Commercial Marine Insurance in Ontario.
Specialized coverage for your marine operation.
Protecting Marine Businesses Across Muskoka, Georgian Bay & Lake Simcoe.
Whether you operate a bustling marina in Muskoka, a charter service on Georgian Bay, or a boat dealership near Lake Simcoe, your business faces risks that a standard commercial policy simply cannot cover. At McLean & Dickey, we lead with the most critical distinction for marine owners: standard Commercial General Liability (CGL) policies exclude not only waterborne operations, but any operations involving boats.
To ensure your livelihood is well-protected, you need a specialized marine policy designed for the unique exposures of the water. Since 1922, our commercial experts have provided unbiased advice and deep industry knowledge to marine operators across Ontario, ensuring your docks, vessels, and liability are secure.
Commercial marine insurance solutions
Marina Insurance
Boat Dealership Insurance
Tour Boats, Charters & Guides
Boat Repair & Ship Repairers Insurance
Marine equipment manufacturing Insurance
Yacht Club Insurance
Who Needs Commercial Marine Insurance?
If your business revolves around the water, a one-size-fits-all business policy will leave you with significant coverage gaps. You require a specialized commercial marine solution if you operate any of the following:
- Marinas & Yacht Clubs: Protection for docks, piers, and boats in your care.
- Boat Dealerships: Inventory coverage and liability for sea trials.
- Charters & Tour Guides: Passenger liability (P&I) and hull protection.
- Ship Repairers: Legal liability for vessels under repair or alteration.
- Commercial Fishing: Specialized hull and machinery for working vessels. (Commercial vessel licensing and safety standards are governed by Transport Canada.)
- Marine Manufacturers: Product liability and specialized property coverage.
Core Commercial Marine Coverage Types
If your business is boats - we can help protect it.
Understanding the technical pillars of marine insurance is essential because standard business policies often fall short when watercraft are involved. At McLean & Dickey, we provide access to specialized coverages that protect both your physical assets and your legal liabilities.
Hull & Machinery Insurance
This coverage protects the physical structure, engines, and permanently attached equipment of your commercial vessels against physical damage.
Protection & Indemnity (P&I):
Comprehensive marine liability coverage. It covers third-party risks, including injury to passengers, damage to other vessels or docks, and sudden pollution events.
marina operators legal liability (MOLL)
The single most important coverage for marina owners. It protects you against claims for damage to boats that are left in your "care, custody, and control" for storage, mooring, or service.
ship repairers legal liability (SRLL)
Specifically designed for marine tradespeople, this coverage protects against claims resulting from damage to vessels under maintenance, repair or alteration.
Marine Property Insurance
Unlike standard property insurance, this is tailored for the specific risks of waterfront infrastructure, covering docks, piers, wharves, and specialized marine buildings.
pollution liability
Protects your business from the massive environmental cleanup costs and legal fees associated with fuel spills or other accidental discharges.
For a deeper look at national trends and safety statistics, you can review industry-wide marine data through the Insurance Bureau of Canada
CONNECT WITH ONE OF OUR COMMERCIAL BROKERS TODAY.
Ontario's Seasonal Risk: Winter Lay-Up & Storage
In regions like Muskoka, Georgian Bay, and Simcoe County, the off-season presents its own unique set of risks. Most commercial marine policies include a winter lay-up period, during which the vessel must be out of the water and safely stored.
We ensure your policy properly addresses seasonal storage risks, including transit to and from storage facilities and protection against heavy snow loads or fire while the vessel is on land.
Stay informed on the latest insurance regulations via the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA).
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Standard CGL policies have a “watercraft exclusion,” meaning they do not cover liability or property damage involving boats used for business. A specialized marine policy or policy extension is required to bridge this gap. For personal boat coverage, you need Pleasurecraft Insurance.
P&I is a specialized form of marine liability insurance for commercial boats. While standard liability focuses on land-based risks, P&I covers unique waterborne risks like passenger injury, damage to underwater cables, and pollution cleanup.
Yes, but typically only if you have Pollution Liability included in your policy. This is critical for marinas and fuel docks to cover the high cost of environmental remediation after a spill.
At a minimum, you need Hull & Machinery for the boat itself and Protection & Indemnity with high limits to protect against passenger injury claims.
Yes. However, boats must be winterized correctly and stored out of the water within specific dates as mandated by the policy’s Off-Season/Winter Lay-Up provision. The provision ensures coverage remains active while the boat is hauled out and stored for the Ontario winter.