Boat insurance void with drink-sailing

Posted on August 24^th 2009

Drink driving is a well-publicised campaign, but often other drink related offences can sometimes slip under the media radar if nothing particularly untoward happens.

However drink-sailing is a major problem for members of the boating community as a drunken skipper or navigator at the hand of the wheel can often lead to collisions to other boats and marks on the landscape. In addition any boat insurance claims made would also be branded null and void.

Recently, a captain in Peterhead has been found drink-sailing after his boat run aground at Filey in Scotland on Saturday 24 August. His arrest shortly followed his rescue from his boat the Honeybourne III and he was charged by police officer for suspicion of being under the influence and consumption of alcohol whilst at the helm.

George Wood's court case has been set for the September 10 and the court is expected to hear that the long and costly rescue operation to save Wood would have been avoided had Wood been in a fit state of mind to be driving the vessel.

Insure My Boat provides boat insurance for boat owners across the UK inland and coastal waterways in case to allow for added protection in case of a collision or being run aground.

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