3 M Liability Kiting Insurance for 39 Euro's?

[RickI]

Does anyone know about this "SafetyTool" insurance policy, particularly the company rating/reputation for making payouts and the merits in international coverage in the USA? This would be for independent kiters, not those renting gear as either a client or vendor. It sounds good and VDWS has a good reputation from what I know, still a 39 Euro annual premium seems to be quite low. I understand the policy is in German.

Thank you!

From: http://www.vdws.de/en/safetytool/ There is more information at this website than the limited info reproduced below.

"Allround Protection in Watersports for
windsurfer and SUP
kiteboarder and snowkiter
dinghy and catamaran sailors

A SafetyTool insurance package costs only 39 Euros a year incl. worldwide
Comprehensive cover for rented equipment
Third party liability insurance, insured sum 3.000.000 Euros lump for physical injury/property
Damage
Accident Insurance

1. Comprehensive insurance (damage to rented equipment)
Covered is damage or destruction of windsurfing, kitesurfing, snowkiting, wave surfing, and SUP equipment, sailingboats/catamarans or motor boats up to 45 kW (60 HP) of up to 15 meters in length that have been rented from a commercial renter or provided as part of an all-inclusive holiday, used exclusively for private purposes. The insurance sum is € 1,500 per insurance year. Deliberate damage is excluded, as are damages caused by theft and loss.
Deductible (excess) per incident: generally € 50, sailing/motor boat € 100.

2. Third-party liability insurance
Insured sum € 3,000,000 lump for physical injury/property damage.
Insured is the third party liability of the applicant for the sports listed below. This insurance covers only private use, including regatta risk.

Windsurfing/kitesurfing/snowkiting/wave surfing/SUP third party liability:
legal third party liability from ownership, possession and use of own and third party windsurfing, wave surfing, SUP, kitesurfing and snowkiting equipment.

Skipper’s third party liability:
from the possession and use of a chartered/rented sailing boat/catamaran with or without an auxiliary engine or motorboats up to 45 kW (60 HP), without a professional crew, solely for private use, for vessels up to a length of
15 meters.

3. Accident Insurance
€ 16,000 disability (Children € 21,000)
€ 3,000 in event of death
€ 5,000 recovery/rescue costs
€ 2,500 health cure allowance
€ 6 hospital per-diem benefit/convalescence allowance

The insurance protection covers all accidents suffered by the applicant in causal relation to the use of windsurfing, kitesurfing, snowkiting, wave surfing and SUP equipment and sailing boats/catamarans or motorboats up to
45 kW (60 HP)"

[RickI]

Toby, do you know anything about the SafetyTool insurance program?

Thank you!

[Toby]

Not really, but sounds great!!!

[Toby]

I don't know if you need to be a VDWS member to be able to get this

I have a health insurance from them, and for that I need to be a member.

Just mail them and ask.

[RickI]

I just receive the reply, no membership is required for the insurance coverage just the €39 per year.

[Bille]

I just receive the reply, no membership is required for the insurance coverage just the €39 per year.

I just E-mailed them , and asked if this will cover an American , (in the USA) ?

They answered , (( YES )) . This could go over well !

Bille

[RickI]

It is good to have confirmation, thanks Bille. It isn't the ultimate policy, plus they will seek other coverage first, if there is any, but it sure beats going bare and for the low price of about $42. USD. I signed up and hope I never need it.

[Bille]

...
I signed up and hope I never need it.

I'm going to give them my money, on the 1'st of December ; hope i never
need it as well !!

Not many options for kite board insurance in the USA ? Kiwimike -- kinda convinced
me that (IKO) was a bit of a scam ; what else , is there ?

Bille

[RickI]

Years back, I understood some homeowner and renters policies might be applied. In some cases however they might not cover liability related to claims and our sport.

...
I signed up and hope I never need it.

I'm going to give them my money, on the 1'st of December ; hope i never
need it as well !!

Not many options for kite board insurance in the USA ? Kiwimike -- kinda convinced
me that (IKO) was a bit of a scam ; what else , is there ?

Bille

[KiteboardingTampaBay]

Thanks for sharing the info Rick, I will check it out.
The topic of instructor insurance is popping up over here again, and its "not looking good" for cooperation or anyone getting along, so any forthcoming info on Kite-specific general liability for kite instruction would be appreciated.

I've used IKO affiliated companies over the years and switched every time they did. Most recently was thru Sports Insurance. com located in NY, I believe. Great bunch of guys over there that are all watermen, but I found out a few things about IKO Instructor insurance that I wasn't aware of when someone tried to file a claim against my company, and to sue me personally. For the record, it was a BS "slip and fall-type" thing from the start and went absolutely nowhere, but definitely tested if I actually practice what I preached all these years. Had I not had current liability policy and all my business affairs in order, it could have been me (of all people) to lose access at one of our best spots. A real eye-opener I tell you, but that was a clear sign its time for real changes, and for our industry to support what's in the best interest of access. Around here, the gear sales on the beach are a big part of the problem.

I think you know my efforts over the years, and given that I now have firsthand experience and a close call with our access, you can imagine just how serious I am about solving this once and for all. I've taken my lumps over this stuff in the past and simply not going that route again. It will be more like report them all and the the officials sort it out, and I really don't want to see us go that route.
I'll be happy to share my "incident" story with you so that it may be used in a constructive manner and helps result in positive changes among instructors and businesses around here.
Thanks again, and happy kiting!
-Steve