Maybe, the answer is maybe your dinghy requires insurance.
Really this will depend on the value of the dinghy. In my opinion, if the dingy is worth more than $1K, then you should look into marine insurance for the tender. Most of my dinks have been borderline useless, so I’ve never worried about losing them. But that’s me…
What is a dinghy?
Answer: A dinghy is a small boat that is carried around by a larger vessel. Interestingly, the word dinghy is derived from the Bengali word, dingi.
Often these will be row boats. In terms of cost, the range is expansive. I have owned 8 foot row boats that cost about $300 each, however if you own a 12 foot Zodiac with a large horsepower outboard engine, it’s possible you paid 10K. A large Zodiac inflatable will certainly require insurance.
My girlfriend sits on our Caribe inflatable dinghy.
Most larger boat insurance companies will offer package deals is they already represent your larger boat on a policy. The first consideration is to reach out to your insurance company and ask if they can package a dinghy policy into your pre-existing policy. If you use a trailer to transport your tender, then ask if there is coverage included for the trailer. In addition, it is possible that your dinghy will be damaged while it is in transit. For example, highway accidents are not uncommon. Make sure to check with your agent when discussing this coverage option.
Another consideration is the cost of your outboard engine. I recently purchased a very lightweight Honda 2.5 hp engine. This little banger is about 1K. So, I would be very upset if this thing went missing. For this reason, I have insured the outboard. This was worked out as an extension of my main policy with my 30 foot sailboat.
Long story short, first decide on a marine policy for your larger vessel, then chat with the broker about the possibility of including the dinghy and outboard.
Remember, keep your dinghy off the rocks – but your drink on the rocks. Follow that rule, and you will never experience a dull day in your life!
My inflatable has a nice Honda 2.3 HP outboard attached.