A Smarter Way to Buy and Insure Your Boat with Ahoy! and Vantage Recreational Finance

Buying a boat is an exciting milestone, whether you're upgrading to a larger vessel, purchasing your first center console, or finally investing in that dream yacht. But between financing and insurance, the process can feel more complex than it should be.

That’s where the right partners make all the difference.

To break it down, we brought together Ahoy! Insurance CEO Amit Nisenbaum and Dana Endicott, Senior Vice President at Vantage Recreational Finance (VRF), to talk about how financing and insurance work together, and how boaters can move from approval to open water faster and smarter.

The Interview

Amit Nisenbaum: “Dana, let’s start with the big picture, why does the partnership between VRF and Ahoy! make sense?”

Dana Endicott: “It really comes down to the customer experience. At Vantage Recreational Finance, our goal is to make financing fast, simple, and accessible, whether someone is buying from a dealer or a private party."

"But financing is only one part of the journey. Every borrower also needs insurance, and that step can either slow things down or keep everything moving smoothly."

"That’s why partnering with Ahoy! makes so much sense. You’ve built a modern, digital-first insurance experience that matches the speed and simplicity we aim to deliver on the financing side. And not only that, the process of quoting and binding an Ahoy! Insurance policy is embedded into the VRF loan generation process. No redundant information entry, no wasted time on engaging the insurer, all is streamlined and fast”

Amit: “That alignment is exactly what we’re focused on. From your perspective, what makes VRF stand out for boat buyers?”

Dana: “We’ve designed our process to remove as much friction as possible. Customers can go through a secure, easy pre-approval process and in many cases move from application to funding in just a few business days.”

“We also offer flexibility with financing options providing competitive rates and longer loan terms. We can finance the purchase of a boat, RV, or yacht."

"The idea is simple, make it easy for customers to say yes to the purchase.”

Dana: “One thing that stands out about Ahoy! is the technology behind it. Can you share a bit about how your app and features, like phone-overboard detection, actually enhance the boating experience?”

Amit: “Absolutely. We see insurance as more than just something you buy, it should actively support you while you’re on the water.
Our mobile app is designed to do exactly that. It gives boaters access to their policy, coverage details, and support right from their phone, but it also goes a step further with smart safety features."

"For example, our phone-overboard detection can recognize when a phone suddenly enters the water and automatically trigger an alert. In a real-world scenario, that can make a meaningful difference in response time and recovery."

"It’s all part of a broader approach where technology helps prevent incidents, not just respond to them. When you combine that with fast, seamless coverage, it creates a much more complete experience for today’s boater.”

Dana: “Amit, we’ve talked a lot about speed and simplicity on the financing side. From your perspective, what makes Ahoy!’s insurance experience different for boat buyers?”

Amit: “We’ve built Ahoy! to remove the traditional friction people expect from insurance. That means a fully digital experience, fast quoting, and the ability to bind coverage in minutes, not days. But beyond speed, it’s about relevance. We’re focused specifically on boaters, so whether someone owns a center console, a pontoon, or a high-performance vessel, the coverage is tailored to how they actually use their boat. When that experience is integrated directly into the financing journey, like it is with VRF, it eliminates unnecessary steps and helps customers move forward with confidence.”

Amit: “And once they’ve said yes, insurance becomes the next step. One thing we see often is that buyers don’t think about insurance early enough."

"How does that impact the financing process?”

Dana: “It can create delays. Customers are excited and ready to close, but without insurance in place, everything pauses."

"When insurance is complicated or slow, it becomes a bottleneck. But when it’s fast and intuitive, like with Ahoy!, it keeps the entire process moving forward.”

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Amit: “That’s exactly why we’ve focused on simplifying everything, from quoting to binding, using technology to make the experience seamless."

"Whether someone is insuring a center console, a pontoon, or a high-performance boat, they can get covered quickly and get back to what matters."

"From your side, what advice would you give someone starting the financing process?”

Dana: “Start early and get pre-approved. It gives you a clear budget and puts you in a stronger position when you find the right boat."

"And just as important, think about insurance at the same time. When both pieces are aligned, financing and coverage, the entire experience becomes much smoother.”

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Ready to Get Started?

Financing and insuring your boat doesn’t have to be complicated. With Vantage Recreational Finance and Ahoy! working together, you can move from application to open water faster and with confidence.

Explore financing options, get pre-approved, and when you're ready, protect your investment with a fast, digital insurance experience.

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Looking for financing?

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