Boat & Yacht Claims in Sanibel
Florida's first marine-only public adjusting firm serving Sanibel vessel owners in Lee County.
Our Services in Sanibel
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 →Sanibel Island sits between Pine Island Sound and the Gulf of Mexico, connected to the mainland by the Sanibel Causeway. The island's boating community includes full-time residents with vessels at private docks, seasonal visitors using marina facilities, and charter captains running fishing and eco-tour operations in the surrounding waters. Pine Island Sound provides protected water access to Captiva, Useppa Island, Cabbage Key, and the Caloosahatchee River, while the Gulf side opens to offshore fishing grounds. Our marine claims advocacy covers every vessel type and mooring arrangement on the island.
Hurricane Ian destroyed the Sanibel Causeway in September 2022, cutting the island off from the mainland and leaving damaged boats stranded without access to haul-out facilities or repair yards. Marina docks were ripped from their pilings. Boats at waterfront homes were deposited in mangrove stands. Vessels that owners attempted to evacuate were caught in San Carlos Bay as conditions deteriorated. The insurance industry has treated Sanibel claims with extreme delay, citing access difficulties and adjuster backlogs as reasons for non-payment. Our team files hurricane vessel claims with the urgency these losses demand.
Private dock damage on Sanibel presents compound claim scenarios where the vessel loss and the dock structure loss involve separate coverage forms. Boats that were thrown from lifts against home foundations create liability disputes between the homeowner policy, the hull policy, and potentially a marina operator's coverage if the vessel was stored at a commercial facility. Navigating this multi-policy landscape requires an adjuster with marine insurance fluency.
Sanibel boat owners still fighting underpaid or delayed Hurricane Ian settlements should review our client testimonials and contact our office for a consultation. We work on contingency and charge nothing until your payout improves.
All Claims Services
Boating Challenges in Sanibel
Hurricane Ian's direct landfall on Sanibel created a catastrophic scenario for boat owners. The causeway collapse meant damaged vessels could not be transported to mainland repair facilities for months. Boats sat in tropical heat and humidity while insurance companies refused to authorize emergency stabilization measures. By the time access was restored, secondary damage from moisture, mold, and corrosion had compounded the original storm losses, and carriers argued this secondary damage was not covered.
Sanibel's barrier island geography concentrates storm surge from both the Gulf side and Pine Island Sound simultaneously. During Ian, Gulf surge overtopped the island from the south while sound-side water rose from the north, trapping vessels between two converging flood fronts. This dual-direction surge pattern caused boats to sustain impacts from debris and structures on both sides of the island, creating damage documentation challenges that general adjusters cannot handle.
Vessel evacuation from Sanibel before a hurricane requires crossing San Carlos Bay and transiting under the causeway bridges. These decisions must be made 24 to 48 hours before landfall when forecasts still carry significant uncertainty. Boat owners who chose to evacuate too late and sustained damage in open water face carrier arguments that the evacuation attempt was reckless. Those who stayed face arguments that they failed to protect the vessel. A marine public adjuster who understands evacuation decision protocols defends against both lines of attack.
Sanibel Areas We Cover
Sanibel Marina and Causeway Basin
Primary marina facility near the causeway entrance where transient and resident vessels face San Carlos Bay surge and causeway bridge debris hazards during major hurricanes.
Pine Island Sound Shoreline
Protected bayside waterfront with private residential docks where boats face sound surge, shallow water grounding, and storm debris from mangrove islands during tropical systems.
Captiva Pass and Redfish Pass
Northern inlet zones connecting Pine Island Sound to the Gulf where fishing boats and cruisers face strong tidal currents, shifting sand bars, and open-water storm exposure.
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 Sanibel 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 Sanibel.
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 Sanibel?
Our marine claims team will inspect your vessel at no cost. No obligation, no upfront fees.