Follow up on OD insurance for our boats

Posted By: Bob Pr. S2 6.7 #81, "The TARDIS", Topeka, KS
Date: 7/22/04 11:06a.m.

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In a previous post, I mentioned inquiring about USSA's cheaper insurance for OD boats -- http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/s2/index.cgi/read/8072 Since I'd not heard back from them, I expressed my concern at not hearing from them. (In addition, I rattled their cage by sending a CC: to Lee Parks, USSA.) Within an hour, I received these two replies, one right after the other: (1) Hi, Bob - I am sorry it takes the underwriter a while to review all the requests for the One Design Program. He was on vacation as well, so that certainly does not help us to be timely, sorry for the delay. Couple things to consider: 1. Is there a current builder? Not just the mast and blades as you mention in the email. 2. total class membership appears to be less than the required 150. The program is quite strict on the requirements for approval. I will resubmit your email to insurance company and get back to you as soon as I have an answer. Thank you in advance for your patience. Sarah Davidson ------------------------------------ (2) Dear Bob, The underwriter says the class does not meet enough of the requirements at this time. Thank you for your inquiry. Without a current builder, I see scant hope of our ever rising to a membership level of 150 boats -- that would be 42+% of the total number of boats produced between 17 and 24 years ago! I do hold some hope (slight but persistent) that we can find a way to make a kit to make new hulls by either a DIY home builder or a small marine shop. The hull forms are so simple that I think some bow, stern, and midsection forms -- built by a marine FG shop -- would allow balsa core planking to be easily faired by a DIY home builder to the proper shape. Baltek sells some that already has FG on both sides. If we could get that accomplished, then we could turn our attention to deck and cockpit areas.