Houseboat insurance,
from carriers who write them.

Houseboats sit at an unusual intersection for insurance: the hull is a boat, but the interior is closer to a home. That combination is outside the appetite of many marine carriers, which is why houseboats often end up in specialty programs rather than off-the-shelf pleasure-craft policies.

NBOA places houseboat coverage for Delta houseboats, Ozark houseboats, Lake Shasta houseboats, and river houseboats across the country. Each comes with its own considerations.

What a houseboat policy covers.

• Hull coverage — Agreed Value preferred; total losses settle at the policy value, not depreciated market
• Liability coverage — $300K minimum, $500K+ recommended given guest exposure on-board
• On-board property — appliances, furnishings, electronics built into the houseboat
• Shore power and connection coverage — dockside electrical and plumbing connections
• Fuel spill + wreckage removal — federally required if the vessel sinks; confirm the limit is adequate
• Liveaboard endorsement — required if the houseboat is your primary or regular residence

Houseboat carrier-appetite specifics.

The rules that show up regularly on houseboat policies:

• Survey requirement — most carriers require a recent out-of-water survey, even on hulls under 20 years old
• Age caps — some carriers won't write hulls older than 30 years without substantial rehab documentation
• Liveaboard status — living on the boat full-time or part-time changes the underwriting; be honest about use
• Navigation — river houseboats, reservoir houseboats, and coastal houseboats all carry different appetites
• Mooring / marina location — some carriers restrict to specific marinas they've approved
• Homeowners policy interaction — if the houseboat is your residence, your home policy may still apply to personal belongings; check the overlap

Also worth reading.