is insurance mandatory on a boat now? Yall have to understand I can count on my hands the number of times ive gone out in a boat since my dad died.... I'm a bit behing on the law

I do not BELIEVE you are required to have insurance, but not totally sure. I know it is required for me since I'm paying a note to the credit union (the credit union requires it). I think most people have insurance because they are paying a note. I know a lot of people from the river that don't carry insurance, but that's not a good barometer as they wouldn't have it if required anyway

Arsonal's right. It's not mandatory unless your boat has a lean against it. But at todays prices for repair/replacement, are you willing to throw your rig away? Insurance is cheep, just be careful and read the policy carefully. There are some that de-valuate the rig annually. Here are some tidbits: the boat/motor/trailer is covered by your auto ins as long as it stays on the tow vehicle. Launch the boat--no ins.---boat comes off trailer in an accident---no ins--- Now lets' say you insure it---Motor burns up due to overheating or oiling system failure or warning horn not functuing--not insured. Boating insurance for the most part is an accident policy not an equipment failure policy..Extended warrantee's cover equipment failure.

I just paid $370 to insure my 16' 60Hp boat. Insurance is NOT cheap.

Wow, That seems kind of high. I pay less than $200.00 a year for my 22' Tritoon thru State Farm.

Sandspike
Thats real high call 1-800-thanksal they can save you some money! They will shop you through like ten diffrent companies and get you the best price.

Like Chuck said, "it's all relative." It's what you want to spend your expendable cash on.
I'd probably say if you have to ask all those questions, you MAY OUGHT TO NOT BE A BOAT OWNER.

We must never speak of these costs near any wives!

Brett, I have a '91 201 DC Champion with a 200 HP Evinrude and this would be about the lower end of the price range you asked about. I have owned the boat appx 8 years and I expect to pay appx 1200 p/year for maintenance and repairs, or about $100.00 p/ month. I fish about 30 days a year fun fishing and in my bass club touneys. The motor is a carb not a EFI or DFI so I'd say I'm lucky to get 2 mpg (I also run it mostly wide open-is there any other way?), so I guess a weekend of gas is about 30 gallons (premium) at $2.50 p/gal or about $75 boat gas. Truck gas runs about $60.00 per trip (most of the lakes I fish are at least 150 miles away). I spend about $350.00 p/year for full insurance coverage (VERY well worth it. To sum it up, I guess I spend appx $300 p/mo for boat, gas, insurance and upkeep. The newer DFI motors probably get twice the gas mileage of my old carb motor, so if the boats you're looking at has an Opti or HPDI or Etec but cost a little more you will probably save money in the long run on gas. Of course the bucks I have just told you about don't include tackle, rods, reels and misc other stuff I just HAVE to get. Owning a tournament rigged bass boat isn't cheap but I'd just pi$$ it away on something else and I really do love being on the lake. Hope I haven't discouraged you

Hey, its all worth it when you can go outside and look your boat.