Boat Fell Over Today!

[RubberDuckeeToo2]

Got a call from the yard. Seems with the warming and cooling that's been going on here one of the boat stands loosened up on the ground. That in turn let the boat tip and then slide off the blocks and the rest of the stands. The boat landed on the starboard side in the gravel and mud.

Needless to say, I spent the first 20 minutes at the yard in total shock. I am never at a loss for words (it's my profession), but I looked like a slack-jawed idiot and was speechless for a long time.

The damage seems pretty limited, but it's what I can't see that worries me. The visible damage is a six foot section of rub rail that slid along the boat next to me and the bow rail which got bent from the same. There are a few short scratches in the bottom paint. They say that they spec'd the shafts, struts and rudders and all seems ok. The boat next to me suffered a few scrapes and the yard says they'll fix it all at their cost.

The admiral says I should get an independent survey to see what other damage is not visible for which the yard may avoid taking responsibility. I'll admit that the starboard prop might need to looking at, but I was planning on pulling them anyway.

Any suggestions? In 15+ years of boating, I've never seen this happen although I've read about it. I'm still in shock.

Gene

 

[kevin27]

IMHO if they blocked the boat, which I guess they did, I would think they should pay for a survey of your chioce and all repairs. Sounds like your prop refurb just got paid for also! You may want to call your insurance company to see what to do. The insurance agent would know better than I. I can't imagine what you felt, I am guessing I would not know what to say either. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[Sundancer]

Survey! Think about gas tanks, batteries and acid slamming the inside of the hull, engines may need to be realigned and there could be additional internal cracks on the stringers or frame. It's PROBABLY ok, but I'd spend a lot of money making sure!

 

[papogator24]

Definitely get your insurance involved. I hate to hear it happened to you. Hope everything gets fixed asap.

Let us know how it goes along.

 

[Alex F]

Gene,
I'm in shock just by reading this. I'm really sorry about what happened. I don't want to beleive that the weather changes really the cause of the accident. My first thought is that marina is responsible 100% and it's insurance must cover all the damage. I hope the damage is minimal and you'll pay nothing.

Good luck with all this.
Alex.

 

[fwebster]

How was the boat blocked?


Also, It is critical that you hire a qualified surveyor to check the interior structure of your boat. Do not try to pass this cost on to the yard....you need someone to represent your interests and get the right answers for you. The stuff you mention is going to run into money, but my real concern is the structure where the bulkheads are tabbed to the hull. A boat's structure is designed to take a lot but it is not designed to take the shock load that would occur when it falls over on its side. Tabbing is relatively simple but very expensive to repair because you literally have to tear the boat apart to get to the areas where the bulkheads are joined to the hull.

Sorry you are having to deal with it and I hope you don't have serious structural damage in addition to the obvious stuff you see.

 

[Warren]

Really really sorry to hear about this accident Gene. That's a real shocker! Yes, your insurance will advise you as a first step. It sounds to me like the marina's insurance should pay the shot. A damage survey is a must - don't accept assurances that the damage is cosmetic, etc. This must be treated just like a hard grounding. There could be hull damage at the pads + hidden structural damage as others suggest.

This mishap was probably avoidable. The marina should be offering to survey and repair at their cost. You don't want damage coming to light in 3 or 4 years at a purchase survey. Get all the facts, repair asap and have the repairs surveyed (by the same person) again upon completion.
Good luck Gene,
Warren

 

[Carver370]

I guess thats why its always a good idea to chain the chocks together!

I have never seen this happen before but I couldn't imagine that happening to my boat, I am at a loss for words for you! Definately have a surveyor check everything out and hire him yourself so your interests are protected.

I am really really sorry to hear this, at least this happend now and gives them time to get the boat done before launching!

 

[Presentation]

Did they have chain between the chocks?

 

[Sea Gull]

Chaining the jackstands is not always necessary with powerboats depending on their hull shape. What is necessary is for the yard to methodically adjust the jackstands as boats settle and as the weather changes. But after hearing this story I am going to have a talk with my yard manager ASAP.

 

[RubberDuckeeToo2]

Well, the overwhelming recommendation is to call the insurance company, so I'm doing that today and calling the yard to tell them not to do anything until someone looks at it.

The stands were not chained together and given the way it fell, I'm not sure that it would have prevented the fall. The yard accepts full responsibility, perhaps in recognition that they probably could have done more to prevent the accident.

So I guess I'm right to be concerned that there might be damage I can't see. Even though it was only two feet off the ground, when 18,000 pounds falls there's gonna be an impact.

Gene

 

[JC3]

Gene, Sorry to hear this. JC

 

[Lake Erie Boater]

Gene,
1st off, really saddened to hear of the situation.

If I may add, this kind of thing may not be all that uncommon. I have seen the same thing happen to a 26' (I think) searay at our club. It is a small private club where we all hoist, block and chain our own boats. We tell our members constantly through the winter to "check your stands" as the freeze thaw cycle can definately "move" them a bit. The boats are on a gravel lot and I go up after every big storm (to check ahead of the next storm) and/or weather cycle to do just that and am amazed and how one stand will all of a sudden be a bit loose. It definately seems to be most notable after the big thaws, more so than after the big blows.

Moral of the story, regardless of who decommissioned your boat for the winter, CHECK THOSE STANDS!!. They should be snug against the hull for lateral stability, not weight support.

Who wants to go through what RubberDuckeeToo is going through right now. :smt009

 

[ANDY@SBC]

I Think I Will Go Check On My Boat!!

 

[Pirate]

Gene- sorry for the situation. Given the circumstances, I'm glad your marina contacted you and fessed up to the situation rather than trying to cover it up. IMO, the independent survey (paid by you) is important. Given that your marina has been upfront with you, I would let them know your intentions and that you feel an independent surveyor will help both of you to maintain a fair and honest relationship throughout (and beyond) the repair period. Accidents can happen to anybody. It's how we handle them that counts......


Of course, if it was MY boat, I'm not so sure I could be as calm. Good luck with the process and the result.

 

[tc410]

While I absolutely agree that an "independent" survey is in order, I completely disagree with the logic that Gene should eat the cost. While he may want to pay initially himself to ensure the independence, he is certainly entitled to be reimbursed by the yard for the cost of the survey.

 

[Pirate]

While I absolutely agree that an "independent" survey is in order, I completely disagree with the logic that Gene should eat the cost. While he may want to pay initially himself to ensure the independence, he is certainly entitled to be reimbursed by the yard for the cost of the survey.

The important part for both parties is that the survey be independent. The cost for the survey will be less than a tank of fuel...... and it insures that the surveyor is less likely to consider who is 'buttering his bread'. Think of it as the deductible. When your 'stuff' is involved in an accident, it is not always feasible to come out 100% whole. In this case, it sounds like he will be very close to whole, but the propriety that is preserved by paying the cost of survey out of pocket would be worth it to me.

 

[tc410]

Having Gene choose the surveyor, the date, and the time of the survey, and then paying for the survey out of his pocket will ensure the independence you are concerned with. He should then be personally reimbursed for the survey by the yard. My point is that Gene should bear $0.00 cost when this issue is done and over with. You can't convince me otherwise.

 

[Pirate]

You can't convince me otherwise.

Oh yeah......

 

[fwebster]

Eventually, the cost of the survey should be part of the boat owners claim for damages.

That said, an independant survey to determine the extent of undisclosed damage is critical to protecting the owner's value in the boat. If it were me, I would initially eat the $20/ft., determine the real damage, then proceed with negotiating for repairing the damage.