Many boat and PWC owners assume their homeowners policy follows them onto the water—but that’s rarely the case. Home insurance is built to protect your house and the belongings inside it, not a vessel that leaves the driveway and faces its own set of risks.

To help you choose the right protection, here’s a clearer breakdown of how homeowners insurance compares to boat and PWC insurance, and why a dedicated marine policy may be the safer choice.

What Homeowners Insurance Typically Covers (and What It Doesn’t)

Most homeowners policies offer only very limited coverage for watercraft—and it usually comes with strict conditions. Depending on the carrier, your policy may:

• Cover only small, non-motorized boats or low-horsepower vessels
• Offer no liability protection if you cause an accident on the water
• Exclude damage, theft, or loss once the boat leaves your property

So, while your home policy might help with something like a stolen canoe or a damaged rowboat, it generally won’t protect motorized boats or PWCs you actually take out and use.

If you rely on your homeowners insurance alone, you may be leaving major gaps in your protection.

What Boat Insurance Can Include

Boat insurance is built specifically for life on the water and can help protect you in situations homeowners policies simply weren’t designed for.

Depending on the options you choose, coverage may help cover:

• Physical damage to your hull, motor, trailer, or onboard equipment
• Liability coverage if you injure someone or damage property while boating
• Medical payments for you or your passengers, even if no one is at fault
• Towing and assistance if your vessel breaks down on the water

Just like auto insurance, boat insurance can be customized based on how often you use your vessel, where you store it, and the type of boating you do.

PWCs and Jet Skis Often Require Their Own Coverage

Personal watercraft—like Jet Skis, Sea-Doos, and WaveRunners—come with their own set of risks. They’re fast, highly maneuverable, and heavily used in crowded areas, which means more opportunities for collisions or injuries.

Because of this, many insurers treat PWCs separately from boats. PWC insurance is typically its own policy and may include:

• Liability protection
• Medical payments
• Physical damage coverage

If you own a Jet Ski or other PWC, make sure you have a policy that’s tailored to how these vehicles are actually used.

Why a Dedicated Marine Policy Matters

Boating brings different exposures than anything on land. A specialized policy takes into account real-world factors like:

• Navigation areas — where you’re allowed to operate
• Seasonal use — whether your boat is active year-round or just in summer
• Storage locations — on a trailer, in a marina, or on a lift

These details help ensure you’re protected not only while the boat is parked at home but also when you’re out doing what you bought it for—enjoying the water.

Ready to Protect Your Time on the Water?

Whether you own a fishing boat, center console, sailboat, or PWC, the right policy can help safeguard your investment and your peace of mind.

Love being on the water? Make sure your coverage keeps up. Get a fast, free boat or PWC insurance quote from Suncoast Agency today.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for general educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional insurance advice. It does not describe any specific insurance policy, nor does it alter any terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of any actual policy. Coverage options and availability vary by insurer and by state, and may not be available in all areas. For a full understanding of any coverage, please review the actual policy documents or speak with a licensed insurance representative. Whether a claim or incident is covered will depend on the specific terms of the policy in question. Any references to average premiums, deductibles, or coverage costs are for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect your unique situation. Sun Coast is not responsible for the content of any external websites linked within this blog.