Best Insurance For Boats to Protect Electronics, Custom Gear and Trailers

Protecting modern boats means more than hull and basic liability. With expensive GPS, fish-finder suites, marine audio, custom canvas, and trailers, your policy needs specific coverages. This guide—focused on U.S. boat owners (with emphasis on high-risk states such as Florida, Texas, California and the Great Lakes region)—explains which coverages matter, realistic cost expectations, and which insurers and policy features typically give the best protection for electronics, custom gear and trailers.

Quick takeaways

• Average U.S. boat insurance costs range roughly $300–$800 per year for many recreational boats, but can be higher in hurricane-prone or high-theft areas (sources: ValuePenguin, Policygenius).
• Add-ons for electronics, custom gear and trailer coverage typically add $50–$300/year depending on declared values and deductible.
• Shop carriers known for marine specialization (BoatUS, Progressive, GEICO, USAA, State Farm) and request agreed-value and scheduled equipment endorsements for high-value electronics.

Sources: Policygenius (boat-insurance overview), ValuePenguin (average cost) and Insurance Information Institute (what boat insurance covers).

• https://www.policygenius.com/boat-insurance/overview/
• https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-cost-boat-insurance
• https://www.iii.org/article/what-boat-insurance-covers

Why standard hull/liability isn’t enough for electronics, custom gear and trailers

Electronics, custom gear and trailers are often the most expensive and most vulnerable components:

• Electronics (radar, chartplotters, sonar) are easily damaged by water, shock, or theft and may not be fully covered under a basic hull policy unless specifically scheduled.
• Custom gear (custom upholstery, hardtops, tower rigs, outriggers) often carries an agreed value or “custom equipment” endorsement to avoid depreciation disputes at claim time.
• Trailers have their own exposures: collision, theft, accident while towing, and storage damage. Many carriers offer trailer coverage either as an included limit or optional add-on.

If you want comprehensive protection, look for policies that offer:

• Scheduled equipment for electronics (declared-dollar limits)
• Agreed-value hull options for newer/high-value boats
• Trailer coverage with stated limits and replacement cost
• Salvage and wreck removal coverage
• Uninsured/underinsured boater protection

For a deeper dive into hull vs liability and what you need, see: Best Insurance For Boats & Watercraft: Hull vs Liability Coverage and What You Need

Coverage types you need to protect electronics, custom gear and trailers

1. Scheduled personal property / electronics endorsement

• Covers specified equipment by make/model/serial number.
• Typical recommended limits: $5,000–$20,000 depending on your electronics package.
• Often has a separate deductible (commonly $250–$1,000).

2. Agreed-value hull coverage

• Pays the pre-agreed value for a total loss (vital for newer or custom boats).
• Prevents depreciation disputes on total loss claims.

3. Trailer coverage

• Covers collision while towing, theft of trailer, and damage when stored.
• Typical limits: $2,000–$15,000 depending on trailer value. Expect add-on premium of $50–$150/year for most trailers.

4. Salvage, wreck removal and uninsured boater

• Wreck removal and salvage can exceed tens of thousands of dollars—make sure your policy includes a wreck removal limit (often $10,000–$50,000; increase if in rocky/coastal areas).
• Uninsured boater coverage protects you when the at-fault vessel has no insurance.

See more on salvage & wreck removal coverage: Best Insurance For Boats to Cover Salvage, Wreck Removal and Uninsured Boater Claims

How much extra will electronics/custom gear/trailer coverage cost?

Actual premiums vary by state, boat type, driving record, and storage location. Typical incremental costs (U.S. averages):

• Scheduled electronics: $50–$250/year for $5,000–$15,000 of declared value.
• Custom gear endorsements: $75–$350/year, depending on completeness and value.
• Trailer coverage: $50–$150/year for standard boat trailers; heavier or hydraulic trailers cost more.
• Agreed-value hull vs actual cash value (ACV): agreed-value often increases premium by 10–20% but provides predictable settlement.

Average baseline boat insurance in the U.S. ranges around $300–$800/year, with national average estimates near $400–$600/year depending on vessel size and location (ValuePenguin, Policygenius).

Compare top U.S. providers (electronics/custom gear/trailer focus)

Note: Pricing varies widely by state and boat type. For marina/mooring and seasonal storage implications, read: Best Insurance For Boats For Marina and Mooring Damage: Slip and Dock Liability Explained.

Real-world examples (approximate, illustrative)

• Florida (Miami area), 22' center-console, $60,000 agreed value, $10,000 electronics: expect $700–$1,500/year in coastal/hurricane zone with agreed-value + scheduled electronics + trailer.
• Great Lakes (Ohio), 18' fishing boat, $25,000 hull, basic electronics: expect $350–$600/year with trailer coverage included.
• California (San Diego), 30' sportfisher, $200,000 hull, full custom gear & heavy electronics: expect $1,500–$5,000/year with agreed value, high salvage limits, and high liability limits.

These ranges reflect differences for hurricane exposure, theft/activity rates, and salvage costs in rocky coastlines.

How to get accurate quotes (what underwriters need)

To obtain precise pricing and ensure electronics/custom gear/trailer coverage is correctly applied, provide:

• Boat make/model/year, hull ID and estimated hull value
• List of electronics with make/model/serial numbers and receipts
• Photos of custom work and invoices
• Trailer VIN, year, make, and estimated value
• Typical mooring/storage location (marina slip, trailer, private dock)
• Boating experience, claims history, and navigation area

For a step-by-step checklist to get accurate quotes, see: Best Insurance For Boats to Get Accurate Quotes: What Information Underwriters Need

Cost-saving tips without sacrificing protection

• Bundle boat insurance with auto/home for multi-policy discounts.
• Increase hull deductible (but keep electronics/trailer deductibles manageable).
• Secure electronics with GPS tracking, lockboxes, and remove/remove-portable devices when unattended.
• Store boats on trailer in secure compound during high-risk seasons—consider laid-up coverage in winter (see: Best Insurance For Boats for Seasonal Owners: Laid-Up Coverage and Winter Storage).
• Keep maintenance and documented anti-theft measures to lower theft-related surcharges.

Claims & valuation tips for electronics and custom gear

• Always schedule high-value items with serial numbers and receipts—unscheduled items may be paid at depreciated ACV.
• For custom gear, get a professional appraisal and put it in the policy as an agreed-value endorsement.
• Immediately document theft or damage (photos, police report, repair estimates) to speed claims.
• Keep backups of chartplotter settings and serial numbers off-boat for easier replacement and theft recovery.

Final checklist before you buy

• Do you have scheduled equipment listed (GPS, radar, audio)?
• Is your hull on agreed-value if it’s newer or custom?
• Does the policy include trailer coverage for towing, theft and storage?
• Are wreck removal and uninsured boater coverages adequate for your area?
• Have you shopped at marine-specialist carriers (BoatUS) and national providers (Progressive, GEICO, USAA, State Farm) for side-by-side quotes?

Getting the right mix of hull, scheduled electronics, custom gear endorsements and trailer protection prevents surprise gaps and ensures fast, fair claims settlements—especially in hurricane-prone Florida, crowded Texas waterways, the Great Lakes region, and California’s coast. For tailored recommendations by vessel type (PWC, small fishing boats, yachts) see related topic pages in the Best Insurance For Boats & Watercraft cluster.