull, machinery, fittings, furnishings and permanently attached equipment up to pre-determined amount. Such policies also provide additional protection for:

- Injuries to another person
- Damage to someone else’s property
- Legal expenses incurred by someone using the boat with the owner’s permission
- Injuries to the boat owner and other passengers

Even though you may have solid Boat insurance coverage thru NOVA Insurance Group in South Riding 20152 (Virginia), www.loudoun-insurance.com the Insurance Information Institute (III) offers the following suggestions to help you avoid having to file a claim:
- Check weather forecasts before heading out.
- Let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
- Check engine, fuel, electrical and steering systems, especially for exhaust-system leaks.
- Carry one or more fire extinguishers, matched to the size and type of boat. Keep them readily accessible and in condition for immediate use.
- Equip the vessel with required navigation lights and with a whistle, horn or bell.
- Don’t overload. Distribute weight evenly.
- Don’t stand up or shift weight suddenly in a small boat; and don’t permit riding on the bow, seatbacks or gunwales.
- Be sure you bring paddles or oars, a first-aid kit, a supply of fresh water, a tool kit and spare parts, a flashlight, flares and a radio.
- Make sure that every person on board wears a life jacket.
- Never operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Labels: Ashburn Boat Insurance, Fairfax-Boat-Insurance, Leesburg Boat Insurance, Loudoun Boat Insurance, South Riding Boat Insurance

posted by Khalid Umerani @ 4:03 PM
NOVA Insurance (20152) Group - Loudoun Insurance