The simple answer is no. Most states do not require you to have insurance for your vessel. The few states that do require boat insurance are Arkansas, Hawaii, and Utah.

In most cases you will be asked to provide proof of boat insurance on your vessel when you finance your boat purchase or when you dock at a marina.

Again, most states do not regulate boat operator licensing. The handful of states that do require you to have a boating license are Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, and Mississippi. While a boating license may not be required, your state, community or local lake authority may have other prerequisites.

Absolutely not. There is certainly more risk of damage to your vessel/liability to other vessels during boating season; but off-season risk exists as well. If your vessel is stored at a facility during the off-season, the facility will almost certainly require proof of insurance with full coverage - hull damage and liability. If stored in a private garage or on private property your vessel can still experience damage, such as components freezing, collapse of or a fire in the storage structure or a weather event like wind if the boat is stored outside. In most states, your insurance policy outlines a lay-up period during which the boat is not in use because of weather - winter and hurricane season. The insurance policy premium is reflective of the lay-up period when the vessel is not in use.

Base coverage includes Bodily Injury, Property Damage, Hull Damage (Comprehensive and Collision), Uninsured/Underinsured Boaters, and Medical Payments. Extra coverage often includes Wreck Removal, Fuel Spill Liability, Emergency Services, Boat Rental Reimbursement, Ice/Freezing, and Personal Effects.