On Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 6:42:17 AM UTC-7, wrote:
On Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 10:34:30 PM UTC-5, son_of_flubber wrote:
On Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 9:53:28 AM UTC-7, wrote:
New glider owner - looking to purchase insurance- companies - cost? Value sailplane + trailer = $32,000

I suggest that you talk to your agent about how 'declared value' works, and if your policy declares a value for the glider, and independently declares a value for the trailer, how does the insurance pay out in various scenarios? And will the proceeds 'make you whole'?

Say the glider is damaged in an off-airport landing accident. Say the repair cost exceeds the declared value of the glider, so the insurance company buys the glider from you for the full 'declared' value. Do you still own the trailer? Can you buy a comparable used glider plus trailer for the declared value of your wrecked glider? Can you buy a used glider without a used trailer? Can you sell your old trailer?

Say you have a lowish declared value for the trailer, and your empty trailer is destroyed by high winds while you're aloft. Estimated repair of the trailer exceeds the declared value, so insurance company totals it. Can you buy a trailer for what the insurance paid you for your old trailer? Are there any used glider trailers for sale in the USA, or do you have to import a new one from Europe?

Ask your agent whether the declared value of your trailer, plus the declared value of your glider can exceed what you paid for both of them at time of purchase in the 'package deal' (assuming both were used). Also note how little the premium increases to cover increased declared values.

Quite a number of years ago I decided to skip on insurance for the trailer although mine is only 4 years old and would take $18k to replace. My reasons
The trailer is on the road for about a week or two each year, otherwise in a hangar or tied down on an airport
- Roads travelled are mostly interstate or similar
- I don't do over 70-75 mph
- I limit myself to around 12 hours of driving
- Small damage from low speed accidents can be repaired, cost is acceptable

Herb

Trailer insurance is cheap and new trailers are expensive. Furthermore, trailers take the brunt of the damage in even minor accidents. We had two trailering accidents at the Parowan meet last year. Cobra aluminum top trailers are built with single-piece aluminum sheets; same with the other major components. Do you really want a trailer that looks like a quilt?

Tom