Journal

In this latest episode of our cruising stories, we will take you to the other side of the globe to the US where our lovely clients Heather and Mark keep their beautiful boat ‘Bushranger.’

Walking by any marina, sailing club or shipyard, a common visual is motor and sailing boats dangling on crossbeams, straps and slings. What at glance isn’t always noted is how the owners fearfully watch on, knowing well the huge risks these practices pose for their assets.

Something that makes our jobs at Pantaenius fulfilling is hearing about all the incredible travel stories our insured’s share with us. Whilst we do get a tad jealous, we’re mostly just excited that we get to help facilitate cruising adventures worldwide!

Agreed Fixed Value vs Market Value - The main two types of policies Australian boat insurers offer are ‘Agreed Fixed Value’ or ‘Market Value’ policies. Pantaenius was the only boat insurer offering Agreed Fixed Value policies in Australia for a long time however in recent years some other businesses followed suit.

The Galvanic Series and what it means for you. - What you may or may not know is that not all metals are compatible. Metals find their place on a chart called the ‘Galvanic Series’ or ‘Electro-potential Series’ which outlines them from most noble to least noble.

At the end of every year the Pantaenius group elects a charity to donate to. In 2021, ‘The Ocean Cleanup’ was chosen, an incredible organization who have set out to combat the masses of plastic in our oceans. We have been actively following their progress for some time now and realized we never shared this incredible organization with you!

The effectiveness of correctly installed lightning protection systems has long been proven; however, regrettably such devices are not yet standard on boats and yachts. But owners can act. Specialist companies offer several possibilities of averting or at least reducing the devastating effects of a lightning strike; these possibilities are described briefly below.

Introducing ‘We Are Feel Good Inc’ - In our recent article ‘Save Our Oceans’ we touched on the toxic compounds Oxybenzone and Octinoxate which are found in common sunscreens. These two chemicals can have detrimental effects in our oceans, particularly for coral reefs. The two chemicals have been banned entirely from use in Hawaii and Florida, amongst other locations globally.

Collision - Whether it be with another boat, a log or even a whale… collisions occur A LOT. Collisions are definitely the claim we see most and the damage suffered as a result can range from minimal to extreme. You may be lucky enough to get away with a scrape but you could also end up with a decent sized hole. On the other end of the spectrum you may also be held responsible for the damages to another person’s boat or property.

Following on from our ‘Save our Oceans’ article, Pantaenius would like to introduce you to a company that truly aligns with the values of Pantaenius!

Our playground, the ocean, covers 71% of the planet and is home to endless ecosystems which we rely heavily on for all facets of life.

Time to update that cabin? Find useful tips here.