Insurance claim question - is it worth it

[Hai Nhi]

Hello everyone.

Hope I'm posting in the right section.

I ran across a hidden sandbar and nicked both of my props, nicked starboard side kreg, broke the kreg on port side.

My deductible is $700 (requested $300 or something lower back then but forgot to follow up so it's still $700). I'm not sure if anything else is wrong.

So question is, should I file claim? I know insurance company always count "points" against your policy. So would a claim like this worth it for the increased point, which might increase premium in the future I guess.

Thanks.


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[Lazy Daze]

The two nicked props and the nicked skeg are no big deal. The props can easily be fixed (I'm assuming that by "nicked" you mean the damage is minimal) and the skeg can simply be filed smooth. Depending on where the break is on the port side, will be the big factor. You can run without a full skeg with no performance issues - you're just more apt to possibly damage the prop. To fix it, requires welding a new piece in. Depending on where that break is, will determine if it can be successfully welded or if the lower unit needs to be replaced.

 

[src]

And I don't know how it works for your policy, but the deductible is usually per incident or per claim. It's not generally cumulative.

 

[Gary Hill]

You can also search through "Ship Shape TV" and find the bolt on replacement skags. Have not seen one in person but the ones they showed being installed on the show looked very good. Cost ?????

 

[Lazy Daze]

You can also search through "Ship Shape TV" and find the bolt on replacement skags. Have not seen one in person but the ones they showed being installed on the show looked very good. Cost ?????

They're not too costly (in "boat dollars", anyways!). But the down side is that if you hit something with one of those installed, there's a much greater chance that you will immediately ruin the lower unit with no hope of being able to weld it to repair it. At the store, even when someone asks about wanting to purchase one, I try to sway them away from it.

 

[Henry Boyd]

As long as you are sure that is all the damage, it comes down to the difference between repair cost and the deductible. That being said, if it turns out in two months something else is wrong you may end up having to eat a second deductible. Also keep in mind if you don't fix the skag, and use a bolt on, when you go to sell its going to be a giant sign that says you whacked a rock.

Henry

 

[mwph]

"Points" and/or a small increase in premiums may be the least of your problems. If you ever had to make another claim, I would think that filing a second claim would be more likely to get you dropped. Which in turn would make it harder and much more expensive to get re-insured. In other words, I would save my claim for something much bigger and hopefully something that could not be branded as "your fault".

 

[JAMZ]

I had a bad day three years ago, I have State Farm, it needed a new lower unit case on a OMC, old boat. Very expensive, $4700. They did not raise my rate at all the next year. I would have someone take a look at it to be sure everything is good. Then I would decide to claim it or not.

 

[mjmason1]

The damage you cite is pretty cheap to fix. SS props are a couple of hundred bucks each to redo. Skegs can be cheaply fixed by a welder. It would probably be more then your deductible but not by much. As for the insurance it self I have heard to many stories of filing a claim then getting dropped the next year. IMOHO the insurance protects you more if you are responsible (i.e. damaging someone else, a spill or a major claim of other sorts.)

 

[Georgia SeaDawg]

In this instance, I would say no. The $ amount being close to your deductible is just not worth it. You will end up paying more in the long run.

 

[IanBat]

Don't know how differently it works there to here in Oz.

But here I would inform the insurance company, they note it as an incident, then as you start to repair, if you find further damage and the bill is going to rise. You stop the work and change it to a claim


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[Hai Nhi]

great advices. Thanks everyone.

I would hold off the claim. I'd think about informing my broker too.

As for fixing it, I think the damage is probably just that. I hit it running really slow, forgetting to check the depth finder. Since then, I've been out a couple times running full throttle and what not, no problem noticed. But I don't have the broken piece anymore. I just took a look at the props, they look rough on the edges - maybe 1/4"-3/8" from the edges.

I do plan to upgrade by year end or next year when possible. So I do want to make it looks good. Should I check around shops to see if anyone has a used lower unit casing or something? Or can I fabricate the missing part myself? I'm a general contractor with lots of sanding/buffing tools, but not sure how to fix it yet.

Thanks again.

 

[blaster]

Don't know how differently it works there to here in Oz.

But here I would inform the insurance company, they note it as an incident, then as you start to repair, if you find further damage and the bill is going to rise. You stop the work and change it to a claim


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In Virginia when you call your auto insurance company and report any kind of incident weather you intend to file a claim or not they file a claim. While you may choose not to have repairs made they will still have a claim on file which will count against your insurance score. If you are unsure about filing a claim don't call and ask your insurer questions least ye potentially pay higher premiums.

 

[JimFromMD]

great advices. Thanks everyone.

I would hold off the claim. I'd think about informing my broker too.

As for fixing it, I think the damage is probably just that. I hit it running really slow, forgetting to check the depth finder. Since then, I've been out a couple times running full throttle and what not, no problem noticed. But I don't have the broken piece anymore. I just took a look at the props, they look rough on the edges - maybe 1/4"-3/8" from the edges.

I do plan to upgrade by year end or next year when possible. So I do want to make it looks good. Should I check around shops to see if anyone has a used lower unit casing or something? Or can I fabricate the missing part myself? I'm a general contractor with lots of sanding/buffing tools, but not sure how to fix it yet.

Thanks again.

i would skip the claim but if you are thinking about selling, get it fixed right by someone in the trade. If you try to fix it yourself and it's not done right, it will be caught in the survey and you'll pay to get it fixed again or end up giving a credit for the work to be done. Worse yet, a bad repair may cast doubt on how sound the drive is and also give the impression that you took the cheap way out. If you did it in this case, as a buyer they may wonder what other things got fixed with bubble gum and duct tape. Just another perspective to consider.

 

[JimFromMD]

In Virginia when you call your auto insurance company and report any kind of incident weather you intend to file a claim or not they file a claim. While you may choose not to have repairs made they will still have a claim on file which will count against your insurance score. If you are unsure about filing a claim don't call and ask your insurer questions least ye potentially pay higher premiums.

+1. A friend was asking questions of his insurance about coverages and how something would be covered and the 800-number rep said sir do you have a claim? From your questions it sounds like you have a claim. Be careful what you ask and how.

 

[Lazy Daze]

You don't need the broken piece to fix it. But it needs to get done properly by an experienced repair shop. They'll also know whether or not the skeg on the port side is repairable. Most marina's should be able to get this done (usually by sending it out).

 

[Hai Nhi]

Marine shops are mostly mechanic right? They're not fabricator nor welder I don't think. Should I be looking for those instead? Any recommendation? Again, is a new used-casing a better option?

As far as informing/reporting to insurance goes, I'll skip it.


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[mjmason1]

The marine shops usually know welders that do the work. It takes a special kind of welding. Not all welders can do it. Castings for A1G2 outdrives can run up to $1,000 each or more. If the drives are in good shape except the skegs, it will be much cheaper to fix them. Being on a trailer it will be easy to get the boat to a welder, or a mobile one can come to you.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Marine shops are mostly mechanic right? They're not fabricator nor welder I don't think. Should I be looking for those instead? Any recommendation? Again, is a new used-casing a better option?

You don't need the broken piece to fix it. But it needs to get done properly by an experienced repair shop. They'll also know whether or not the skeg on the port side is repairable. Most marina's should be able to get this done (usually by sending it out).

Done correctly, a properly welded repair can be as good as new. Whether or not the current casing is salvageable remains to be seen once evaluated.

I'm in PA - I won't be able to give you any recommendations in CA.

 

[Hai Nhi]

I just checked one of the shop I knew: a used casing with labor is about $700. Don't know where to ask for welded repair yet.

My ss props need fixing too. I have a pair of brand new props previous owner used for Lake Tahoe. And heard about 4 blades props/fiberglass. Any suggestion of what's my best options? Fix the current props, change to new 4 blades (then I can pick fiberglass or ss). For 2nd choice, I might sell the spare props since I don't plan to go Lake Tahoe at all.


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