Building a Boater Experience Resumé for Boat Insurance

If you’re looking to step up to a larger, faster, or higher-performance boat, then a Boater Experience Resumé is going to be one of your best tools for getting the insurance you need. This document isn’t just a list of your boating history—it’s your chance to show insurance carriers that you’ve got the skills, experience, and knowledge to handle your vessel safely. A well-built resumé is key for navigating the insurance process, especially if you’re looking to upgrade to a more advanced boat.

What is a Boater Experience Resumé?

Think of your Boater Experience Resumé as your boating credentials. It’s a summary of your experience that lets insurers know you’re capable and responsible on the water. If you’re a seasoned boater with years of handling and ownership experience, a strong resumé can make it easier to qualify for policies on higher-value or performance boats. But if you’re newer to boating or making a significant upgrade in size or speed, then this resumé can be critical to showing that you’re prepared.

Why You Might Need One

Many carriers require a resumé when you’re looking to insure a boat with higher value, top speed, or advanced performance features. They’re not just looking to cover any boat—they want to make sure the person behind the helm is ready for the unique demands that come with it.

When there’s a gap in prior ownership or experience with larger vessels, carriers might even add a Captain’s Warranty to the policy. This means that while you can get coverage, you’re required to have a licensed captain on board with you until you’ve completed a set amount of training hours. Once the captain signs off, you’re good to go, but until then, the captain’s presence is mandatory. This step ensures you’re fully prepared and supported as you transition to a more powerful vessel.

Building Your Resumé: What to Include

Your resumé should be straightforward, focused, and comprehensive, covering your boating background in a way that helps insurers feel confident about your skills. Here’s what I recommend including:

1. Boats You’ve Operated: List each boat you’ve operated, including the type, length, make, and model. Be specific—mention whether it’s a pontoon, center console, performance boat, or cruiser. This paints a clear picture of your experience across various types of boats.
2. Years of Ownership and Operation: Include how long you’ve owned and operated each type of boat. Whether it’s been years or just days on the water, this detail helps insurers see your level of experience.
3. Top Speed of Vessels Operated: For high-performance boats, top speed is a major factor. This lets insurers know if you’re comfortable handling the speeds that performance boats are capable of reaching.
4. Waters Navigated: List the specific waters you’ve boated in, whether that’s rivers, lakes, coastal areas, or offshore. Different waters come with unique challenges, so insurers appreciate seeing a range of experience.
5. Boating Courses and Certifications: Include any formal training or courses you’ve completed, like Power Squadron, Chapman’s School of Seamanship, or Tres Martin’s Performance Boat School. These certifications give insurers a better idea of your boating knowledge and skills.
6. Previous Boat Ownership: If you’ve owned other boats, list them, along with the years you owned each one. Ownership experience shows insurers that you understand the responsibility that comes with maintaining a boat.
7. Boating Losses: Be upfront about any boating losses. Insurance carriers look at loss history as part of their assessment, and transparency is always best.
8. Additional Comments: If you have specific skills or knowledge—such as maintenance experience—mention that too. These details help round out the picture of you as a responsible, experienced boater.

Performance Boats Require an Experience Resumé

For performance boats, a Boater Experience Resumé isn’t just suggested—it’s essential. These boats demand a high level of skill and precision, and carriers want to see that you can safely handle the power. When it comes to performance boat insurance, training courses like Tres Martin’s Performance Boat School are especially valuable on your resumé, as they show you’ve had specialized training in handling high-speed vessels.

Example of a Boater Experience Resumé

If you’re wondering what this should look like, well, there is no really set format. As long as it has the information needed, insurance carriers are typically ok with it. Instead of creating your own, here’s an example of the resumé template we use at On The Water Marine Insurance.

Wrapping It Up

A solid Boater Experience Resumé is one of the best ways to demonstrate your experience and get the insurance coverage you need. With a thorough resumé, you can streamline the insurance process, show your knowledge, and move closer to getting out on the water with confidence. So take some time to document your experience—it might just be one of the smartest moves you make as a boater. And remember, if you have any questions about building your resumé or getting boat insurance, give me a call or send a message!