Bruce Napier wrote: > Our renewal notice from Towergate Mardon came the other day, > and they surprised us by withdrawing the contents policy that > used to be Michael Stimpson's strong point, and is why we > were insured with the successor firm.
<snip> > And sure enough, an > extract from the Clear Waters Policy: > > > Narrowboat / Canal Boat only > > You are not insured : > > > > * If the craft is being used single-handed (Unless during daylight > > hours and the user is wearing a personal flotation device > at all times > > when aboard) When we renewed our insurance with Towergate Mardon last year, the previous policy was replaced with the new "Latitude Policy". The policy document is silent on the point, but the "KeyFacts" document included virtually identical wording to that Bruce quotes above. I rang Michael Stimpson directly to query this and a number of other changes, and he was quick to reassure me that nothing had changed from the previous policy. I then wrote to Towergate Mardon asking them to confirm what Michael had said. On this point I wrote: "Mr Stimpson confirmed that the requirements that single-handed use is only permitted in daylight hours, and that the user must wear a personal flotation device at all times when aboard apply only when the craft is in use on rivers (or tidal waters), and that these requirements do not apply when the boat is used on canals. "Please can you confirm that the requirements are as set out by Mr Stimpson, and not as in the keyfacts document. "Please can you also confirm that when on rivers, "use" refers to when the boat is underway, and that when the boat is moored up there is no requirement for a personal flotation device to be worn." And Towergate Mardon replied: "We can confirm that the issues that were raised regarding .... single handed use ...... are the requirements and terms of the policy as previously confirmed by Michael Stimpson." So single-handed use on canals, or being alone on the boat when moored, do not require a PFD to be worn. Whilst I am not entirely happy to rely on side correspondence to overrule the words, I think we are OK. But I do wish the insurers would actually write the documents the way they are intended to be applied! David Mack
