Marine maintenance management system provider Vessel Vanguard used the Miami International Boat Show as a platform to announce the launch of a new extended-warranty program for new and used boats.
The Vessel Vanguard Advantage Warranty was developed in collaboration with SeaSafe Group, a marine warranty and service contract company specializing in comprehensive and component coverage for marine manufacturers and dealers.
The program provides comprehensive protection for participating Vessel Vanguard subscribers on boats less than nine years old. More important, customers can expect an estimated savings of 20 to 40 percent, compared with similar warranty products on the market, according to chief marketing officer David Hensel.
“The program enables SeaSafe to underwrite extended warranties on boats with greater certitude because they can better understand the risks with boats with a Vessel Vanguard profile,” Hensel said.
Launched more than two years ago by CEO Don Hyde, a passionate boater who saw a need for a better systems and maintenance monitoring product, Vessel Vanguard provides a digital library of manuals, custom maintenance and inspection calendars, email and text alerts to owners and their contractors about upcoming service needs and a growing list of features to help owners delegate, track and oversee the tasks necessary to keep a vessel in good working condition.
Insurers favor Vessel Vanguard customers because they are seen as being more active in maintaining their boat, keeping up with warranty requirements and recommended maintenance.
“This is a game-changer for the industry, and it’s the Vessel Vanguard service that enables us to offer this program to owners at such a great price,” SeaSafe Group president Jamie Gaskins said in a statement. “It provides a complete and detailed profile of each boat and all of its equipment to subscribers, which in turn gives us the information and certitude we need to accurately underwrite their policy and provide comprehensive coverage at a lower cost.”
Boatbuilders are attracted to the system as an added selling point and an add-on that will encourage better long-term performance of their product.
Of Vessel Vanguard’s approximately 2,000 subscribers, about two-thirds are manufacturer partners and one-third are individual boat owners, Hensel said. Vessel Vanguard expects to double its subscribers by the end of 2014, he said, because of additional manufacturer partnerships and increasing awareness of the service among the general boating public.
