How hard should I punch the mechanic?

[src]

Well, I've been stewing on this one for a while, and it's time to figure out what to do. I'm selling my boat, so I moved it to a new marina in a more active boating region with a decent brokerage, but it's now several hours from my house. After dropping the boat off in November, I wasn't able to visit again until the end of February.

When I got there I found that when they had blocked my boat, they left the garboard drain plug in. I don't know exactly when the batteries (and thus bilge pump) gave their last gasp, but it had obviously been a while, because my bilge was now a swimming pool. I couldn't tell at the time exactly how high the waters had risen relative to the engines, but I suspect that the starters and oil pans at least were immersed. When I removed the drain plug, it took more than 10 minutes for the water to stop flowing.

Unfortunately, I was there off-hours and couldn't talk to anyone at the time, and had to leave on a long trip in a few days, so I couldn't really address the situation with them at the time. I did inform them of the problem, though.

I'm about to head back over and try to get a good look at the situation. I won't be able to try to start the engines (still need batteries), but I'll give it as good a visual inspection as I can (twin 454's in a 310 don't leave any room).

I guess my question is, is it ever normal practice to block a boat with the garboard plug in? Who would be dumb enough to do such a thing, and why? I know that it is ultimately my responsibility to make sure the job is done right, and I should have found a way to get up there after they blocked and serviced the boat, but I'm at a loss to explain how someone could be so bone-headed.

This is partially a chance to vent, but also partially a "taking the community's temperature" on how aggressively I should press them on making sure everything is fixed after this mistake.

 

[Bt Doctur]

If they were in charge of the winterizing then I`d say they screwed up, if it was sent there for blocking then the owner would be responsable Then again ,during that time frame most would cover or shrink wrap the vessel too.

 

[RichardS]

Did you document everything when you got there? Take plenty of pictures of the water in the bilge and the water flowing out and the plugs in and you removing them, etc, etc, etc.? You could easily have a claim against their insurance company for damages. Even if the engines run fine NOW, it doesn't mean you won't have problems LATER. (Ask me how I know!) And, I would also contact my own insurance company if I were you. I use BoatUS, and I'm willing to bet they'd tell you you can file a claim against them if that's who you have, and they will go after the other company to make themselves whole after taking care of you.

At the very least, you'll lose starters and oil pans, and batteries......I'd be flushing the oil out and replacing that......check your dipsticks for moisture.

Anyway....just my initial thoughts.

Oh, and to answer your question......I'd WANT to punch the mechanic pretty hard, but would I? No. The best revenge is to hit where it really hurts. The wallet. Yes, you can tell yourself that you should have checked their work, and THEY might tell you that.....but YOU'RE WRONG. When you hire a company to winterize a boat, you have what in legalese is called an "expectation of service". You didn't hire your landscaper or your pizza delivery guy to winterize the boat. You hired a company/person/whatever who does that FOR A LIVING. So you have the right to expect the service to be done correctly without it falling on YOUR shoulders to see that it was done correctly. Let me ask you something........if you get new tires put on your car, do you go around with a torque wrench and check to make sure every lug is tightened to spec? Probably not, right? If a wheel, God forbid, falls off while you're driving down the highway after getting your new tires installed, are YOU responsible because YOU didn't get your tools out and check the installation? Of course not, right? Because you have an "expectation of service"........you paid a company that installs tires to install tires, it's incumbent on THEM to send you on your way safely, not YOUR obligation to ensure the job was done right!

Anyway........like I said, I'd do the work I suggested and maybe more that a certified mechanic would suggest, (I am NOT a mechanic, just a boater who has owned boats ranging from RIBS with 20 HP motors to 42 foot diesel-powered aft cabins to all kinds of cuddys and bowriders of all sizes in between, who knows less than average about mechanics, a LOT less, but has had experience with poor service, like most of us, at one time or another), but I strongly suggest you make some calls to your insurance company, to start, and make sure any and all potential future problems that can occur as a result of a "partial submersion" are rectified sooner rather than later, when you'll have a hard time convincing anyone it's a result of this event, even though it surely will be.

BTW, on another note, at least it was fresh water (rain water, right?), and not salt water..........a partial submersion in salt water could total a boat. Thankfully what happened to you can be remedied with the proper diligence.

 

[AMFM3]

If you have a contract of my sort, check it out first. There could be an Errors & Omissions clues. If not, then it is there responsibility.

Mark

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Was it uncovered?
I'm just trying see how you got water in the boat?

I've winterized plenty of boats on blocks and after removing the plug to drain any water normally it gets reinstalled because, come spring it maybe missing or worse launched without it!

All boat I'm referring to have canvas on or shrink wrap installed.

 

[Bob & Sue]

Just my opinion if there is substantial damage which it sounds like there is after a polite conversation with them to find out their attitude & your responsibilities. My next communication would be with your insurance company unless your at fault which I can't believe you would be just the weight from that much water could have put quite a bit of stress on the hull in that length of time if it wasn't blocked correctly. They may be willing to take care of fixing it knowing insurance & surveyors are going to be addressing who's at fault.

We were indoor rack stored for 5 years their policy was to always pull the plug unless the boat was self bailing in case of fire the racks couldn't hold the weight in case the fire sprinklers came on. Any boat yard launching boats are responsible to check the plug prior to launch.

Be polite first then come un-glued.

Best of Luck

 

[Madifonzo]

I think you need to share what you had them do? Since the batteries were left connected I am assuming that you literally only paid them to haul and block the boat. If you had a storage contract with services to be performed such as winterization, shrink wrap etc, then absolutely you have a claim. But if you paid them to haul and block I would say your on your own. So once you provide more information on what you requested them to do, then we can get the pitch forks and torches.

 

[src]

First off, I just wanted to say I looked it over today and I don't think there was any damage done. When I initially saw the situation, I went into "OMG" mode and immediately drained the water, not thinking about taking pictures/etc. Stupid, I know. However, the water didn't cover the stringers, so it didn't actually reach the engines. At most, it was touching the bottom of the engine mounts that are below the stringer tops. I think that in my mind it was worse than in actuality because I'm used to the boat being more stern-down in the water, and the water would have been MUCH higher in the back if it were in that attitude. As it sits blocked, it's closer to level so water halfway up the stringers wasn't high enough to hit anything critical (I hope).

Other than the batteries, I think a bullet was dodged.

I paid them to haul/block and fully winterize the boat. I talked to the service manager today and while I don't necessarily fully agree with it, their policy is "don't do anything that isn't specified in writing." So assumptions about what "haul/block" means led me to think we didn't need to do a point-by-point inventory of every step. I suspect some of that may be a little bit of CYA on their part, because honestly who blocks a boat for the winter with the drain plug in?

The boat wasn't wrapped, it just had the camper canvas up, so normal environmental leakage was the cause, coupled with an unusually wet winter ending with a massive snowfall that melted slowly.

When I go back with new batteries, they are going to spend some time with me making sure that everything is OK, and while I'm not happy with the event I'm reasonably satisfied with their overall response.

And yes, I know not to punch someone. That was meant more metaphorically. But thanks for all the feedback, I appreciate it.

 

[ShaneOnYou]

their policy is "don't do anything that isn't specified in writing.

Are you ****ing kidding me??? You were supposed to tell them to take the plug out? That's the most absurd thing I have ever heard..

 

[src]

Are you ****ing kidding me??? You were supposed to tell them to take the plug out? That's the most absurd thing I have ever heard..

Yeah, that's the part that I think was a bit of a tap-dance. Some things fall under "common f'ing sense". I could see them not automatically disconnecting the batteries, or not putting fenders/lines away themselves, but the plug is just elementary.