"According to the U.S. Coast Guard, falls overboard are consistently a leading cause of boating fatalities, thousands of dollars of property damage and injuries to innocent victims each year. Incidents where the operator falls overboard and the boat is left without anyone to steer can be easily avoided when the proper safety devices are used by the vessel’s operator."

"Wearing an emergency stop lanyard is required by law in only six states - Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada and New Jersey. According to Autotether, a leading producer of a wireless emergency stop device, most operators surveyed do not wear the emergency stop lanyard and admitted to leaving the helm at one time or another when the vessel is under way. The main reason boaters cite for not wearing it is that the lanyard is restrictive and inconvenient around the helm as it is typically connected to the operator from the boat’s ignition."

“Properly using an emergency stop lanyard and all of the proper boating safety devices could easily be linked to saving lives,” said Chantal Cyr, VP of the Boat and Yacht Division at Travelers.

Travelers' Insurance established a safety credit for anyone with an Autotether on their boat! Save now on your boat insurance with an Autotether and let the Autotether pay for itself. Visit https://www.travelers.com/personal-insurance/boat-yacht-insurance/boat-insurance-coverage.aspx. Press Release: Travelers' Safety Credit Press Release

Are you a Sea Tow member? Sea Insure is offering a 5% discount on their boat insurance for anyone with an Autotether! On a $1000 policy, that is $50 a year, in a couple of years the Autotether pays for itself! Help make boating safer, check out the SeaInsure website by clicking here. Sea Tow members are also eligible to save at thousands of retailers and service providers nationally and locally through the Sea Tow Advantage Network. We have a great member discount for you! Find your code by visiting http://www.seatow.com/savings-and-discounts/national-participants.

Why you need boat insurance? It’s best to buy separate boat insurance, rather than adding your boat to your homeowner's policy. Many homeowners’ policies limit or don’t cover marine-specific risks, such as salvage work, wreck removal, pollution or environmental damage.

Insurance Factors- Insurers consider many factors when deciding whether or not to offer a policy. Almost any vessel can be insured— for a price. You just want to make sure the policy meets your needs.

• Age of Boat
• Length
• Value
• Speed
• Condition (Does it meet US Coast Guard Standards)
• Primary residence (If the boat is used as a primary residence)
• Type (Amphibious boats)
• Homemade (Boats without a serial number, many kits are okay)
• Houseboats with no motor
• Ownership (more than 2 owners)

Shopping for Boat Insurance- Start with a little fact-finding. Ask your boating friends which company they use, and how their claims have been handled. The way an insurer has handled claims in the past is a good indicator of the quality of service you can expect in the future.

Boat Insurance Cost Factors- Many factors are used to set the cost of a policy, and they vary among insurers. Here are some items to consider:

• Cruising Area – where you boat
• Boating Safety Education –if you have been formally trained or certified
• Good Driving Records –both boating and driving
• Liability Limits - the higher the limit the higher the cost
• Deductible - the higher the deductible the lower the premium

Source: DiscoverBOATING.com.