Insuring a club telescope

[Blackheart]

Hi guys

Just raised £300 for our community telescope! People have really bought into the idea, which is great. Now the practicalities need to be considered! Could anyone offer me some advice on insuring a community or club telescope. Of course if I drop it down the patio steps I could claim on my house insurance, but that doesn't cover it's overall use.

Any suggestions gratefully received

Cheers

Blackheart

[Doc]

Where is it going to be used? As well as telescope insurance how about third party insurance.

[Blackheart]

Good point Doc

This is probably the point where I realise just what I have let myself in for !

[Doc]

Say for example you took the scope to a dark site and a someone triped over the scope or wires in the dark and hurt themselve, you are in a quite a predicament.

[Blackheart]

I guess you're talking public liability, Doc. I had thought of that but I'm not sure how to proceed. It sound like it could be a minefield, but I'm sure there must be clubs who have dealt with similar issues...

[martin_h]

You could have a chat with these people - I have my kit insured with them.

Glover & Howe Insurance Services - Colchester - Astronomy

[Blackheart]

Thanks for that Martin, I'll check out right now...

[LukeSkywatcher]

WOW...............interesting. Thinking of insuring astro gear under your house insurance is one thing. I had never considered that they need 3rd party/public liability insurance if the scope is for use at public events.

What if YOU bring your scope to a star party for your own use and a passer by trips over it and injures themselves?

Can they sue you?

I mean the scope was not on your own private property. Technically it was on public property.

Surely you dont need to be insured to take your scope off of your private property.

Obviously you do if the scope is gonna be used by the general public at a public event. You have insurance for that kind of event?.

[callump]

The FAS provides PLI to member societies at a very attractive rate.

There is so much variation in equipment that it was not possible for the FAS to come up with a group scheme for that (every quote needs to be specific).

/callump

[Blackheart]

Thanks Callump, with the reply from Martin I think I should be able to sort things out...

SGL comes up trumps again !

Cheers

BH

[TheThing]

You will have liability cover under your contents insurance.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - don't use specialist firms to insure your own equipment, use your household contents insurers (a club scope is completely different though). Don't get conned into buying 'specialist' insurance when 9 time out of 10 the items will be covered by your contents insurers (or can be for a modest additional fee). Finally, don't get fobbed off by a call centre - as to speak to an actual underwriter.

There is a very long thread about the whole subject of insurance on the board. Filter out the erroneous posts and it'll see you right.

[Blackheart]

Cheers Thing

I'll check it out...

BH