Seasonal Risk Management for Marinas During the Winter Off-Season

You would think winter would be a low-risk season for marinas — and that the last thing you’d need to suggest to your client is that they tweak or upgrade their marina insurance. But if you’ve been doing this a while, you know that winter can be something of a safety mirage.

Yes, there are fewer boats, reduced foot traffic, and quieter operations. In reality, however, the off-season introduces a different risk profile, one that can carry higher loss severity and greater underwriting scrutiny.

Your clients may not be asking the question, “What risks do marinas face during the winter off-season, and how does insurance help manage them?” But you should be there to help them find the answer. Because winter is often a less busy time for marina operators, this can be a great opportunity to have agent-led conversations about preparedness, protection, and proactive risk management.

Why Winter Off-Season Risks Deserve Agent Attention

Reduced activity does not mean reduced exposure. Winter can really be rough on a marina.

During the winter months, marinas are often less staffed and less frequently inspected. Ignorance, in this case, isn’t bliss. Small, unattended issues, like a burst pipe, failed bilge system, or dock failure, can escalate into major losses. Ice, wind, snow, and winter storms have the potential to place sustained stress on docks, pilings, and shore-side structures.

From an insurance perspective, winter losses often raise questions during renewal discussions, particularly if maintenance or preparation appears inconsistent.

But if you can help your clients understand this dynamic, you can frame winter not as downtime, but as an important period that can directly influence claims history and pricing. More importantly, you can be something of a safety advisor, which may help keep the marina safer during the winter and foster a safety culture year-round.

Common Winter Risks That Impact Marina Insurance

Numerous winter-specific risks frequently affect marina insurance programs. Dock, pier, and piling damage from ice movement or storm surge is a common concern, particularly in regions with freeze-thaw cycles.

Flooding and freeze-related losses can pulverize electrical systems, fuel docks, and buildings if winterization steps are incomplete. Equipment storage presents another exposure, especially when vessels, lifts, or tools are stored improperly or without adequate protection.

Security and premises liability also remain relevant. Unauthorized access, vandalism, or slip-and-fall incidents can occur, even with low traffic. Each of these risks influences underwriting review, coverage terms, and overall marina insurance cost.

How Agents Can Use Risk Management To Strengthen Coverage Outcomes

Underwriters pay close attention to how marinas manage winter exposure. Documentation of inspections, maintenance plans, and winterization procedures can improve underwriting confidence (and lack of documentation can lessen that confidence).

Regular inspections, clear maintenance records, and written response plans demonstrate operational discipline. You can also suggest that your client works with a marine insurance surveyor, who can add value by identifying vulnerabilities before losses occur.

In the end, you’re not only selling insurance but also offering insight. Agents who promote proactive risk management will help create far stronger marina insurance programs.

Winter Risk Management Talking Points Agents Can Share With Clients

Agents can guide productive winter conversations with a few practical recommendations:

• Conduct pre-winter inspections and document the marina’s condition.
• Secure docks, utilities, and stored assets.
• Update storm and emergency response plans.
• Review coverage before winter exposure peaks.

Turning Winter Into a Strategic Advisory Moment

Winter offers you a chance to reinforce your role as a year-round risk advisor. Helping marina clients manage off-season exposure strengthens relationships and positions preparedness as a competitive differentiator. Your clients may not be initially enthused to do a review, but as you start pointing out all of the potential problems they may not be seeing, they’ll quickly come to see you as a trusted partner (and not just a forgettable insurance agent).

Tailored marina insurance plays a key role in this strategy. Partnering with a marine-focused specialist such as Merrimac Marine Insurance gives you access to program guidance aligned with real-world marina operations.

About Merrimac Marine Insurance

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