You never think it could happen to you

You should check the details of the repair estimate for anything the repair yard may have overlooked. Consider anything electrical that was submerged......motors, compressors, wiring harnesses with plugs, starters, alternators, water heater. Then consider that once you begin the repair process, anything that is discovered later will be a supplemental claim to add on to the original estimate. THe position I would take is that if the insurance co doesn't pay you the agreed value, and commission the repairs, then they are in for the entire ride including any undisclosed damage and supplemental claims, no matter what the cost. With this much damage, there will be stuff you don't discover until the boat is torn apart. The last thing you need is to accept a check then discover $15k more in damage.

I think the smart money move would be to ask that the agreed value be paid, then sell the boat as is-where is for whatever you can get and then go boat shopping.
 
Dustin
I would have never been able to take home $45k on my boat. Despite being one of the best ones out there (yes, I am very modest!), you figure "ask" and "get" are two different things. If I put it in for $45 I MIGHT get $35 and then I'd be giving 10% to a do-nothing broker. Though I had NO intentions of getting rid of my old girl, I now realize it was the best thing that could have happened.
 
I spoke with an adjuster last friday and now I have some concerns. They are still going over everything and have really yet to get back to me. The only reason I spoke with one I was actually paying my ins bill and inquired about the claim. They said we have several options. They asked what I wanted to do. I stated I don't know what do you mean. I am waiting to see what you guys are going to do or say first. Kinda had a strange feeling about that. One thing the adjuster told me that I swera i mis understood was if they consider it a constructive loss and pay the agreed value, they will get a low end and high end salvage price and deduct that plus my deductable and that is what I will get. Then they will ship the boat to a yard and try and sell it. This way they recoup some monies lost on their end. Does this even sound right? Hell i could sell the boat as is where si on my own. Why would I be paying them to do it. I have decided I am not calling again until I hear from them. This coming monday they will have had the estimate for 2 weeks.
 
Oh one more thing he stated as well. It is close to my agreed value. If they decide to fix it anything that comes up not on the estimate will be supplimental and they will only pay up until the agreed value. After that it is out of my pocket. I don't believe fixing the boat is of any option now. 7k is not enough cusion for me and there is pretty much everything listed on the estimate if it got wet. Sensors, selenoids etc.
 
Dustin...
We had a LOT of total losses from Sandy. What happened here is that the ins co pays you your value plus any equipment losses, MINUS the salvage/haulout fees. Then they may turn around and offer you the boat back, for a price. If you refuse to buy it back, they send a guy with a truck and haul the boat away. Then they auction/sell it off. The guy who bought my friend's totaled '99 330DA paid $30K for it! I know another guy who bought his 32' Larson back for $2k and fixed it up. I have another friend who got $28K for his total loss, but he owed $32K on the boat. New definition of upside-down. That check went straight to the bank. He never saw it.

The boat hauler needs to get paid too, so maybe they are going to deduct that from your final check (?)

It cost me about $4500 for haul/block/haulaway for my boat after Sandy.
 
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I am personally ready for this to be over with. I hope to hear back from them soon. The thought of buying mine back if the price is right has crossed my mind. Then just sell it cause I really don't want a project boat right now.
 
Dustin
Take the money and run. You don't want to be saddled with a "tainted" boat. Not sure if you are legally required to give full disclosure but ethically you are. Also, if it doesn't sell quickly you have to maintain the boat and pay for storage until it does.
 
Yea that is another thing that lingers is that ordeal. I wish this had never happened but such as life. I really don't want the burden of dealing with it after either. But hey, that haven't even considered it a loss yet.
 
I know EXACTLY have you feel.
 
If you want to get them moving, then play the weather card. The boat is in Huntsville; I am 35 miles north of you and we are forcasted to get a freeze tonite. Send your adjustor a certified letter advising them that you will expect them to cover any supplemental claims for freeze related damage, specifically any damage due to water trapped beneath the cabin sole...(and there is some) because they are dragging their feet. I don't even know where to begin in winterizing a boat that was submerged.
 
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They'll cover the damage but it will come out of Dustin's check. It is worth specifying in said letter that that CANNOT be the case!
 
UPDATE**** They have deemed it a total loss! I somewhat expected that to happen but didn't really know. Of coarse now waiting on the paperwork from them so I can get the check. I feel I made out pretty good. $40,500 is what is coming to me. That's after depreciation and what not. I think I did well. In other words that's more than I financed the boat for 6 years ago. I am going to collect my personal junk off of it and keep my eye on the interwebs the next several months and see what's out there. Lot's of boats for sale right now at some good prices. This will be a process. May just run around in the Wellcraft until my freinds 360 sales. No since in keeping up with three boats if I don't have to. They offered it back to me at 15K. I countered with 5k. They said they couldn't go that low but were willing to negotiate. I told them it's not worth the headache. Even if i got it for 8k still have to stick almost 30k in the boat. I can but one that has to have nothing done right now for 30k. Thank you guys for all the assistance. This has definately not been an experiance i ever want to go through again.
 
Dustin...
You DID do well and you did right by not taking on the task of rehabilitating the boat. It is now going to be some other brave soul's problem. Sounds like you're sad but pleased with the outcome. That's pretty much how I felt and still feel!

Good luck boat shopping!
 
Yea just a little sad cause it was my first good size sea ray of my own. But there will be another bigger and better. going to take my time as I am in no rush.
 
I'm very sorry for you loss, but I just read this entire thread for the first time and it sounds like you've made the hard, but right decision. Take Frank's offer for help hunting for your next pride and joy. I hope to be in that position one day.

As for the original issue.
trit21 said:
I think what rollercoastr said was correct. AC power was on the boat and never failed but the converter (battery charger) breaker was tripped so the battery was not being charged. Since AC power was still present, AC kept working, turning on and off as needed including the raw Z(salt) water pump to cool the AC. Although, I don't think he said a line broke so since the AC condensate drains into the shower sump, the sump pump worked until the point of killing the batteries and the shower sump would just overflow. With no battery to pump either the shower sump or the overflow emergency forward bilge, the boat filled with water.
Click to expand...

The condensate line was not the issue, it was the discharge on the exhaust flow hose for the A/C base unit that was leaking and flooded the cabin. Luckily it was sinking the boat until the AC shore power tripped, possibly by shorting in the bilge when it was possibly submerged(?) and stopping the pump. I'm sure the bilge pump and leak competed with each other for awhile.
 
One of the first hoses I replaced on my boat was that AC discharge line. I realized it ran thru the cabin and that the sump wouldn't keep up with the AC pump if the line blew.
I'm sorry for your loss, but your story in this thread should serve as a wake up call to every one to check ALL the hoses in the boat that carry water and replace if at all in doubt.

Good luck boat shopping.
 
Was at the dock on friday night and in talking with my neighbors it seems I have started a trend. Just about everyone had cut the air off on their boat when they are not around until they can check and or replace the discharge and intake hoses. Obviously a crappy way to learn a lesson but going forward I will not take items like this for granted.
 
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