Geeze I'm going to have to become a pirate.
Geico "constructively" totaled the boat, sent me a check and cancelled the insurance and called my boat "not seaworthy." I can't get insurance on her till she's fixed. Same results no matter who I call. I make the point she is sea worthy and I could motor anywhere. They don't care. Bottom line: no one will insure a damaged boat.
Anyway, the rigger says I should be able to bring her over this coming Monday or Tuesday.
6 weeks no sailing. I am practicing patience.
Locally, when an insurer totals a boat they take the title. Then the (former) owner or anyone else can buy it and fix it or part it out... or whatever they choose to do with it.
If the only part that is presently not useful is the mast, you now have a perfectly fine trawler.
I am baffled that a potential insurer would refuse to insure you. And, why would they lie about it's "seaworthy-ness"?
I actually know someone who took the insurance check for a "total loss" situation that involved an interior flooding and the subsequent replacement of the aux.engine. He sez he is now insured, and he was given an option to keep the title after receiving the check. Since his family loved the boat, their choice was to keep it and restore it.
Perhaps it might help to talk to a senior underwriter @ BoatUS (no matter what company actually underwrites their policies). Also, there are experienced marine insurance agents that place policies with different companies. These folks specialize in marine insurance.
Regards,
Loren