Boat Safety Tips For First Time Boat Owners

While you may be excited about being a new boat owner, there are still some areas concerning your safety  and the safety of others that is important.  Regardless of how many years of experience you may have, or the type of boat you may have, adding boat insurance can add coverage to reduce financial losses, whereas good safety habits will help you remain as safe as possible while on the water.

Common Boat Safety Tips

In general, everyone boarding the boat should have a basic understanding of general safety rules prior to departing.  Below are five basic boating safety tips:

1. Weather

Check the weather forecast prior to departing.  If while on the boat you notice a sudden change in the weather, such as dark clouds or high winds, that’s a good sign to head back before the weather conditions worsen.

2. Lifejackets

Make sure that everyone on board has access to a life jacket and knows how to properly wear one. Many drowning victims were not wearing lifejackets.

3. Checklist

Be prepared by making a check list of all the safety items that need to take place prior to heading out to make sure nothing is overlooked

4. Experience

Make sure you or someone traveling with you has the training and experience to properly operate a boat, are mindful of other boats, monitor’s their speed  and the speed of others and steers clear of other watercraft and larger vessels. Also be sure to have a means of communication with others outside of your boat.

5. Float Plan

Make sure that you alert someone to your proposed itinerary –  where you’re planning to go and how long you plan to be  gone so others will know if you become missing.

For more information and other boat safety tips, please contact Southwest Insurance Center online.

 

 

 

Flood, Fire, and Data Breaches: Commercial Insurance Coverage to Consider

Most business owners understand the need to acquire insurance, but may not be aware of all their coverage options. Business insurance is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s important to understand what’s available to create a package that best suits your business. 

Three Types of Liability – Not all liability insurance is the same. There are three primary types: general, product, and professional.  General covers accidents that occur within your business, product covers unexpected injuries that emerge from product defects, and professional is oriented towards service-oriented businesses providing work with mistakes, errors, or other forms of negligence.
Business Interruption Insurance – Disasters happen. If your business is suddenly rendered unable to operate, this coverage ensures the bills you’d normally incur will be covered during the time it takes for you to get back on your feet.
Key Person Insurance – If your business relies heavily on the skills and assets of a particular individual whose loss would be catastrophic to your income, consider acquiring this type of coverage, which offsets the loss of an important individual due to disability or death.
Data Breach Insurance – With data breaches becoming ever more common, and more companies storing sensitive customer data electronically, this insurance is vital. It can help a company take preventative measures to avoid data breaches and handle any consequences that arise from a data breach.
Commercial Umbrella Insurance – For the unexpected moments, umbrella insurance covers the things you can’t foresee and don’t have coverage for elsewhere.

The best way to build a package appropriate for your business is to talk directly to skilled insurance professionals, like those at Southwest Insurance Center, Inc in Austin, TX. They can discuss your business and its unique needs and recommend a solid package that protects your vital assets and insulates your business from the unexpected. Email an agent today for a quote.