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Your heart’s racing, you’re sweating profusely and you know all eyes are on you. First day on a new job? That recurring dream where you’re standing in front the school in just your underwear? Nah, you’re just riding high on your motorcycle, boat or watercraft.

You’ve waited all winter to feel this exhilaration, and now spring has finally sprung.  But, before you back that trailer down the ramp or take your bike out of storage, you’ll want to ask yourself one thing. Are your “toys” ready for spring?

Know Your Motorcycle

Whether you still ride with a death grip or have so many bikes in your garage there’s no room for a car, you should know what to look for before twisting that throttle. Before you even step outdoors, you’ll want to make sure you are covered with quality New Jersey motorcycle insurance. Of course you don't plan on having an accident or getting it stolen, but if bad luck comes your way, you'll be thankful you have the right bike insurance plan.  Coverage of everything from Collision, Comprehensive, Medical Payments, Property Damage, Bodily Injury Liability, Pedestrian PIP/ Guest Liability and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury will go miles for you when you encounter unlucky situations. For more information on NJ Motorcycle Insurance, click here.

Once you have your insurance squared away, it’s time to think about your bike on the open road.  Motorcycles, if winterized and stored properly, are relatively easy to get ready for the upcoming riding season. Here are a few quick-and-easy tips to get the most out of your motorcycle this season:

• Check battery terminals (clean, if necessary, with baking soda and water).
• Dry or apply an after-wash product, then dry.
• Check oil and other lubricants.
• Check cables and lubricate with applicable lubricants.
• Check tire pressure and wear.
• Check, charge or install the battery (positive/red lead first).
• Check all lights and signals to confirm operational and not cracked or broken.
• Check brake fluid level and brake pads/shoes for wear.
• Wash or apply a pre-wash and then thoroughly "bathe" your ride.
• Apply leather treatment to leather components.
• Check drive belt, chain or shaft.
• Polish and wax all chrome and painted parts.
• Add "octane" booster (if desired) to fuel according to directions.
• Clean inside of helmet with mild soap and let dry. Shine outside of helmet.
• Write down beginning mileage.
• Review any notes written before putting your motorcycle in winter storage.

BRACE YOUR BOATS

Whether you like it warm or cold, fresh or salty, the water is calling you and you boat. Are you someone that lives for the power you feel as you throttle up your twin outboards? Or do you enjoy harnessing the wind in your sailboat?

No matter your boating preference, before you jump in this spring, you’ll want to be sure you have the right boat insurance policy to suit your needs. Accidents happen, so you’ll want to insure yourself and your boat against liability and damage. New Jersey boat insurance agency Sharer & Associates can help you navigate the options for affordable boat insurance. Many policies provide coverage for Damage to other boats or docks, Bodily Injury or Death, and Medical Payments.  Click here to view more information about New Jersey boat insurance.

If you winterized your boat, you saved yourself some spring boat prep time and headaches.  And that means the road between your boat and the water is shorter.  What things should go on your to-do list and the shopping list? Here are a few general steps to take before you take the plunge:

• Do a general cleaning of hull, deck and topsides using a mild detergent.
• Make sure drains and scuppers are clear.
• Put on a good coat of wax.
• Clean and polish metal with a good metal polish.
• Clean teak and oil.
• Clean windows and hatches.
• Clean canvas, bimini and dodger.
• Clean interior including bilges.
• Check spare parts and tools, and replace as necessary.
• Inspect the deck making sure your lifelines, pulpits and stanchions are good.
• Make sure your life raft and dinghy are in working order.
• Check and replace wiper blades if necessary.
• Make sure registration is current and onboard.

WARM UP YOUR WATERCRAFT

Part boat, part motorcycle, all fun!  Whether it’s a jet ski, WaveRunner or Sea-Doo, your personal watercraft lets you keep cool and feel cooler as you glide across the water getting soaked by the spray. While these sporty water rides can make you feel like you own the waves, you won’t want to get thrown off by an accident that leaves you and your toy landlocked.

Before you hit the ramp this spring, do yourself a favor and get covered with a watercraft insurance policy.  New Jersey jet ski insurance helps insure you and your watercraft against accidents, vandalism and liability. Whether you operate it yourself or loan it to a friend, you can be covered for situations including Damage to other crafts or docks, Bodily Injury or Death, and towing assistance. Give us a call at 732-446-4919 or submit a quote request through our website to find out how the team at Sharer & Associates can help with NJ insurance for jet skis.

The warm weather and use of personal watercraft are supposed to be all about fun. But as any jet ski owner knows, things don’t always as planned. Put the odds in your favor this season by following these simple steps:

 

·         Check and maintain your battery. Beware of sulfation, which decreases the battery’s ability to hold a charge.

·         If buying a new battery, consider newer alternatives like gel and AGM (absorbed glass mat).

·         Check for corrosion, dirt or moisture built up on the terminals, which drain power.

·         Clean the terminals with a solution of baking soda and water, and rinse with fresh water. Once dry, apply a light coat of waterproof grease to protect the terminals.

·         Flush your engine.

·         Check your engine, check your oil and make sure all your clamps are tight.

·         Wash and wax.

·         Use a quality vinyl protectant to condition the vinyl seat.

·         Don’t forget your trailer. Check tire pressure, check bolts and nuts to make sure things are tight, inspect bunk boards and trailer lights.

 

If you are a boat owner, there’s a chance you may have overlooked obtaining a boat or watercraft insurance policy.  Perhaps you were under the impression that your homeowner’s policy covered your boat.  Some homeowner’s policies may provide for limited boat liability insurance coverage. This is usually based on the power of the boat motor. In all cases it’s best to check your policy carefully and discuss your specific situation with your insurance agent.

With the onset of boating season, now’s a good time to make sure you have appropriate coverage.  And if you do have a boat or watercraft policy what exactly is being covered?  There are different coverage options for boat owners to insure that their boat and its passengers are protected.  These options include physical property damage, watercraft liability, medical payments, fuel/oil liability, uninsured watercraft, boat equipment, and emergency services.

Most recently, the environmental disaster of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico comes to mind, and boat owners have shown concern about coverage for unforeseen circumstances. An oil spill from your boat wouldn’t necessarily cause a commotion like the Gulf spill, but it could have a serious financial impact if you are personally responsible to fund the clean-up.  This sort of occurrence is usually covered by the watercraft liability coverage on the boat owner policy.  However, some policies have separate limits for fuel oil liability.

It’s important to note that a personal umbrella liability policy, which provides an extra cushion beyond normal liability limits, does not extend to fuel spill liability, so it’s very important to carry $500K or $1MM in fuel spill coverage on the boat policy to make sure you’re protected from the unexpected.

Boat owners may also neglect to take other operators into account when purchasing their policy.  If you are borrowing someone else’s boat, make sure your policy covers your liability on that boat, including fuel spills, which would be under non-owned boat liability coverage.  While some boat policies will cover any “permissive operators” who drive the boat with permission, some boat insurance policies may restrict coverage only to those operators listed on the policy.  Likewise, if someone drives your boat and causes a bad accident, they may be covered as a “permissive driver,” but be careful because your policy may only cover the people who are specifically listed on your boat as operators.  This is a case where a personal umbrella policy could come in handy.  While this policy would cover your liability exposure in driving someone else’s boat, they have underlying limits that will likely leave you with a gap of $100,000 or more.

We do have some good news for you!  There are a number of discounts to help you save on boat insurance.  A few of the discounts include new boat and diesel engine policies.  You could also be eligible for a multi-policy discount on your boat and auto insurance.  In addition, you could earn discounts for having taken certain boat education courses.

Additional Information:  http://www.boatinsurance.org/