Amphibian/floatplane insurance?

[C Kingsbury]

Howdy,

Curious as to what people are paying to insure waterbirds- I'm a low-time
PPL-ASEL/S-IR and would like to someday get to use that "Sea" rating a
little more often. As it is now I do have the opportunity to build some solo
time in a 172 floatplane up in Maine but that's a 4-hour drive from Boston
and not really a "permanent solution."

In terms of aircraft, my thinking runs towards an amphib b/c I don't have
money for two planes and would prefer to have something I could keep at a
land airport. As I see it I have a few sorts of choices:

1. New or lightly-used Husky on amphibs
2. Used Lake LA-4-200 or 250
3. Go the light-sport/experimental route- something like the SeaRey or Czech
Mermaid

I like the idea of a flying boat for its superior rough-water performance,
but I'm not 100% tied to it. While I'd also like a plane with basic legal
IFR capability, the LSA route appeals to me from a cost-of-ownership angle.
If I went that way I'd seriously consider taking the 120-hour mechanic's
course so I could do the maintenance, though I don't see having time to
build a bird from scratch right now...

-cwk.

[Doug]

I am with Avemco, and my Husky is $1200 a year. The day I put it on
floats, I call Avemco and they put me into the amphib rate, which is
$300 more a month. Then when I take them off, I call them and go back
to wheel rates. I think Avemco is the only company that does it this
way. BTW, my Husky with Amphibs is for sale. I think my email on
reply is wrong, you can get me at
if you are interested. I have been all over
the place in that Husky and it's time to move on to something else. I
am still enjoying it, but it is for sale. It is in good shape and is
IFR.

C Kingsbury" > wrote in message et>...
> Howdy,
>
> Curious as to what people are paying to insure waterbirds- I'm a low-time
> PPL-ASEL/S-IR and would like to someday get to use that "Sea" rating a
> little more often. As it is now I do have the opportunity to build some solo
> time in a 172 floatplane up in Maine but that's a 4-hour drive from Boston
> and not really a "permanent solution."
>
> In terms of aircraft, my thinking runs towards an amphib b/c I don't have
> money for two planes and would prefer to have something I could keep at a
> land airport. As I see it I have a few sorts of choices:
>
> 1. New or lightly-used Husky on amphibs
> 2. Used Lake LA-4-200 or 250
> 3. Go the light-sport/experimental route- something like the SeaRey or Czech
> Mermaid
>
> I like the idea of a flying boat for its superior rough-water performance,
> but I'm not 100% tied to it. While I'd also like a plane with basic legal
> IFR capability, the LSA route appeals to me from a cost-of-ownership angle.
> If I went that way I'd seriously consider taking the 120-hour mechanic's
> course so I could do the maintenance, though I don't see having time to
> build a bird from scratch right now...
>
> -cwk.

[Ron Rosenfeld]

On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 17:43:53 GMT, "C Kingsbury" >
wrote:

>Howdy,
>
>Curious as to what people are paying to insure waterbirds- I'm a low-time
>PPL-ASEL/S-IR and would like to someday get to use that "Sea" rating a
>little more often. As it is now I do have the opportunity to build some solo
>time in a 172 floatplane up in Maine but that's a 4-hour drive from Boston
>and not really a "permanent solution."
>
>In terms of aircraft, my thinking runs towards an amphib b/c I don't have
>money for two planes and would prefer to have something I could keep at a
>land airport. As I see it I have a few sorts of choices:
>
>1. New or lightly-used Husky on amphibs
>2. Used Lake LA-4-200 or 250
>3. Go the light-sport/experimental route- something like the SeaRey or Czech
>Mermaid
>
>I like the idea of a flying boat for its superior rough-water performance,
>but I'm not 100% tied to it. While I'd also like a plane with basic legal
>IFR capability, the LSA route appeals to me from a cost-of-ownership angle.
>If I went that way I'd seriously consider taking the 120-hour mechanic's
>course so I could do the maintenance, though I don't see having time to
>build a bird from scratch right now...
>
>-cwk.
>

Many years ago when I was a co-owner of a Lake LA4-180, hull insurance was
10% of the insured value, with a 10% deductible. This was with both pilots
having > 100 hrs in type, and > 500 hrs total time.

I believe that rates went up subsequently, although there was a significant
discount for recurrency training.

You'd best check with a broker for current values.


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)