: That's a good question -- especially considering all the safety
: info and warnings that come with a new manufactured boat. I'll
: be keeping an eye on this thread to learn more.

: I'd like to expand the topic a bit. I recently sold a Yost boat
: that I built. I had the buyer sign a release of liability. I
: wonder if anyone else has been so paranoid.

I've sold a couple of my skin boats without any liability release, but they also had no written warranty or claims of suitability for a particular purpose. However, I would say your actions were certainly prudent. There is liability here, but the likelihood of being sued is probably very low, especially if you don't have "deep pockets".

There is also a big difference between selling a hand-made object in a one-off private sale and being in the business of selling such products. EVERY manufacturing business should have liability insurance, as you never know how your products may be abused or misused. If someone is injured or killed using one of your products, even if you're confident that the person using it would not sue, you NEVER know whether their family will sue, particularly if they're influenced by an "ambulance chaser" (personal injury lawyer) out to line his pockets at your expense. Incorporating your business offers important protections against liability and helps to shield your personal property from liability suits.

The irony of this is that having liability insurance may actually make you more likely to be sued, as there is a potentially large pay-off for the plaintiff and attorney (the pay-off for the attorney is always the key). A business with only a few hundred or few thousand dollars in assets is not a very tempting target for attorneys, but a million-dollar liability policy changes the dynamic dramatically.

I guess the bottom line is that if you're in business, you need liability insurance.