3 Recreational Marine Insurance Changes To Note for the Off-Season

As the boating season winds down, your clients are reluctantly putting their boats away. They’re also thinking about the holidays. They’re not thinking about recreational marine insurance.

That’s why you need to. When the off-season comes, it’s the ideal opportunity for them to help their marine clients prepare for shifting risks, updated underwriting expectations, and new operational challenges leading into winter. At Merrimac Marine Insurance, we closely monitor market conditions, enabling agents to keep their clients’ recreational marine insurance programs current and competitive.

What changes should agents watch in recreational marine insurance this off-season? There are three timely developments you’ll want to be aware of before renewal conversations begin.

Shift in Seasonal Risk Profiles

Risk profiles change once vessels leave the water. During the off-season, exposures tend to migrate from on-water hazards to land-based risks, such as theft, fire, improper storage, and damage during hauling and transport. Maintenance work can also elevate third-party liability concerns, particularly when contractors or yard personnel are involved.

For agents, these transitions make the off-season a prime moment to review inland marine forms, property limits, and liability terms with clients. Policies that worked well during peak boating months may not fully address heightened exposures inside storage facilities or shipyards. Claims trends can shift during colder months as well, with storage-related losses and disputes involving custodial care.

Agents can help clients avoid surprises by conducting proactive coverage reviews now. Merrimac Marine regularly supports agents in evaluating changing seasonal exposures across recreational accounts and tailoring programs accordingly.

Evolving Underwriting and Rate Trends

Heading into 2026, many carriers are refining terms and adjusting pricing to reflect increased repair costs, supply-chain pressures, and weather-related claims activity. 

Industry research shows uneven market performance and pockets of stagnation within the U.S. marine sector, driven in part by economic uncertainty. These factors are influencing appetite, deductibles, and acceptable risk characteristics for recreational accounts.

Agents should prepare clients for moderate adjustments at renewal and use this time to discuss updated policy structures. Reviewing valuation clauses, considering alternative deductibles, and comparing carrier programs can help set expectations well before Q1 rate changes. 

With broad market access and experience across multiple vessel classes, Merrimac can help agents align each account with the most suitable program.

Stronger Focus on Risk Management

We all know that an agent does more than draft a complicated insurance policy. You’re the expert on keeping your clients safe. You add value by offering prevention strategies, not just policy placement.

And the off-season is one of the best times to reinforce safety and loss-prevention strategies. Dock inspections, winterizing procedures, and formal storage protocols can reduce the risk of claims. 

Cyber hygiene is another area where agents can guide clients. Increasingly, carriers are also evaluating digital exposures — including vulnerabilities in marina booking platforms and customer data systems.

Proactive risk management not only reduces the likelihood of losses but also supports stronger underwriting outcomes. Merrimac offers insights that will help you encourage better safety practices, which is a win-win for everyone: rates stay low, and everyone stays safe.

Helping Agents Prepare for the Year Ahead

As we move into winter, three trends stand out: shifting seasonal risks, tightening underwriting and rate adjustments, and a growing emphasis on structured prevention. To help clients stay protected and renew smoothly, agents can start with a few quick steps:

• Review every client’s winter storage exposures and liability limits.
• Flag policy exclusions that may affect consignment, repair work, or custodial care.
• Schedule renewal conversations early to address Q1 pricing and updated terms.

For more insights into evolving recreational marine insurance trends, get in touch with us today.

About Merrimac Marine Insurance

At Merrimac Marine, we are dedicated to providing insurance for the marine industry to protect your clients’ businesses and assets. For more information about our products and programs, contact our specialists today at (800) 681-1998.