Once upon a time I collected a file of the actual policies. Admittedly after reviewing them all with a fine tooth comb (including Premier), I personally went with Chubb. Not at all the cheapest policy, but about the best written. I've been thinking of switching though to save some money as I know too many Tolly owners(including one on the fire in LaConner), who have had nothing but good luck when the time came to need it.
As far as Premier, I had them once in the past. I had a problem that originated with the agent (Anchor Marine) telling me that things expensive things were not covered that actually were (latent defect clause). Cost me about 20K by the time I figured it out. That's when I had the motivation to start reading policy's line by line and learn things such as latent defect clauses.
Premier has been very interested in the business they have picked up from the Tolly's. From what I have seen, they have stepped up to the plate and have not hassled folks on claims.
I'm not quite so sure about the "many" claims denied, or the sneaky language. If I could find the policy, I could better form an opinion, though I do recall they were in my top 3 of the best policies.
But maybe the language is not the most important thing after all. I've see Mary as an agent really support her clients in ways that others did not. I think this is a fanatically important aspect.
When I was with a former agency, they did everything they could to prevent claims. I wish I was smarter then, because I know for a fact that where I was trusting my agent to be my go between, i should in fact have been speaking with the company personally. Hard way to learn. I also know some other boating acquaintances, more recently who go screwed over by the same folks. In that case I had to laugh to myself when they told me of a salvage/"surveyor" who I knew from my diving days who did an absolute hatchet job on a survey to allow a claim to be denied. If it wasn't for the fact that I knew "all about" this particular surveyor and when/why you call him I would not have been any wiser as a consumer. I don't know how widespread these hijinks are in the local boat insurance community, but I know enough now that it certainly goes on and its intentional, not innocent mistakes. I would not go through anyone I did not know I could trust, just too much to lose.
So I guess what i'm saying here, is that the choice of agent is at least as important as the insurer. I would not have said that ten years ago. Hopefully that's a sign of doing something right.
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