France has no rule that a boat must be surveyed before it's insured. Generali France puts it plainly: no French law requires a survey for pleasure boat insurance, so it's a contractual step left to each insurer.
What MAIF does
MAIF, a mutual insurer, asks for no survey on its boat insurance page. Age decides what a total loss pays:
| Boat's age | MAIF pays on a total loss |
|---|---|
| Under 5 years | The purchase price, up to the declared value |
| Over 5 years | A value set by an expert, up to the declared value |
So the survey comes at the claim, not before the cover, and the declared value caps it.
What French insurers generally ask
Generali describes the market:
- Age. The most frequent trigger. A sailing or motor boat over 20 years old, and especially an old rig, will often need a survey.
- Value. Above a certain premium, or for a boat worth more than a high threshold, the insurer may ask for a marine expert.
- Valuation. To insure at market value, a professional survey is most often required.
- Without a survey. Payout limits may be tighter.
For the surveyor
In France the survey is often what sets the insured value. Give the value with its basis and the boat's condition, system by system. Axsail writes each finding from what you say on board and has a valuation section with comparables, under your name and signature.