Courts Turn Boat Insurance in Florida Upside Down

Federal Judges Assert That State Consumer Law Holds Sway

Hurricane Dorian hit the Abacos on Sept. 1, 2019 and tossed boats around like ragdolls. Few, if any of those afloat when the storm hit survived.

Federal court rulings are upending how marine insurance works in the biggest boating state in the nation. Florida has nearly 988,000 boats, and now damage claims might have to be paid even after owners have disr…