Repair guide · Valentus Powerboats
What structural composite repair actually involves
A guide for boat owners across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula: the damage, the repair process, the materials, and the paperwork you should get.
Intro
You’ve hit something, been hit, or come back to the marina to find damage. The next 24 hours decide how smoothly your boat insurance claim goes – and how well your boat is put back together.
This guide walks through what to do straight after an incident, how a claim works with the major insurers Victorian boat owners use, and the question we get asked most: can you choose your own repairer?
This is general information from a boat repairer, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy document (PDS) always has the final say.
Step by step: the first 24 hours
Make everyone safe first. In an emergency, call triple zero (000). In Victoria, the person in charge of the boat must stop, secure the vessel and give whatever help they can (Safe Transport Victoria).
Stop the damage getting worse. Insurers expect you to prevent further loss (QBE). Pump out water, get the boat out if it’s taking on water, and cover any open damage from rain. Don’t start actual repairs yet.
Report it to police if the law requires it. A collision with another boat or object, a grounding, sinking, flooding, fire or capsize should be reported to police as soon as possible (Victoria Police). If you’re not in immediate danger, call Victoria Police on 1800 135 729 (Safe Transport Victoria).
Swap details, but don’t admit fault. Get the other skipper’s and owner’s names and contact details, their boat’s name and registration, their insurer, and any witnesses. Club Marine warns that admitting fault can reduce or void your claim (Club Marine).
Photograph everything. Wide shots of the whole boat, then close-ups of each damaged area, with something for scale. Photograph the scene, the other boat and any marks on the hull before anything is moved or cleaned.
Lodge the claim as soon as you can. Every major insurer asks you to lodge early, online or by phone. Note your claim number – you’ll use it for everything that follows.
Lodging the claim: what your insurer will ask for
Have these ready before you call or log in. It’s the list Club Marine, NRMA and QBE ask for on their claims pages:
Your policy number and the boat’s registration
What happened, with the date, time and location
Who was in control of the boat at the time
Where the boat is now
Details of anyone else involved, plus witnesses
A police report number, if there is one
Photos of the damage
A repair quote
After you lodge, most insurers ask for a written repair quote and photos. They then decide how to settle the claim. They may also send an assessor or marine surveyor to inspect the boat – QBE says it assigns one to inspect the damage (QBE), and Club Marine says it may (Club Marine).
The quote matters more than most owners realise. It’s what the assessor works from, so a vague quote leads to questions and delays. A detailed one gets approved faster.
Can you choose your own repairer?
With most major boat insurers, yes – you can ask for a quote from the repairer you trust, subject to your policy conditions. Here’s what three insurers Victorian boat owners commonly use say on their claims pages:
Insurer
Choice of repairer
Quote
Inspection
Club Marine (Allianz)
“You are able to use your choice of repairer, subject to policy conditions” – but it can request an alternative in some circumstances
Asks for repair quotes and photos
May appoint an assessor
Can help find a repairer, “or you can get a quote from a repairer of your choice”
Quote needed
If required
“Get a quote from your repairer”
Quote needed
Assigns a marine surveyor
Three things to know:
“Choice” isn’t unconditional. Insurers can ask for a second quote or another repairer, and they decide whether to repair, pay out or write the boat off. Check the claims section of your PDS.
Wait for approval before work starts. QBE, for example, talks about drop-off “if we authorise your boat’s repair”. Only do emergency work to stop further damage, and tell your insurer about it.
Pick the repairer before the assessor visits. If your repairer has already assessed the boat and quoted, they can walk the assessor through the damage, which avoids back-and-forth later.
What a good insurance repair looks like
A claim pays for the boat to be put right, not just to look right. That starts with an honest assessment of what’s under the surface.
Structural vs cosmetic. A crack in the gelcoat can be cosmetic, or it can be the only sign of a broken laminate or wet core underneath. Our guides on gelcoat vs structural cracks and signs your hull needs structural repair explain the difference.
A quote that matches the damage. Each damaged area listed, with the repair method, materials and labour. That’s what an assessor needs to approve the job without a second visit.
Photos at every stage. Before, during and after – especially once the damaged laminate is cut back and you can see how far it went. It’s your record if anything is questioned later, and if you sell the boat.
Repairs done to the original strength. On composite boats, that means matching the laminate schedule and core, not filling and fairing over the top. See how we approach structural composite repairs.
Common mistakes that slow a claim down
Waiting to lodge. Insurers ask you to report as soon as possible. Delays make the cause of damage harder to prove.
Admitting fault at the ramp. Exchange details and stick to the facts.
Starting repairs early. Work done before approval may not be covered. Emergency make-safe only.
Too few photos. Two blurry close-ups won’t show the extent of the damage. Take more than you think you need.
Cleaning up first. Scrapes, transferred paint and marks on the hull help show what happened. Photograph them before they’re washed off.
A one-line quote. “Repair hull damage – $X” invites questions. An itemised quote with photos doesn’t.
FAQs
Do I have to use my insurer’s preferred repairer? Usually not. Club Marine, NRMA and QBE all let you get a quote from a repairer of your choice, subject to your policy conditions. Your insurer can still ask for another quote.
Do I need to report a boating accident to police in Victoria? For a collision, grounding, sinking, flooding, fire or capsize, the person in charge of the boat should report it to police as soon as possible (Victoria Police). In an emergency, call 000.
Can I start repairs before the claim is approved? Only emergency work to stop further damage. Tell your insurer what you did and keep the receipts. Wait for approval before the actual repair starts.
Will the insurer send someone to inspect my boat? Often. QBE assigns a marine surveyor, and Club Marine and NRMA say they may arrange an inspection or assessor.
How long does a boat insurance claim take? It depends on the damage and how quickly quotes, photos and inspections come together. Club Marine says it will contact you within two business days of lodging (Club Marine).
Call to action
Making a claim? Bring it to us first.
We repair insurance-damaged boats at our Hastings workshop on the Mornington Peninsula, for owners across Melbourne and Victoria. We’ll assess the damage honestly, write an itemised quote your insurer can work from, and photograph the repair at every stage.
Call Patrick on 0410 369 963 or send us the details. More on our insurance repairs.
Sources
Checked 12 November 2026. Insurer processes change, so always check your own policy.
Not sure what your hull needs?
Bring it in and Patrick will assess it properly, inside and out. No obligation, and you’ll know exactly what it needs before any work starts.