Boat rear ended on the trailer.. Thoughts?

U

User Error

New Member
Sep 22, 2009
88
North FL
Boat Info
180
Engines
3.0 Merc W/ Alpha I Outdrive
Okay so I loaded the boat up yesterday headed for the shop to get the boat a once over. Slowed at a redlight and some guy decided he wanted to use my boat to stop his truck (DUI investigations at 3pm are always fun). Broke the tip off the scagg, bent the center of my SS Prop, possably knocked the motor off alignment, the seals now leak on my trim rams, twisted the winch post, and dented my hitch ball. I've looked for stress cracks in the transom can't find any at this point just wondering what all I need to be concerned with. I'm thinking there's going to be internal issues from this point on with my new to me boat that I've only had a short time. Anyone ever been in this situation and know some things to look for that might be overlooked and come back to haunt me? To say the least I turned and came home after the police report and never made it to the shop.
 
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Oh my God! That sucks, sorry to hear about this happening to you! Wow, I'd check the stern corners of the boat where the transom meets the sides for cracks. I'd also have a shop pull your lower unit and check the transom under it, and probably have them check the engine mounts too.

Wow.
 
You need to get that to a dealer or real good shop and have them go over it, they know what and where to look. There was another similar incident that I have heard of, that person wound up with another boat. It has been a good while back and not sure if it was on CSR or the old SRO board. You need to get a professional to check it out.
 
VTSeaRay said:
Oh my God! That sucks, sorry to hear about this happening to you! Wow, I'd check the stern corners of the boat where the transom meets the sides for cracks. I'd also have a shop pull your lower unit and check the transom under it, and probably have them check the engine mounts too.

Wow.
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Great idea, I mostly looked at the transom near the gimbal ring I have yet to look out near the sides but now that you bring that up that is prolly where the force went. Will look into that later today. Yeah it sucked to say the least.
 
midway said:
You need to get that to a dealer or real good shop and have them go over it, they know what and where to look. There was another similar incident that I have heard of, that person wound up with another boat. It has been a good while back and not sure if it was on CSR or the old SRO board. You need to get a professional to check it out.
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Most deffinatly, it's going to a Sea Ray dealer. I don't feel comfortable with any of the local shops making the determination. I've delt with plenty of wrecked bikes and know that without experiance alot of things get missed so I am looking for some insight on possable things that might fall into that get missed catagory. 2 heads are always better than one and with all the heads on here I'm sure someone will bring something up the service dept and myself could miss. On the other boat issue I love my boat and it's so clean I'd hate to give it up but in the back of my mind I really have the worry it'll never be right again and things could happen down the line from this. I'm sure it's going to be a hell of a fight with his insurance company.
 
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Something I forgot and I feel sure you have done already but if not notify your insurance company, boat and car, just to cover yourself.
 
I've worried about this same thing - sorry to hear it happened to you! You're on the right track so far - contact insurance and get it to a Sea Ray dealer.
 
I would not be surprised if the boat was totaled... You may want to compare the repair costs to purchasing a new boat...
 
rcknecht said:
I would not be surprised if the boat was totaled... You may want to compare the repair costs to purchasing a new boat...
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Scary thought - but I was thinking that as well. Just the labor to pull everything and do the actual estimation will be expensive at the dealer. Just the drive can be over $2500 at a dealer + install. Hope it works out the best way for you! Might be a new boat in your future and this might be a blessing since no one got hurt.
 
10 year old 180 with drive damage, and possible transom damage. I bet you are looking at a total loss. At a minimum I would be pushing for a new drive, you have no idea what the impact did to it. Good luck!
 
All the above is good advice, one I did not see is, do not sign off with your insurance co. after repairs. You want to be able to reopen the claim if necessary. don't know your company or state laws but I would hope your company stands behind repairs even if they can't collect from the other guy. I had $6000 worth of insurance work done on a boat once and reopened the file almost 2 years later and got an engine coupler and install that my insurance company surveyor determined was related to the original impact. I agree with some of the other guys though, might be a total. Good luck
 
Depending on what your insurance company says, have a surveyor go through the boat and give you an estimate of what needs to be done. That way you have a list of items and maybe even a watch list of things that could happen in the future based on the accident. Total loss might be an opportunity to take the money and run! You can save money by not having to winterize or store it! You might get to keep the trailer? I'd hope that it was totaled and that would give you the winter to take advantage of this economy and buy another boat!
 
On the many notes of a total loss that thought has crossed my mind many times, honestly if they will come up with a decent settlement I would prolly rather go that route to be honest. I'm not real keen on the idea of putting a boat thats been hit back in the water even if they asure me there is no transom damage. Fiberglass is a weird thing and could be cracked on the inside where it's not even visable and show at a later date.

Sundancer said:
Depending on what your insurance company says, have a surveyor go through the boat and give you an estimate of what needs to be done. That way you have a list of items and maybe even a watch list of things that could happen in the future based on the accident. Total loss might be an opportunity to take the money and run! You can save money by not having to winterize or store it! You might get to keep the trailer? I'd hope that it was totaled and that would give you the winter to take advantage of this economy and buy another boat!
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The winterizing and storing isn't an issue as I'm in Florida it was 95 degrees yesterday if there's a down time it's prolly only two months. As far as the insurance issues go I've started a claim with his carrier. The boat was not insured since I just bought it hell I didn't even have a tag on the trailer yet. My truck insurance carrys some corverage for trailer and contents but I'm not even getting into that with them at this point. Police report was done and he was cited with careless driving and a DUI investigation took place after I was relesed from the scene, I do not know the outcome at this time of that. My questions are loss of use, They rent me a car if someone damages my vehicle are they going to rent me a boat till...?
 
User Error said:
On the many notes of a total loss that thought has crossed my mind many times, honestly if they will come up with a decent settlement I would prolly rather go that route to be honest. I'm not real keen on the idea of putting a boat thats been hit back in the water even if they asure me there is no transom damage. Fiberglass is a weird thing and could be cracked on the inside where it's not even visable and show at a later date.



The winterizing and storing isn't an issue as I'm in Florida it was 95 degrees yesterday if there's a down time it's prolly only two months. As far as the insurance issues go I've started a claim with his carrier. The boat was not insured since I just bought it hell I didn't even have a tag on the trailer yet. My truck insurance carrys some corverage for trailer and contents but I'm not even getting into that with them at this point. Police report was done and he was cited with careless driving and a DUI investigation took place after I was relesed from the scene, I do not know the outcome at this time of that. My questions are loss of use, They rent me a car if someone damages my vehicle are they going to rent me a boat till...?
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I totally understand your reasoning...I would want everything I can get under the same circumstances too...but I doubt that they'll be responsible for providing you with a boat until this is resolved.

If they do not total your boat you need to advise them that you will be filing a "loss of value" claim against them in addition to actual damages. I used a professional company for that with a car accident a few years ago. The insurance company swore they would never pay me more than
$300. They ended up giving me over $4,000. PM me for the company info and I'll give you their contact information.
 
Why not notify your insurance company? Being rear ended is never your fault. Your insurance company will contact his insurance company and the battle, if there is any, will not have to be fought by you. His insurance will pay and you don't have to do much of anything.

Tell your insurance company and let them deal with it. That is one of many reasons you have insurance.
 
David Morgan said:
Why not notify your insurance company? Being rear ended is never your fault. Your insurance company will contact his insurance company and the battle, if there is any, will not have to be fought by you. His insurance will pay and you don't have to do much of anything.

Tell your insurance company and let them deal with it. That is one of many reasons you have insurance.
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+1 Exactly! Let your insurance deal with it! If it damaged your ball and receptacle, then there was an accordion effect where everything was stressed from the stern to the bow including the trailer and the rear end of your vehicle. Also, I believe your insurance automatically picks up trailer, boat assuming you are within 30 days of purchase.
 
If the insurance company is any good they will offer to pay for the repairs and go after the at fault person's insurance to reimburse them. Mine has done this when we've had issues with the other party's insurance paying for damages.
 
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