Boat & Yacht Claims in Port Salerno
Florida's first marine-only public adjusting firm serving Port Salerno vessel owners in Martin County.
Our Services in Port Salerno
Claims Services
Full-spectrum marine claims representation and consulting for boat and yacht owners throughout Florida. From new claims to denied claims, we fight for what you deserve.
Learn More →Hurricane Claims
When a hurricane strikes, our team of Certified & Accredited Marine Surveyors and public adjusters guides Florida boat owners through the complex process of hurricane damage claims.
Learn More →Free Assessment
Upon contacting our office after a loss, we always provide a free file review, and we will inspect qualifying claims and vessels in person for free.
Learn More →New Claims
When disaster strikes your boat or yacht, our Certified & Accredited Marine Surveyors and licensed public adjusters step in immediately to file, document, and fight for your new insurance claim.
Learn More →Port Salerno's identity revolves around Manatee Pocket, a natural harbor on the south fork of the St. Lucie River where boat repair yards, fuel docks, charter operations, and fish houses have operated for generations. The commercial and recreational fleets packed into this protected anchorage create a dense vessel population that suffers catastrophic losses when hurricanes push surge through the pocket. Our marine claims practice handles multi-vessel events where boats collide, break free from pilings, and sustain damage that carriers attempt to attribute to inadequate mooring rather than storm force.
Access to the Atlantic through the St. Lucie Inlet shapes the risk profile for every Port Salerno boat owner. The inlet's notorious shoaling bar has grounded countless vessels transiting to offshore fishing grounds, and the shifting channel depths change with every major weather system. When your boat hits the bar and sustains hull or running gear damage, your insurer will question whether you exercised reasonable care. Our adjusters assemble tide data, recent dredge surveys, and channel marker positions. This evidence demonstrates that the grounding resulted from conditions beyond the operator's control.
Boat repair yards lining Manatee Pocket handle haul-outs, bottom work, and engine overhauls for the local fleet. When hurricane damage claims overwhelm yard capacity, boats sit in the water taking on additional deterioration while owners wait for settlements. We accelerate the claims timeline by presenting complete documentation upfront. This eliminates the rounds of supplemental requests that drag out payments for months.
Port Salerno vessel owners who received a denial letter or a settlement that falls short of actual repair costs should contact us immediately. Review our marine qualifications and then schedule your complimentary claim consultation.
All Claims Services
Boating Challenges in Port Salerno
Manatee Pocket concentrates dozens of commercial and recreational vessels in a confined harbor where a single hurricane can produce cascading damage across every marina and dock. Boats that break free from one set of pilings drift into neighboring slips, creating collision chains that involve multiple vessel owners and multiple insurance carriers. Sorting out liability and coverage across these multi-party events requires a public adjuster who has managed complex marine loss scenes before.
The St. Lucie Inlet bar crossing is a persistent hazard for Port Salerno's fishing fleet. Depths on the bar fluctuate between dredging cycles, and sand migration after storms can reduce the navigable channel to dangerously shallow levels within days. Carriers routinely deny grounding claims at this inlet by pointing to published hazard notices, despite the fact that working fishermen must cross the bar to earn their living. Building a successful claim requires inlet-specific documentation that general adjusters never collect.
Commercial fishing vessels docked in Port Salerno carry equipment, catch, and gear that standard marine policies struggle to cover accurately. Outriggers, longline drums, trap inventory, and refrigeration systems all add value that the carrier's adjuster may not account for. When a storm destroys a working boat, the owner loses not just the vessel but their income stream, and the insurance settlement must reflect the full scope of that loss.
Port Salerno Areas We Cover
Manatee Pocket Marina District
The heart of Port Salerno where commercial fishing boats, charter sportfish, and cruisers pack into a protected harbor surrounded by repair yards, fuel docks, and fish processing facilities.
South Fork Waterfront
Residential and commercial waterfront along the south fork of the St. Lucie River where private docks hold fishing vessels exposed to river flooding and upstream debris during storms.
Inlet Village
The stretch of waterfront closest to St. Lucie Inlet where charter boats and sportfishing vessels launch toward the Gulf Stream, facing bar crossing hazards and breaking wave damage.
What Clients Say
Insurance is so confusing... but Scott was AMAZING! He had patience, knowledge, and understanding to my situation and advised me on how to navigate and move forward with my boat claim. I can confidently make the decisions I have to make without being intimidated by my insurance company! You can trust what he says...he doesn't have ulterior motives... Just wants to help you! Too bad, I could only give him 5 stars... I would have given him 10 stars!
Scott and Valeria were extremely helpful and professional in providing their knowledge and guidance through this most difficult ordeal. And their help turned out to be free! After paying insurance premiums on my boats over the years, my first attempt at filing a claim was a disaster. In the first 4 weeks after Hurricane Ian, I had several conversations with insurance adjusters, but never the same person twice. Fortunately, by the time I was provided with what appeared to be a permanent adjuster, I had already spoken to Scott and Valeria. In my meeting with this adjuster, I asked for a copy of the insurance company's estimate, telling him that Scott would be reviewing it and the boat. A written estimate was provided within 2 days of the meeting. It was shared with Scott immediately. After Scott reviewed the boat and the estimate, he called to tell me that I was lucky. I had gotten a fair estimate and did not need to hire him. Responsible, knowledgeable, and honest. WOW!
Excellent service, Scott and Valeria work extremely hard to deliver services that are 2nd to none. They went above and beyond with service excellence. I had a 1981 O'Day sailboat that was submerged underwater, and they made sure that I got a just and fair settlement.
Why Port Salerno Boat Owners Trust Us
Public Yacht Adjusters is Florida's first marine-only public adjusting firm. We bring 25 years of boat building and marine experience, Certified & Accredited Marine Surveyor credentials, and licensed public adjuster expertise to every claim in Port Salerno.
We work on a contingency basis with nothing upfront. If we do not increase your settlement, you owe us nothing. Call (305) 351-9194 for a free consultation.
Ready for a Free Assessment in Port Salerno?
Our marine claims team will inspect your vessel at no cost. No obligation, no upfront fees.