What to do in the event of damage to your personal watercraft or boat?

Collision, engine failure, theft, vandalism, fire, vermin and rodents… whether you’re a novice sailor or an experienced captain, on the water or docked, the risks of damage to a boat are numerous, and you’re never safe from an incident. Fortunately, your APRIL Marine insurance policy provides you with optimum protection, 365 days a year.

Here are a few key steps to help you understand everything, from making a claim to handling your claim.

What to do in the event of an incident at dockside or in the water?

In the event of an incident, don’t panic! Here’s a quick reminder so you don’t forget any steps:

1. Safety: Make sure everyone on board is safe.

2. Asset protection: Wherever possible, protect your property from further damage.

3. Call the authorities: Call the Police or Coast Guard if anyone is injured, or if your boat is unseaworthy.

4. APRIL Marine Assistance: Using your policy number (min. 7 digits), contact APRIL Marine Assurance. They will assess with you the emergency interventions required and refer you to the nearest tugboat.

5. Contact details & Photos: Take the contact details of witnesses and third parties involved in the incident, so that you can pass them on to your insurer and the authorities. Take photos of the damage and the scene (before and after clearing).

6. Evacuation: Move the boat to a safe location. It is a good idea to remove it from the water so you can see the damage. If you are unable to safely remove it from the water, ask APRIL Marine Assistance for support.

7. Make a claim: Using your policy number (min. 7 digits), contact APRIL Marine Assistance (24/7), login to you Member Area or call your broker to report your claim.

8. Repairer: If you don’t have a preferred repairer yet, ask APRIL Marine Assistance or find the one closest to the scene of the damage or to your home. Never have damage repaired before allowing the insurer to inspect and assess it.

9. Breath! Everything’s going to be okay.

APRIL Marine Assistance

Days on the water are precious: make sure you enjoy every moment of them!
At APRIL Marine, we make sure you sail with peace of mind, thanks to our immediate assistance in the event of a claim. Our experts are with you every step of the way, helping you get back on the water quickly and safely.

1. 24/7 Claims Reporting

When our boat is in trouble, we sometimes lose our bearings. Depending on the circumstances and the moment, the situation can leave us vulnerable. To avoid unnecessary stress and unfortunate consequences, our experts are there for you at all times, especially when the going gets tough. We are here to help you every step of the way, so you can file a claim quickly and easily.

2. 24/7 Towing referral

The APRIL Marine Assistance hotline is available 365 days a year, and provides you with the necessary referrals for on-water towing to suit your situation. The assistance officer can contact the right people for you and stay on the line until help arrives. This service is available in Canada, the U.S. and even the Bahamas! In the event of an incident, you are also put through to the claims department to report your claim.

3. Market Value Assessment

Properly estimating the value of a boat is an essential step in planning an eventual transaction. To help you do this, APRIL Marine Assistance’s team is on hand. This service, which is very popular with our members and policyholders, gives you the opportunity to assess the market value of your boat, or the one you wish to acquire, free of charge, using a variety of recognized sources. The estimate is then sent to you in writing, so that you can use it if necessary.

4. Concierge Service

The concierge service is there to help you plan your getaway (marina information and reservations, advice on repair centers, etc.) and guide you in managing your daily tasks and leisure activities (hotel reservations, concert ticket purchases, etc.). A service that is included free of charge with your Club APRIL Marine membership!

To take advantage of all these services, go to your online or contact our dedicated teams by telephone:

An insider’s view of an insurance claim

Submitting an insurance claim can be a long and stressful process. Our in-house claims experts are committed to assisting you every step of the way and simplifying all procedures:

1. Reporting the claim

The first step is to contact APRIL Marine Assistance, a free service available 7 days a week to all policyholders, by telephone or online from your Member Area. This first contact with our emergency line enables us to gather information that will be immediately forwarded to a claims adjuster.

2. Opening the file

An APRIL Marine claims adjuster, entirely dedicated to boating insurance, is assigned your claim and calls you within 24 business hours to officially open your claim.

3. Damage assessment

Your assigned claims adjuster will arrange for a marine appraiser to visit your property to assess the extent of the damage and determine the cause of the loss. The appraiser will call you within 24 business hours to arrange an appraisal date.

4. Choice of repairer

You can now contact the repairer of your choice, who will be required to produce an industry-standard estimate and forward it to the marine appraiser. The repairer will be able to undertake the repairs once the estimate has been verified and validated by the marine appraiser, to ensure that these costs are properly covered.

5. Survey report

The marine surveyor sends a detailed report to the APRIL Marine claims adjuster, who has an average of 7 days to analyze it.

6. Closing the file

The APRIL Marine claims adjuster calls you to give you the conclusions of your case and answer any questions you may have. Your file is closed once your claim has been fully processed.