Mission Viejo Firm Hopes to Steer Its Marine Insurance Directly to Sailors : BANKING/FINANCE

Skippers of Southern California’s yachts--well, anyone who owns a boat longer than 26 feet--might find some kindred spirits at a Mission Viejo insurance company.

The company, Cal-American, is banking on the longtime boating experience of its chairman, Gerald Conrad; president, John Partridge, and sales manager, Michael Hayden, to bring in yachtsmen for its new marine insurance policies.

Hayden claims Cal-American can offer policies at lower premiums than other companies because of its lower overhead and direct dealings with customers. “The policy was created by Southern California yachtsmen for Southern California yachtsmen,” he said.

While the policy is available only to Southern Californians, Cal-American hopes to go statewide with it in two months through its Ventura and San Francisco offices, said Thomas Garnett, executive vice president of the carrier’s parent company, Westech Insurance Network Inc.

Cal-American was founded five years ago as a commercial trucking insurer, but dropped that in 1986 to underwrite car insurance. The company’s next plan is to design and offer a homeowners insurance policy, Garnett said.