[Boatanchors] Re Insurance Coverage On Vintage Gear

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

Several of you who know I had a lightning hit here in April 2001 wrote off list
to ask if I was covered under my home owners policy with no additional riders.
Yes, 100%. All equipment was replaced, no hastles, no problems.	
	
My policy rates did not increase and I was not cancelled because of the
substantial claim.	
	
I would suggest that each of you contact your home owners insurance company, NOT
the brokerage company or agent, and speak with a supervisory person. Point blank
ask them if under the provisions of your current policy your home, and its
contents, are covered in the event that lightning strikes your TV tower or some
other structure on your property and enters your home causing damage to either
the structure or the contents thereof. Do not mention Amateur radio at the
outset. Once the company rep has answered the question, and presuming it is a
yes answer, then ask if the coverage is still in force if it is a Ham radio
tower that is struck by lightning and Ham radio gear that is damaged. Pin them
down, as some will not know the answer, for certain. Request they investigate
this matter and call you back.  	
	
I did this twice, just to be sure I got the correct answer. You all know what
the word 'assume' breaks down to, right? If not, contact me off list and I will
explain it. (grin) Presume nothing with an insurance company! It is YOUR
responsibility to be sure you are adequate covered, not theirs. You are the
loser if you are not covered or adequately covered. Double check, be safe, just
in case the unthinkable does happen. 	
	
I did precisely this. Yes, I actually took my own advice! A year later the
unthinkable did happen. My ex-wife begged me to take her back. OOPS! Wrong
story, sorry. (patented Fischer smirk) At 5:01 AM EDT on April 26, 2001 a bolt
from the thunderous etherial great beyond hit a tree in my neighbor's yard,
split it asunder like a toothpick making machine and then jumped to my GAP Titan
mounted seventy-five feet south of my house. It came into the house through my
ground system.	
	
Spare me the lectures, please. I had disconnected all the antennas, all the
equipment was unplugged and poly phasers were operative. But I did not
disconnect the equipment from the ground system. Kaboom!     	
	
This last adventure was courtesy of the power company who had a massive surge in
October 2002. Such fun.	
	
Duane W8DBF