I agree with Jim's post and would like to add:
If you are considering a specialized insurance product for radio equipment
and/or antennas/towers, be certain you are purchasing primary insurance, not
secondary. If the specialized coverage is not primary, you are generally
obliged to exhaust your underlying "other coverage" (e.g. your homeowners'
policy) before the specialized coverage kicks in....So, you may end up
making a claim under your HO policy anyway, which is what most people are
try to avoid doing by getting the specialized (example: ARRL) coverage in
the first place.
"Ain't nuthin' easy no mo' ". This is the way many of the credit card CDW
coverage provisions on rental cars works ....it's not such a good idea in
most cases.
73
Malcolm, K3KZ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Jarvis" <jimjarvis@comcast.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 3:34 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] insurance and towers
>
> TT:
>
> In the course of commenting on tower ratings, I realized that
> I hadn't seen a post on insurance. Or if I had, I've forgotten.
>
> In the US, in the post-9/11 environment, the insurance industry
> has become highly risk averse. They had under-priced homeowners
> insurance in many areas of the country, as a loss-leader for more
> profitable lines, like life and auto. (and the payout on the NY towers
> was shared across the entire industry.)
>
> In addition, there is now a firm called "CLUE", or Comprehensive
> Loss Underwriters Exchange, which provides a loss history which
> all carriers can see.
>
> As a result, you need to be VERY careful with what you claim.
> Or even inquire about.
>
> In 2002, in the backwash of hurricane Lili, I lost a 100' tower
> and antenna system when a 90' oak fell across a guyset. In the
> same storm, I had a branch break off a 150' tall white pine, and
> damage my roof. The insurance company logged that as two claims.
>
> Earlier that year, we had two events with large trees downed, touching
> the house. I called the insurance carrier to verify coverage in one.
> My wife called in the other, as I was away. They logged them as
> claims, with no payout.
>
> Now, I am having difficulty getting homeowners insurance on my place in
MD,
> even though I am not in the deep woods any longer. I'm paying double the
> market
> rate, with a carrier which is in state receivership. I will continue
> in that situation for a period of 3 years.
>
> And THAT was after 30 years with the same carrier having home, car, boat,
> $1M liability umbrella, and life insurance, and no real claims history.
>
> Short form: It may be worthwhile to examine specific tower insurance,
> through the ARRL program. Some homeowners policies are excluding towers
> and other accessory structures, as well, so you have to check.
>
> n2ea
> jimjarvis@ieee.org
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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