organization which has its own insurance
coverage, whether primary or secondary.
So make sure that you are confident that
the coverage provided by the sanctioning
organization is sufficient to protect you
during that event, as you will not be able
to rely on your NAMBA insurance if it
is not.
Also, please note that NAMBA
insurance does not cover you when you
are flying R/C airplanes or driving R/C
cars. This coverage had been provided a
number of years ago but has not been
part of our coverage for a number of
years. We are a model boating
organization and that is all that our
insurance covers.
NAMBA insurance also provides you
with a $1,000,000 personal accident
policy which covers injuries which you
may incur while running your boat or
while assisting someone else with their
boat. In the past, this has covered such
injuries as a cut hand, or torn ligaments
suffered when a boater slipped on the
mud in the launch area. This policy is
secondary insurance. That means that if
you have health insurance at work or
through a family member, NAMBA
insurance will expect your primary
PROPWASH
2
April 2013
countless hours with rule updates, printable and web site version rulebooks, and so on
and so on. Maybe if the rest of us served with the proper attitude we could make
NAMBA that much better also.
We have some proposed rules included with this Propwash. Some may affect you
and some may not. I encourage each and every one of you to talk and discuss these
rules and take the time to vote. There are some good arguments for voting these rules
in as well as voting them down. JUST VOTE!
Elections will be coming up in September of this year for the NAMBA President,
Vice President and odd numbered districts in NAMBA. If you wish to be a member
that makes a difference step up and get involved in one of these positions.
May your water be calm, your motors tuned well, and nobody cuts you off at the
start. Have a great year racing.
Coverage Explained
Al Waters
NAMBA Executive Secretary
As we begin a new year of model boating, I thought it might be a good time to
provide a reminder of just what our insurance coverage is all about. NAMBA
membership provides you with liability and property damage coverage in the
unfortunate event that your boat should be involved in an accident in which a spectator
is injured or damage is done to someone else’s property. This coverage is $1,000,000
per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate. Of course, this does not cover damage done
to another model boat in the normal course of running. This coverage is primary
coverage, so you do not have to look first to your homeowner's policy for protection as
is the case with some of the other boating organizations. In addition, it is individual
insurance rather than site insurance, which protects you no matter where you are
running, not just at pre-approved lakes and ponds, as with some of the other
organizations. Of course, keep in mind that you are also expected to be complying
with all local and state laws and restrictions. If you are running a boat on a lake on
which you are trespassing you may not be covered. Several years ago the NAMBA
Board of Directors authorized the addition of a $1,000,000 umbrella policy to add to
the above mentioned coverages.
In addition, NAMBA offers additional
site coverage to protect the owner of the
running site with the same $2,000,000 as is
afforded the individual member. While this
is not required for the individual insurance
to be in effect, some cities and site owners
require this additional coverage.
Registered clubs may purchase this
coverage at a cost of $45.00 per year.
However, please keep in mind that
NAMBA site insurance provides insurance
for, and names as an additional insured, the
site owner only when the accident involves a NAMBA member. We do not provide
general liability coverage for site owners for all possible hazards which can occur at
their lake, but merely for those caused directly or indirectly by an insured NAMBA
member. In addition, this coverage does not cover the site owner if an uninsured
boater or a boater who has insurance through another organization causes an accident
at the site.
And yes, NAMBA's coverage is in effect any time you are running, not merely
at sanctioned events. This includes practice running or unsanctioned club or fun
events. Of course, coverage would not be valid if you are blatantly breaking one of the
NAMBA safety regulations, such as operating a boat while swimmers are in the water,
running while other full size water craft are in the water, or consuming alcoholic
beverages or illegal drugs while running a boat. In addition, NAMBA insurance does
not cover you when you are participating in a sanctioned event of any other