Ahoy Insurance
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Ahoy! currently publishes recreational boat and yacht underwriting guidance through its FAQ and product pages. Core appetite is personal/recreational pleasure watercraft and yachts on a nationwide basis using two products: an admitted pleasure watercraft program and an E&S/Lloyd’s-backed yacht product. Admitted appetite is for boats under $500,000, generally up to 50 feet, up to 30 years old, and up to 3 engines with power limits of 500 HP for single or dual-engine craft or 1,050 HP total for triple-engine vessels. E&S appetite is for larger/higher-value vessels, with published ranges showing 50 to 95 feet and values from $500,000 up to at least $2.5 million; Ahoy’s homepage also references inquiries up to $3.5 million, so brokers should confirm current max value authority on referral. Preferred business appears to be owner-occupied recreational boats including speed/motor boats, fishing boats, sailboats, pontoons, and yachts; Ahoy also states it can consider custom houseboats in E&S when value exceeds $500,000. Geographic notes: admitted business is available in all states except New Hampshire, New Jersey, Alaska, and Hawaii; E&S is available in all states and U.S. territories. Navigation notes: admitted coverage is for U.S. and Canadian waterways within 100 miles of the coast, with coverage ceasing in international waters or another country’s waters unless allowed; E&S can add international navigation by endorsement. Restricted/declined risks are more clearly shown in the yacht/E&S application: no commercial or business use, no racing or speed contests except sailboats, no lease/rental exposure unless specifically endorsed, no principal garaging in Alaska or Hawaii, and no amphibious vehicles, airboats, iceboats, glass-bottom boats, kit boats, tunnel-hull boats, enhanced-engine risks, wood, ferro-cement, cold-molded, or original wood hulls fiberglass-covered. Risks must be seaworthy, maintained, with no unrepaired damage or vessels currently under repair or held for sale. Operator/insured restrictions include no insurance fraud history, no felony conviction in the last 10 years, no major auto violation in the last 5 years, and published marketing guidance also says they do not insure boaters with revoked or suspended boating/driver licenses or with 2+ at-fault accidents in the prior 36 months. Ownership/entity notes: admitted policies must be in an individual’s name, with trusts or businesses only as additional insureds; E&S can insure trusts and business-named ownership and evaluates multiple-owner arrangements case by case. Submission requirements: admitted business can be quoted/bound digitally online; E&S submissions require downloading the application and emailing it to firstmate@ahoy.insure. Ahoy also publishes a Vessel Self Survey Inspection form that may be completed by the vessel owner or a SAMS/NAMS accredited surveyor and is valid for five policy terms; broker-facing announcements say many boat types may not require surveys, but larger or referred risks should expect self-survey/inspection requirements. Broker/producer notes: Ahoy emphasizes fast turnaround, digital quote-bind-service capability, and partner support for agents/brokers via support.agents@ahoy.insure and phone/chat support during business hours. A May 4, 2026 official partner announcement also highlights access for independent agents through Smart Choice and describes the platform as reducing underwriting friction and enabling quick issuance.