Ran her up on the rocks - what does insurance cover?

[charlg]

We take the boat to Cape Cod every year. My wife takes the kids in the car, and I drive the boat down. This year we wanted to visit Cuttyhunk and Martha'a Vineyard. This trip certainly had it's highs and lows.

It started with the boat breaking down an hour into the ride down on Saturday. The port engine could not handle a load over 2,000 RPMs. I limped on one motor from harbor to harbor until I found one that could look at it on Monday. It was a two wire fuel sensor. Three boating days gone.

Next, was the following weekend when we went to Cuttyhunk. Great overnight boat trip. I love it there. When we got back to the harbor, my car had been towed. My wife does not read street signs very well.

The last trip was to the Vineyard. Good day trip. But, my timing sucked I guess. I came back through Wood's Hole (which I had been through all week without a problem) at dead low tide. I was following the channel carefully, but got confused for one minute by a fishing boat that was in the channel. My instinct was to go toward the fishing boat which took me 20' to 3' instantly and we went up and over a pile of rocks. I thought I sunk her.

To my surprise, both engines were still running. I opened the engine hatch and had no water. So we made it back to the mooring. I had no choice to leave her on the mooring for a day and a half until the trip back home.

I drove her back - 5 hours. Most of it was on plane +/- 30 mph. Got her up on the lift to see the damage. Not good. Both skegs are gone. Looks like outdrives were flexed. The paint around the outdrives at the transom is off. One of the strakes is down to the fiberglass. But the worst is a one foot section where the transom meets the hull is pulled away. There are areas of scrapes also.

Here's the question, how do I present this to the insurance company? I'm insured for physical damage up to $45k. But, it says my rating area is inland (I kept the same coverage from my Sundeck). Does that mean I'm not covered for the ocean? Should I have contacted the Coast Guard? I had some guys tell me it might be totalled?

I'm sick over this.

 

[Hampton]

I don't know the answers to your questions, but really hope things work out ok. I doubt it's totalled. My guess is less than 10,000 as long as there isn't any serious water intrusion, but that is just a guess. Hopefully someone who can help will chime in soon. Good luck.

 

[fwebster]

The extent of the damage and what will have to be done to repair the boat is impossible to tell without photographs. Broken skegs are a simple repair....the drives are cast aluminum gear cases, they would not have flexed without breaking. The drives pivot at the transom assembly so while its possible, damage there isn't likely. I can't picture the "one foot section where the transom meets the hull is pulled away". It may be an easy repair and just touching up the bottom paint, or both drives and engines may have to be removed to re-lay part of the transom.

Generally, if the boat stays dry and runs, the damage shouldn't be too serious so I doubt you have a totaled boat; however, this becomes an insurance and $ question. If the damage is 60-70% of the boat's value and the engines, drives, electronics, etc. have some salvage value, it may be. If you are under insured and have an agreed value policy, they may write you a check and cancel your coverage and you do what you want with the boat.

The big question, as you have surmized, is: were you beyond your navigation limits? There is the English language, there is the CSCG language and there is the insurance contract language. The contract will govern. Read your policy carefully and look for a definition of the term "inland". Look also for some wording for occasional transit through coastal waterways. Finally, absent some clear wording like "land-locked bodies of water" if you were inside the demarcation line (purple line on coastal charts) denoting the change from inland to international nav rules, it will be hard to deny a claim. If you were outside the demarcation line, then you can probably expect the adjustor to deny any claim. Get your ducks in a row before you call the carrier.

Good luck with it..............

 

[Hampton]

The big question, as you have surmized, is: were you beyond your navigation limits? There is the English language, there is the CSCG language and there is the insurance contract language. The contract will govern. Read your policy carefully and look for a definition of the term "inland". Look also for some wording for occasional transit through coastal waterways. Finally, absent some clear wording like "land-locked bodies of water" if you were inside the demarcation line (purple line on coastal charts) denoting the change from inland to international nav rules, it will be hard to deny a claim. If you were outside the demarcation line, then you can probably expect the adjustor to deny any claim. Get your ducks in a row before you call the carrier.

Good luck with it..............

There's some good advice. You'll probably be ok. I doubt there's a lot of rocks outside of the demarcation line and in range of a 280, but, who knows?

 

[katricol]

My charts are on my boat.....but I think you were inside the colregs per your description of being near Woods Hole, which would be ok per your ins. policy. Good luck !!!

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Will they even ask where you were??

My friend trashed two five blade props and 2 two inch shafts.
He said he was stupid for hitting the rocks..
The insurance company told him he was insured for being stupid.
All new gear was installed (I'm not saying you were stupid)
accidents happen.

Good luck with yours,

 

[JV II]

Sorry to hear that. I passed through there twice in the last week. The first time there was a 390MY stuck hard up on the rocks. The second time I was going against the current and it was like going against a white water river. Things do happen quickly in Woods Hole. It is one very unforgiving place of even the smallest human or mechanical errors. I hope everything is fixed and you can salvage what remains of the season.

 

[charlg]

Sorry to hear that. I passed through there twice in the last week. The first time there was a 390MY stuck hard up on the rocks. The second time I was going against the current and it was like going against a white water river. Things do happen quickly in Woods Hole. It is one very unforgiving place of even the smallest human or mechanical errors. I hope everything is fixed and you can salvage what remains of the season.

Our paths crossed in front of the Oak Bluffs Harbor Master office. You were heading out of the harbor. By the time I read your boat name it was too late to say hi.

 

[Good Grief]

First I would suggest a survey by an impartial quality surveyor (not the one who did purchase survey). Based on that I would make a claim to the insurance company. They'll hire their own surveyor and rule based on that. To protect the value of your boat I would survey and make a claim to get it restored to A+.

 

[MLauman]

Will they even ask where you were??

And are you sure it didn't happen closer to home? :wink:

 

[JV II]

Our paths crossed in front of the Oak Bluffs Harbor Master office. You were heading out of the harbor. By the time I read your boat name it was too late to say hi.

Oh, sorry I missed you. I might have been on 58 while leaving the harbor.

 

[steve mac]

Charlie - sorry to hear about your accident.

I have been going thru Woods Hole for years and had the same thing happen to me last season. As someone else mentioned, Woods Hole is very unforgiving....if you lose your position or take your eye off the ball, for even a minute......you can end up on the rocks.

Don't beat yourself up over it. As I was told last year after my incident..."there are 2 kinds of boaters...those that have run aground and those that are waiting to...."

Good luck with the repair and insurance issues.

 

[charlg]

She just left for the repair.

Good news; the insurance company said I was covered for the whole US.

Bad news; looks like both engines and outdrives have to be removed.

The boat yard owner was surprised she did not sink, and said I was lucky it was a Sea Ray.

It's now in the hands of the insurance and the boat yard. I hope she comes back as good as new.

 

[charlg]

Charlie - sorry to hear about your accident.

I have been going thru Woods Hole for years and had the same thing happen to me last season. As someone else mentioned, Woods Hole is very unforgiving....if you lose your position or take your eye off the ball, for even a minute......you can end up on the rocks.

Don't beat yourself up over it. As I was told last year after my incident..."there are 2 kinds of boaters...those that have run aground and those that are waiting to...."

Good luck with the repair and insurance issues.

Thanks for the kind words. I am hearing a lot of the same stories about Woods Hole from everybody. Next year I might take the ferry.

 

[JV II]

She just left for the repair.

Good news; the insurance company said I was covered for the whole US.

Bad news; looks like both engines and outdrives have to be removed.

The boat yard owner was surprised she did not sink, and said I was lucky it was a Sea Ray.

It's now in the hands of the insurance and the boat yard. I hope she comes back as good as new.

The I/O vs V-drive debate continues to recent postings, but I have to say that I don't believe a v-drive boat would be able to do what you did and then spend 5 hours on plane at 30 mph to get you home.

 

[Ididntdoit]

The I/O vs V-drive debate continues to recent postings, but I have to say that I don't believe a v-drive boat would be able to do what you did and then spend 5 hours on plane at 30 mph to get you home.

Ya - and if he had sea core drives he probably would not have had any damage at all LOL

 

[Dave S]

If you didn't bend the props then it is doubtful you did any internal damage to the drives which is a big plus. If they are removing the engines and drives, that is in your favor as it will allow them to fix the transom the right way as well as allow them to see if any of the hardware such as the outdrive mounting flanges, gimbal ring, and hydraulic ram mounts were damaged. They can weld new skegs on the drive and if done right you will never even know they were damaged. Keep us posted as work progresses. It would also be interesting to see some damage pictures if you have them.

Dave

 

[keokie]

I would imagine the running gear of a v drive boat would be inoperable after a collision such as that. However, I am quite confident the v drive boat would be quite a bit less expensive and easier to fix...... Eaier to fix also means more likely to be fixed correctly.

 

[charlg]

UGLY damage pics.
The first two are on the starboard side half way to the stern.
The last two are on the port side at the stern and transom.

 

[JV II]

That is a hard hit.