Insuring Hobie Cat
catamarans and multihulls · the USA
Hobie Cat builds catamarans and multihulls in the USA. NAMMERT insures boats of this make regardless of year built or where you bought them, liability, hull, legal expenses and personal accident cover from one house, taken out online in five minutes.
At a glance
Origin
the USA
Class
catamarans and multihulls
Typical sizes
4 bis 6 m
Premium from
from €39 a year for liability
Worth knowing
Hobie Cat; cover, cost and conditions
Hobie Cat turned the beach catamaran into a class, and the Hobie 16 has been on the water in almost unchanged form since 1970, with more than a hundred thousand boats built the most widespread catamaran class of all. For insurance purposes this is a craft with a clear profile: no engine, no cabin, no berth in the classic sense, but instead storage on the beach, trailer transport and intensive use on windy days.
Third-party liability is the more important part of the cover on a beach catamaran. A Hobie sails fast, often close to the shore among swimmers, surfers and other boats, and a collision with a swimmer is a personal injury with an unlimited cost risk. Our boat third-party liability covers personal injury, property damage and financial loss with ten to fifty million euros; on a boat of this size that is not oversized protection but the actual reason for the policy.
For the hull insurance what matters is less the sailing than the lying idle. Beach catamarans are stored ashore, often unprotected on the beach or on club grounds, and the most frequent losses are storm damage while lying idle and theft of rigging parts, sails and trapeze equipment. Secure the cat with storm lines and store sails and fittings separately; both reduce the risk exactly where it actually arises.
Alongside the classics 14, 16 and 18, the fast racing boats are in the portfolio: FX One, Tiger F18 and Wild Cat. On these boats the larger share of the value lies in the rig, the sails and the trapeze equipment, not in the hull. Include the complete set in the sum insured, otherwise in a total loss the hull insurance will replace two hulls without sails. Club races are included from the Basis-Plus tariff upwards; for races with ranking status, state the class when taking out the policy.
The Mirage kayaks with pedal drive are a different case: muscle powered, therefore without their own boat third-party liability with us, but with hull insurance, legal expenses cover and accident cover. For liability, private liability insurance usually applies; check whether it expressly mentions watercraft.
Questions and answers
Frequent questions
Can the Hobie FX One be insured?
Yes, like any other sports catamaran. What counts for the premium is value, year of construction, sail area and cruising range. Include the rig, the sails and the trapeze equipment in the sum insured.
Do I need third-party liability for a Hobie Cat?
We expressly recommend it. A beach catamaran sails fast close to the shore; personal injury is the most expensive case imaginable and is usually not covered by private liability insurance.
Is theft of sails and rigging parts covered?
Under full hull cover yes, including theft of individual parts. Store sails and fittings separately from the boat; that clearly reduces the risk.
The cover that fits
For the whole class of boat
What matters for catamarans and multihulls is the same across every brand; engine output, how a claim is settled, cruising range and theft protection. The class page lists every point and every brand in this class.
Insuring catamarans and multihulls, every brand and every condition
Other builders in this class
All makes by type of boat
catamarans and multihulls
Ohne Zuordnung
motorboats and sports boats
sailing boats and sailing yachts
motor yachts
dinghies and small craft
inflatables and RIBs
jet skis and boards
houseboats and electric boats
boat trailers
Katamarane & Trimarane
Nautical information What counts before you cast off, papers, equipment, waters
Licence
A powerboat licence (inland or coastal) is required from 15 hp (11.03 kW).
Registration
Registration from 3 hp; for trips abroad carry the boat certificate or flag document.
Waters
Inland, coastal and abroad; plan fairways, bridge clearances, draught and tides.
Equipment
Lifesaving gear, fire extinguisher, anchor, signalling equipment and correct navigation lights.
Cruising range
The agreed cruising range is stated in the policy and can be extended at any time.
Weather
Check wind force in Beaufort and wind direction before casting off, and allow for gusts.
General guidance, not a complete account; what governs are the rules of the waters you are on and your boat’s manual. Current wind force and direction for your waters are shown on the Home.
Series by Hobie Cat, with value and cover
Hobie 14 / 14 Turbo is an open catamaran from Hobie Cat (the USA), built from 1970 to 2010, and today changes hands at between €2,000 and €9,000.
Hobie 16 is an open catamaran from Hobie Cat (the USA), built since 1975, and today changes hands at between €3,000 and €14,000.
Hobie 18 / 18 Formula is an open catamaran from Hobie Cat (the USA), built from 1980 to 2005, and today changes hands at between €3,000 and €12,000.
Hobie FX One is an open catamaran from Hobie Cat (the USA), built from 1998 to 2010, and today changes hands at between €4,000 and €14,000.
Hobie Tiger F18 is an open catamaran from Hobie Cat (the USA), built since 1995, and today changes hands at between €8,000 and €25,000.
Hobie Wild Cat F18 is an open catamaran from Hobie Cat (the USA), built since 2008, and today changes hands at between €10,000 and €28,000.
Hobie Getaway is an open catamaran from Hobie Cat (the USA), built since 2000, and today changes hands at between €6,000 and €18,000.
Hobie Wave / Teddy is an open catamaran from Hobie Cat (the USA), built since 1995, and today changes hands at between €3,000 and €12,000.
Hobie Mirage Tandem Island is a kayak from Hobie Cat (the USA), built since 2010, and today changes hands at between €4,000 and €9,000.
Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14 is a kayak from Hobie Cat (the USA), built since 2010, and today changes hands at between €3,000 and €7,000.
Hobie 16 / 18 classic is a motorboat from Hobie Cat (the USA), built since 1970, and today changes hands at between €3,000 and €14,000.
Hobie Wave / Getaway / Tandem Island is a motorboat from Hobie Cat (the USA), built since 2000, and today changes hands at between €6,000 and €18,000.
Hobie Mirage Pro Angler / Passport is a motorboat from Hobie Cat (the USA), built since 2010, and today changes hands at between €2,000 and €7,000.
For a series built in these years the market value and the replacement cost often differ widely. An agreed value removes the age-based scale, and the figure in the policy stands.
Open catamarans are beached and trailed, so most damage happens ashore and in transit, not on the water.
As the series is still in production, parts are available and repairs are predictable. Still, set the value at replacement cost, including sails, rigging or gear you bought later.
On a kayak accident cover comes first; liability is usually handled by your private policy. Hull cover deals with theft and transit damage.
As the series is still in production, parts are available and repair costs are predictable. Even so, value it at replacement cost including retrofitted electronics, not at list price.
Models of this make we insure
Each model has its own page with cover, cost and the points that matter for that boat. Your model not listed? We insure it all the same.
Hobie Cat insured in five minutes.
Calculate the premium online, policy the same day, or call us: +49 3375 / 29 12 77.
