Training

Annual Yacht Claims Conference

Two day seminar offered in mid January. The audience usually consists of about half marine surveyors and half insurance company claims handlers. Topics and speakers change every year but always cover claims issues. Click here for information about the next Conference.

Marine Surveying — The Business Side

One day workshop. How to build and run a profitable marine surveying business. Emphasis on the business side rather than the technical side. Taught at various times and locations throughout the year. Primarily for beginning marine surveyors and those who want to become marine surveyors. "Old salts" have also attended and given good reviews. Topics include marketing and sources of business, types of survey business, reports, an office at home, business stationery, office automation, bookkeeping and accounting, setting rates, and surviving the off season. Taught by Steve Knox, President of Knox Marine Consultants.

Boat Basics

Half day class for insurance agents, offered as in-house training at clients' site. Approved for 4 continuing education credits for agents licensed in Virginia. Covers the different types of boats, engines, and trailers. Vocabulary. Boat values. How agents can mitigate damage in boat claims.

Basic Claims Adjusting

One week class, offered as in-house training at clients' sites. Boat types, propulsion types, construction methods, basic systems, types of claims, overview of common boat claims, principles of marine insurance contracts, the claims process, basic maritime law. Intended for claims adjusters who are new to the marine field.

Advanced Claims Adjusting

One week class, offered as in-house training at clients' sites. Boat types, sailboat rigs, advanced systems, additional detail on hull construction and repair, engine theory and repair, engine claims, claims case studies. Additional detail on marine insurance contracts, the claims process, maritime law. Intended to build confidence and experience in claims adjusters with some boat experience.

Knox Marine also offers a series of half-day classes to our insurance company clients. These are sold as in-house training for underwriters. Individual classes may be combined to make a course of any length, using the half-day classes as building blocks. Most of the classes have been approved for continuing education credits for licensed adjusters. Topics include:

Adjusting Claims on Outboard Engines and Sterndrives

Identifying cause and origin. How to identify normal wear and tear. Parts that are never loss related. Fair and reasonable costs. Flat rate costs. Four questions to determine whether a loss is covered.

Adjusting Claims on Inboard and Inboard/Outboard Engines

Identifying cause and origin. How to identify normal wear and tear. Parts that are never loss related. Fair and reasonable costs. Flat rate costs. Four questions to determine whether a loss is covered.

Evaluating Damage to a Fiberglass Hull

Fiberglass construction techniques. What is repairable. Matching gelcoat versus painting the boat. Core repairs. Typical costs. Special considerations for metal flake gelcoat (typically found on bass boats).

Rules of the Road and Collision Investigations

Inland and international rules. How sailboat racing rules are different from the Rules of the Road.

Managing a Collision Investigation

Telephone interviews, asking the right questions. The importance of prompt investigation. When to call an expert. Obtaining cooperation from the boat builder and law enforcement.

Fraud and Theft Investigation

Understanding Hull Identification Numbers. MIC codes. Cooperating with law enforcement. Locating and tracking stolen boats.

Salvage Law

Dealing with a claim from a salvor. Pure salvage. Various salvage forms in use; advantages and shortcomings of each. Case law. Difference between salvage and towing.

Boat Fires — Investigation and Adjusting

Working with a cause and origin expert and other field personnel to determine the cause of a boat fire. Learn how to recognize possible arson cases. Basic repairs considerations will also be covered.

Sailboat Claims

The peculiarities of handling sailboat claims. The adjuster will learn the basics of sailing as well as sailboat terminology. Topics will include different types of sailboat hulls and rigs, construction and structural issues peculiar to sailboats, specialized hardware and equipment found on sailboats, and depreciation issues. Most of the class time will be spent on in-depth discussion of claims peculiar to sailboats.

Boat Sinking Claims

Learn to effectively adjust claims for boats that have sunk. Topics will include common causes of sinking, typical damages and repairs, and typical repair costs.

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