I have the following carriers who insure boats: Progressive, Nationwide, Safeco, Skisafe (probably others too, I just don't use them). There are many others, but not a market I'm really looking to expand. This is enough. Nationwide tends to be the most competitive on the average boat. On the larger boats higher value Progressive is more competitive.
For you, you won't be able to get appointed with Nationwide. If you got denied an appointment with Progressive, you probably won't get the other two either. Why did Progressive deny you. Progressive appoints everyone (atleast I thought they did).
I'm in Tampa. For what's it's worth, I had mine with SkiSafe for 09-10 and switched to the Boat US program. Dropped the premium almost in half with the same limits and a lower deductible. They also cover theft which my SkiSafe policy excluded. I know it does you no good in getting appointments, but just a little market feedback on the class.
I have my boat insured with Nationwide, I got a quote through Boat US, they cut the coverages (after telling me they were what I was requesting (completely excluded Uninsured boaters while I requested $300,000) changed the policy to ACV after telling me agreed value, and wouldn't allow me to insure it for more than I paid, even though I bought it through a friend and he pretty much gave it to me. Once I saw the quote and realized this, I called them back and had them adjust the coverages back up to what I requested and the price was no cheaper, but in fact more expensive than Nationwide and Progressive. I wasn't interested in actually buying the policy, but I did want to see what the competition is doing to get business.
From what I've seen with boat premiums, most companies (i.e. the four I write through) seem to be right around the same amount (if quoting apples to apples) so if your seeing a huge drop in price, the coverages probably are not the same.
