You back the trailer up, do a final check, lock the tie-downs — same as always. Then one morning the outboard's gone, the fish finder's ripped out of the dash, and whatever was in the hatches has walked. No forced entry needed, half the time — just bolt cutters and a quiet street.
Why the claim can be harder than the theft
Boats and their gear move around a lot — from the shed, to the driveway, to the ramp, to a mate's place for a service. It's easy to lose track of exactly what's on board at any given time, let alone what it's all actually worth. Outboards, electronics and safety gear add up to real money, but most owners couldn't rattle off serial numbers or purchase dates on the spot.
Insurers want more than "it was a good motor, maybe two years old." Without proof of what you had, you can end up settling for a lot less than it's worth — or getting knocked back altogether.
What makes a claim go smoothly
- A photo of the outboard, hull ID, and any electronics fitted
- The outboard's serial number, written down somewhere other than on the outboard itself
- Purchase receipts or a rough price and date for the bigger gear
- A quick note of what's usually stored in the hatches and tackle boxes
Where My Asset Mate comes in
My Asset Mate lets you log your boat and its gear properly — photos, serial numbers, what you paid, all in one spot on your phone, and in the cloud too if you choose.
If it ever gets stolen or damaged, you're not trying to remember specs and dates under pressure. You open the app, and it's all there, ready for the insurer or the police report.
Five minutes now beats a guessing game later — especially with gear that's this easy to move and this expensive to replace.