What exactly does the damage waiver cover? (and especially what it does NOT cover)

First of all, what is a security deposit?

Before talking about the waiver, let's recall what a security deposit is. When taking over the boat, the charter company holds a deposit on your credit card or by check, the amount of which varies from €2,000 to €8,000 (approximately $2,160 to $8,640) depending on the size and type of boat (or even more for a yacht or luxury catamaran). This deposit is fully returned at the end of the charter if the boat is returned in good condition. In the event of damage, the charter company can withhold all or part of this sum. It is precisely against this risk that the damage waiver protects you. To find out more about the terms of the deposit itself, see our FAQ insurance and deposits as well as our FAQ payments.

The principle of the damage waiver

If your boat suffers damage related to navigation during the charter, the charter company will withhold all or part of your deposit. The damage waiver insurance then compensates you for the sum withheld, less a deductible of 10 % of the damage, with a minimum of €200, and within the limit of a maximum compensation of €5,000. In practical terms, you never lose the entire deposit, but a residual share always remains at your expense.

Note: for charters with high security deposits (yachts, luxury catamarans with deposits over €5,000), there are sometimes premium or VIP packages with a higher compensation cap. To request from your Filovent contact upstream if your file justifies it.

How much does it cost?

The premium is calculated on the basis of 5.5 % of the charter amount (extras not included in the calculation), with a minimum premium of €120. If you do not take out the insurance at the time of booking, you should know that it remains possible to add it up to the day of departure directly from your customer area (this deadline may vary depending on the contracts, to be confirmed with your contact). Note that since Filovent is a French entity, the policy is issued under French insurance regulation, and the premium is invoiced in euros.

What is covered (in detail)

Damage related to navigation is covered: damage to the hull, rigging, engine, standard sails and on-board equipment, following a poor maneuver, a light grounding, an impact at the dock or a sea incident. This is the vast majority of damage that a sailor can unintentionally cause during their cruise.

Detail on sails: covered are the mainsail and the standard roller-furling genoa supplied with the boat. Excluded are so-called performance sails (spinnaker, gennaker, code 0, downwind sail), whether supplied as an option by the charter company or not. If your sailboat carries performance equipment, check the specific conditions imposed by the charter company, who may require a separate deposit or a specific guarantee for these sails.

What is NOT covered (the key exclusions)

Six major categories of exclusions are absolutely essential to know:

1.  Simple losses (except if the loss is consecutive to damage), for example, dropping a winch handle into the water.
2.  The Spinnaker and the Gennaker, these very fragile performance sails that insurers never cover.
3.  The dinghy and the outboard engine: dropping the engine into the water or puncturing the dinghy are not covered, as this equipment does not strictly speaking form part of the boat.
4.  Damage caused to a third-party vessel: this falls under the third-party liability of the chartered boat, not the damage insurance. For US travelers chartering in the Caribbean or Bahamas, we strongly recommend verifying that the charter company carries adequate third-party liability coverage, as US health/auto policies typically do not extend to chartered vessels overseas.
5.  Theft and disappearance of equipment: the damage waiver does not cover thefts (dinghy stolen at anchor, outboard engine stolen, navigation equipment disappeared). This exclusion applies even if the boat is correctly secured and supervised.
6.  Damage due to gross negligence or breach of the rules: navigation under the influence of alcohol or drugs, sailing in a prohibited zone, navigation in unfavorable weather conditions not authorized by the charter company, lending the boat to an undeclared third party. These situations fall under willful misconduct and exclude any compensation.

Also worth noting: the « false good ideas » that are not covered as they fall under maintenance defect or negligence: blocked toilets, engine burned out due to lack of oil, watermaker broken by prolonged shutdown, VHF radio fallen into the water. Golden rule on board: never throw paper into marine toilets, and scrupulously respect the technical briefing of the charter company.

Three concrete examples to fully understand

To concretely illustrate the calculation of compensation, here are three typical cases:

For the third case, the comparison is striking: without the damage waiver, you lose €1,800 ($1,945). With the damage waiver (€150 premium assumed), you only lose €180 + €150 = €330 (approximately $355), that is €1,470 saved ($1,590) compared to the scenario without insurance.

What to do if you have an incident during your cruise?

If the damage occurs, here is the concrete procedure, step by step:

1.  On site, at the end of the charter, precisely check the detail of the withholding made by the charter company. Request a written and detailed damage report (nature of the damage, amount withheld, photos if possible). This document is essential for compensation. US travelers: take additional photos with a timestamp using your phone for your records.
2.  Keep all supporting documents: charter invoice, certificate of subscription to the damage waiver, charter company's report, before/after photos, copy of the deposit withheld.
3.  Declare the incident to Gritchen within the prescribed time limits (generally 5 business days after returning the charter) via their online area or by email at sinistres.affinity@gritchen.fr. Note that Gritchen processes claims in French and English.
4.  Our concierge service can assist you in compiling the file: contact us at +33 1 70 80 97 35 (international call to France) or by email at concierge@filovent.com.
5.  The average compensation time is generally 2 to 6 weeks depending on the complexity of the file (to be confirmed with your Filovent advisor according to your case). Reimbursement is typically wired to your bank account in euros — your US bank may charge an international wire fee or apply a currency conversion margin.

Filovent waiver (Gritchen) vs charter company waiver: which to choose?

Not all charter companies operate in the same way. Three scenarios exist:

1.  The charter company accepts the Gritchen waiver: this is the most frequent situation with Mediterranean and Caribbean charter companies, and is the one we recommend by default. You benefit from the contract as described above.
2.  The charter company imposes its own damage waiver: some major charter companies (Sunsail, Moorings, Dream Yacht Charter, etc.) do not accept third-party insurance and sell their own package directly. In this case, their conditions apply (deductible, cap, exclusions). Note that Sunsail and Moorings are particularly popular among US travelers in the BVI and USVI, and their waiver products are typically priced in USD. Our concierge service will provide you with the details of the specific conditions for your file.
3.  You can combine: on certain contracts, it is possible to take out the charter company's waiver and a complementary Gritchen waiver to further reduce the residual deductible. This double cover has a cost but can make sense for charters with high deposits (over €5,000 / $5,400).

In case of doubt, contact us: we check for you which regime applies to your file. The complete legal detail appears in our General Terms and Conditions of Sale.

Can I cancel or modify the insurance after subscription?

Yes, under certain conditions. You generally have a 14-day free-look period after subscription, in accordance with French insurance regulation applicable to Filovent and Gritchen, provided that the cruise has not started. This is similar in principle to the NAIC Model Free-Look Provision applicable in most US states, although the specific terms may differ since the policy is issued under French law. Beyond the 14-day window, cancellation is no longer possible and the premium remains due. To initiate a cancellation request, contact your Filovent contact who will forward to Gritchen. US travelers who wish to file a complaint regarding their insurance experience should note that recourse is governed by French insurance law (Code des Assurances) and may be subject to French jurisdiction; consult your state insurance department for general questions about international travel insurance.

To go further

To better prepare your next cruise and limit the risks of damage, see our articles dedicated to how to avoid damage when chartering a boat and our experience returns on tricky maneuvers at anchor. Good preparation remains your best insurance.

Our recommendation

We strongly recommend taking out this insurance, as on a boat, damage happens even to the most experienced skippers. For the cost of a restaurant dinner ashore, you sail with peace of mind. For US travelers, this damage waiver complements rather than replaces your overall travel insurance package — we recommend pairing it with a comprehensive travel insurance policy (Allianz Travel, Travel Guard, IMG) covering trip cancellation, medical evacuation, and CFAR. For any question on your file, contact your Filovent contact or our concierge service at +33 1 70 80 97 35 (international call to France) or by email at concierge@filovent.com.