Your Boat Deserves Better Than a Footnote in Your Homeowners Policy

Most boat owners in the Chippewa Valley don't realize their homeowners policy leaves them significantly underprotected on the water. At Barnett Insurance, we help Wisconsin boaters find watercraft insurance that actually fits how, where, and when they use their boats — not a one-size-fits-all policy bolted onto something else.

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What a Dedicated Boat Policy Actually Protects You From

Standard homeowners policies may extend limited coverage to small watercraft — but that coverage typically caps out fast, and liability protection on the water is minimal at best. If you own a pontoon, a fishing boat, a jet ski, or anything larger than a small rowboat, a separate boat insurance policy isn't just a good idea. It's the right call.

 

Here's what a dedicated watercraft insurance policy can cover:

 

  • Physical damage to your boat, motor, and trailer
  • Liability for injuries to passengers or other boaters caused by your watercraft
  • Medical payments for injuries that occur on your boat
  • Uninsured watercraft coverage — for when the other boater doesn't have insurance
  • Personal property on board, including fishing gear and safety equipment
  • Towing and emergency assistance on the water

Do You Actually Need Boat Insurance in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin law does not require boat insurance the way it requires auto insurance. But that doesn't mean you're free to skip it. Most marinas, storage facilities, and campgrounds with boat access require proof of liability coverage before they'll let you store or launch. And beyond the fine print of a storage contract, the real question is what happens if something goes wrong on Lake Wissota or Lake Altoona without coverage in place.

 

We work with boaters across the Chippewa Valley — from Lake Menomin to dozens of smaller lakes within a short drive of our Eau Claire office. Whether you're out on the water every weekend from May through September or you trailer your boat to a new lake each summer, we'll build a comparative summary that reflects your actual situation.

Coverage That Fits the Way You Use Your Boat

Not all watercraft are the same, and neither are the coverage questions that come with them. A pontoon boat used for family outings has different risk considerations than a bass boat rigged for tournament fishing or a jet ski putting in serious hours on the lake. We work through those differences with you before recommending anything.

 

A few things we pay attention to when building your comparative summary:

 

  • Pontoon boats: Higher passenger capacity means liability exposure matters more than most owners expect.
  • Fishing boats: Specialized equipment — trolling motors, fish finders, rod storage — may need specific coverage to be fully protected.
  • Personal watercraft (jet skis): Often excluded from homeowners policies entirely; standalone coverage is typically the right move.
  • Seasonal use: If your boat is in storage from October through April, your coverage can reflect that — you don't need to pay for on-water exposure during months you're not on the water.
  • Trailering: Coverage while your boat is being towed to and from the lake is a separate consideration worth addressing.

Why Chippewa Valley Boaters Work With Barnett Insurance

We're an independent agency, which means we're not locked into one carrier's products. We compare options across multiple insurance companies and walk you through the differences in plain language — coverage limits, deductibles, seasonal considerations — so you can make a confident decision.

 

Our office is less than 10 miles from Lake Wissota and Lake Altoona. This isn't a generic watercraft insurance page written for a national audience. We know these lakes, we know this region, and we understand what boat ownership actually looks like in western Wisconsin.

 

  • Independent agency with access to multiple carriers
  • 17+ years of insurance experience, including time as a multi-location Farmers advisor before going independent
  • Comparative summaries, not raw quotes — we walk you through coverage line by line
  • Member of PIA Wisconsin (Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin)
  • Referral-based client base built on honest conversations about risk

Tell Us What We're Covering

Boat Insurance Questions We Hear Often

  • Is boat insurance required in Wisconsin?
    Wisconsin does not legally require boat insurance, but many marinas, storage facilities, and campgrounds do require proof of liability coverage before allowing access or storage. Even where it isn't required, operating a boat without coverage puts your personal finances at risk if an accident causes injury or property damage.
  • Will my homeowners insurance cover my boat?
    Most homeowners policies provide only limited coverage for small watercraft — typically with low liability limits and minimal physical damage protection. Larger boats, pontoons, and personal watercraft like jet skis are often excluded or significantly underinsured under a standard homeowners policy. A separate boat insurance policy is usually the right move.
  • Can I get seasonal boat insurance that only covers me during the summer?
    Yes. Seasonal policies are available that align your coverage period with your actual time on the water. You can also maintain a reduced storage coverage rate during the off-season rather than carrying full on-water coverage year-round. We'll walk you through what makes sense for your situation.
  • Does boat insurance cover my trailer?
    Trailer coverage depends on the policy. Some boat insurance policies include trailer coverage; others require it to be added or covered separately under your auto policy. This is one of the specific items we review when building your comparative summary so there are no gaps.
  • What lakes near Eau Claire do you serve?
    We work with boaters throughout the Chippewa Valley, including Lake Wissota, Lake Altoona, Lake Menomin, and the surrounding area. We're also licensed across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Arizona, and Iowa — so if you trailer your boat to other states or have a seasonal property on a lake elsewhere, we can help with that too.
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Ready to Get Your Boat Covered Before the Season Starts?

If you own a boat in Wisconsin and you're not sure whether your current coverage is actually doing the job, let's talk through it. We'll compare your options across multiple carriers, walk you through the differences, and help you land on a policy that fits how you actually use your boat.