Insurance Minute: Builders Risk 
If you are going to shell out half a million dollars or ask a bank to give you a loan so you can build a brand spankin new fishing boat then make sure everybody has the right insurance. As the person looking forward to showing off the latest and greatest fishing boat around you should have a builders risk policy for the finished value of the boat right from the start. Don't wait until 6 months after the hull is delivered (You are very unlikely to get a builders risk unless its very near the start) Don't let the builder say "Oh don't worry about it, I have insurance." They may be able to build the finest fishing vessel around but chances are they don't know Jack about insurance. If you go this route (not recommended) Get a Certificate of Insurance from them documenting the coverage and be named as an additional insured and if a bank is involved they will want to be listed as mortgagee as well. 
I have seen a BIG$$ Fishing boat (BIG) sit there uninsured and everybody said the other guy had insurance and nobody had insurance and that would end up being a "wicked pissah" (which isn't actually professional insurance lingo) if the whole place went up in smoke with no insurance...like I said...Exactly. 
Are we all excited yet? See how invigorating insurance is? Wait til I get going.... 
Next the Builders Risk should have a Protection & Indemnity Insurance. And I know the well versed Skipper will respond;
"Paul, P&I covers my Jones Act exposure for the sternman under the employ of my vessel. How is that relevant to the construction of my new boat?" 
True, Protection and Indemnity covers your sternman for Bodily Injury that may occur under the employ of your vessel. However it also covers property damage and bodily injury caused by the vessel to a third party. This could include the vessel just coming off its mooring and while adrift causing damage. Or underway. Accidents happen. 
Again how does this pertain to New Construction?
Sea Trials! Sea Trials can be interesting times. Hopefully everything all works out. Sometimes it doesn't work out. 
Vessels cruising up to the dock being showed off by their owner have plowed into wharfs when "Oops" the reverse gear didn't work. People get hurt. Wharfs get damaged. Boats get damaged. 911 gets called. Lawyers get called. It can get messy. So any astute skipper would say, "Well if something went wrong its the boat builders fault!" Well remember we may be talking about the nicest boat out there, and remember they may not know Jack about insurance? Will they pay for it out of pocket? Maybe they had coverage but the policy has expired. who knows. This is why it is so important to C.Y.A. 
Cover Your Assets! 
And lastly, I could go on and on, but lastly if you are a boat builder, Make sure you have a true Marine General Liability Insurance. Make sure it has a blanket builders risk rider covering the value of all the vessels combined laying around your shop. A GL policy covers your standard GL issues, trips and falls on the snow in the driveway, etc. It is not going to cover the highly technical exposure to some kind of failure which could occur under Completed Operations coverage. Make sure you have Completed Operations. Make sure it is a specialty Marine GL. Underwritten exactly for the risks inherent within your industry. If you complete Sea Trials and any boat builder should make sure you have Protection and Indemnity and include a Longshoremans endorsement on that if you have employees. Also the policy should be rated on your Gross Sales. You are in the business of selling things. Building and selling high end fishing vessels. This could be upwards of several million dollars. 
Well if everything all goes to pieces and there is a total loss and you present a claim to the company for $500,000 and the policy has been rated improperly on an exposure of $22,600 in payroll - there is a big ol miscommunication coming down the pike and I wouldn't want to be on the short end. You have not been paying the proper amount for insurance. Do you expect them to pay out $500,000? Probably they will, maybe, but all kinds of things could happen here. Did you misrepresent sales, unintentionally? Here is where your agent needs to know what they are talking about. Insurance companies likely will audit policies regularly to make sure everything is in order. 
"But I don't want to pay insurance on $500,000 in Gross Receipts. It will go up!! (Waaaaa) Don't you think the Insurance company can say the same thing? Insurance Company: "I don't want to pay $500,000 in a claim when you were actually paying for $22,600 in coverage!" 
So its important to make sure proper coverage is in place on all fronts. 
So anyway if you have actually read this all the way to the end I congratulate you and you should hold your head up high swimming in all your new knowledge, and you deserve a coffee and give me a call and we'll have a coffee and talk about insurance! Or the Red Sox. Insurance conversation can quickly turn to the Red Sox

Check out the Met Life Blog for more info on Family Wellness at:   https://blog.metlife.com/wellness

Taking care of a cat or dog is more than just making sure they’re fed each day and picking up after them — it’s a commitment you make to a living being that will depend on you for its entire existence.

And try as you might, you can’t stop a beloved pet from eating strange items, getting sick, or running away from home that split-second the front door is open. But there are things you can do to prevent problems and give your pet a great life.

1. Vaccinate, Operate, and Microchip to Locate

All cats and dogs need certain vaccines, and most vets will insist on sterilization to help control pet overpopulation, and microchipping to locate lost pets.

All three are often included in the cost if you’re adopting a cat or dog from a shelter or humane society. It’s important to note that these costs can range upwards of $500 per animal when visiting a private vet.

“Identification is crucial. A microchip is a very, very good idea,” says Dr. Gabrielle Carrière, the chief veterinarian of the Montreal SPCA shelter. She also recommends a collar with your phone number, in case Fido or Kitty make a break for it.

As for vaccines, Carrière says puppies and kittens should receive their base vaccines starting at eight weeks old, and then go for a booster every three to four weeks until they hit four months of age.

“Once they hit four months, they need to go back to their veterinarian a year later for their booster,” she says.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has a canine vaccination task force that publishes universal guidelines on best vet practices. It recommends four core vaccines for dogs:

• Rabies
• Distemper
• Adenovirus
• Parvovirus

“For cats, core vaccines include FVRCP (feline viral upper respiratory vaccine) and rabies. There are other non-core vaccinations that may also be recommended depending on a dog or cat’s risk factors and lifestyle,” says Dr. Wendy Mandese, a clinical assistant professor in small animal sciences at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

For animals that spend time outside the house, additional vaccines for feline leukemia, which is highly contagious among cats, and leptospirosis, an infectious bacterial disease that can be transmitted from dogs to humans, are important. Heartworm and flea protection for dogs, particularly in the summer months, is also a must.

“In Florida we see a lot of heartworm disease and skin problems related to allergies and parasites,” says Mandese.
It’s important to speak with your vet about which vaccines are most appropriate for your pet based on their lifestyle and location.

2. Find a Reputable Vet

Unfortunately, animals can’t tell you when they’re sick or injured. Sometimes it’s an upset stomach — and sometimes they’ve ingested an entire spool of thread while you were out grocery shopping. Avoid undue and entirely preventable stress by finding a reliable and trustworthy vet close to where you live.

Ask for recommendations from friends, colleagues and family members who live in the area for their best — and worst — vet experiences. Read online comments on clinics’ social-media pages and on third-party commenting systems like Yelp and Google reviews. Better yet, call up clinics and ask to speak to a vet tech or veterinarian directly.

And for all of those incidents that happen when your vet’s office is closed, jot down the number and address of your local emergency veterinarian hospital or clinic and stick it on your fridge.

3. Be Observant of Your Pet’s Behaviors

Is your normally sociable cat hiding under the bed? Is your normally very active dog sleeping more than usual? Give your vet a call — the staff there should be able to tell you whether it’s something urgent or something to be monitored.

“Any abrupt change in behavior should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian, as they can be a symptom of an underlying health problem. Examples would be inappropriate urination, which could be a sign of a urinary tract infection, or aggression, which could indicate pain or anxiety,” says Mandese.

Vets see every kind of health disaster possible in animals — broken bones, skin conditions, and a plethora of random items — rocks, carpet, corn cobs — inside of digestive tracts.

“Vomiting and diarrhea are also common in dogs, especially ones that like to eat foreign objects and get into the trash,” Mandese says.

Cats and dogs rarely make their pain known to their humans, so it’s up to you to be vigilant about changes in your pet’s behavior — you could end up saving your furry friend’s life.

4. Clip Those Nails

Grooming isn’t just for shih tzus and show dogs.

Becky Misener, the owner of Grooming With Finesse in Waterloo, Ont., and the president of the Ontario Dog Groomers’ Association, says regularly grooming a cat or dog is beneficial in a number of ways.

First, regular handling of a pet conditions them to be more patient and accepting of a good brushing, bathing, and nail-clipping. “Anything you want a dog to learn, teach it on a routine,” Misener says.

Second, groomers usually get far closer to the skin than pet owners do.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found things on dogs, like lumps or ear infections. We found a tumor on a dog one time,” Misener says.

Keeping a dog’s nails neatly trimmed is extremely important but can be tricky to do at home. The thickness and darkness of most dogs’ nails make it hard to see the quick — a red line that, when cut, leads an animal to bleed profusely (but not fatally). However, letting nails grow can be dangerous too, Misener says.

“What happens is, the foot doesn’t sit properly and it can cause splaying, and then they’ll bend their pastern (wrist bone) and it can cause long-term damage,” she says.

As for cats — well, have you ever tried giving a cat a bath?

It may never get easier, especially if you only bathe your cat when absolutely necessary. Misener’s best advice for cats is to start them out in the bath when they’re young, and to do it regularly. Of her now-deceased, water-loving cat, Misener says, “I would get her wet every single week, and this cat just loved the bath.”

Cats are notoriously squeamish about getting their nails clipped, as well. Your best bet is a thick towel to tightly wrap your cat up in, a proper pair of nail scissors, a healthy dose of determination, and perhaps some very thick rubber gloves.

5. Good Care Is In the Details

Quality dry and wet pet food is essential to an animal’s prolonged health, so do your research and look for food where meat is the first ingredient. Some people choose to feed their pets raw meat to simulate a biologically appropriate diet, but that approach is not always recommended by vets — and it can also be very expensive. Speak to your veterinarian for a diet best suited for your pet.

You might also consider purchasing a pet insurance plan, which may help cut veterinary costs and give you and your family some piece of mind in the event of an unexpected accident, injury or illness.

Owning a pet is a big responsibility, but it can also be a lot of fun. Take the time to research, prepare and find great healthcare for your cat or dog so you can raise a happy and healthy new member of your family.

Helpful Websites:

The ASPCA on vaccines

The ASPCA on general animal care

AAHA’s newest guidelines for dog vaccines

Check out this very informative and eye opening blog post by Randy Klatt on the MEMIC Safety Blog. 

Do you text and drive?  Please just don't do it. The information will still be there or pull over and save a life, maybe yours!  

https://www.memic.com/workplace-safety/safety-net-blog/2018/may/death-by-text-or-other-distraction?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MemicSafetyBlog+%28MEMIC+Safety+Net+Blog%29

Check out this website to see all the options and fun that can be had fishing in Maine waters. Get outside and get some "reel" quality time and take a sledge hammer to the video games and enjoy the ultimate playstation..... MAINE!!  

https://www.takemefishing.org/maine