Fantastic Weekend

[DemersChrisG]

So, I launched my 27ft Bayliner 2750 boat on Friday afternoon all loaded up in anticipation for the 4th of July. We cruised on out to Mariners Basin in Mission Bay, San Diego. We dropped anchor and were going to just chill out there until tuesday morning. Everything was all and well until about 2ish in the morning when I awoke to find 5-7 inches of water flooded into my cabin. To further investigate, I opened up the rear engine compartment to find my engine compltely submerged in water, and the water still flowing in it. I was sinking.....<br /><br />I keep on board 4 Bilge pumps rated at 1250 Gal/Hr. Once I was able to pump most of the water in the engine compartment out, I dove off the boat to investigate. It turns out that where the Sterndrive hooks up to the transom, the bottom part of the gasket seal was broken. Exposing an 1/8 inch space all around. Its was leaking like a madman. So, I put Marine putty all around to slow the leaked and called vessel assist.<br />I finally made it. A little hectic though. Sinking can be stressful. <br /><br />Okay people..... Will a seal to go out like that? To where it goes from perfectly fine one day, to exposing a space allowing enough water to sink the titanic? I had this boat out on the water the day before, and everything was awsome. The reason I ask is because my insurance company claims that its just normal wear and tear. Like your boat sinking like that is something that is normal. They say they will fix everything damaged as a result of the water commming in the boat. Not the actual broken seal on the sterndrive.<br /><br />Does that make sense? They will fix everything but the actual problem that caused the boat to sink. So I guess I should just launch the boat again after they pay for the repairs just so it can sink again huh, and they can just pay up again??????<br /><br />Any/All input or insurance haggling tipes would be greatly appeciated.....<br /><br /><br />-Chris

 

[stevens]

Re: Fantastic Weekend

After having struggled for years with getting through a very major & legitimate claim (which we won in the end), I don't understand how anyone has the conscience to work for an insurance company.<br /><br />I think they have a policy of saying 'no' at first, hoping you'll accept it and go away, and that's how they make their profits.<br /><br />First thing to do is to thoroughly read the fine print in your policy to see what kind of coverage you really have.<br /><br />Then, let's hope someone here can direct you to authoritative information that:<br /><br />1) those gaskets aren't meant to break,<br />2) the gasket has a life expectancy far longer than the current age of your boat,<br />3) a gasket breakdown is a sudden and unexpected event that could not be anticipated nor prevented under the prescribed regular maintenance program.<br /><br />Should this not be the case, and the gasket breakdown be a result of neglected maintenance, you probably have less of a case and their current offer may in fact be quite fair.<br /><br />Pick your fight carefully, though. If it comes down to it, they have more resources and patience than you do and can wear you down. A $200 gasket job is probably not worth a long fight if they accept the, say, $1000 cleanup from water damage. You may have to give some to get some.<br /><br />Good luck to you.

 

[DemersChrisG]

Re: Fantastic Weekend

Yea, thanks for the advice. I hate insurance companies. I will keep the forums informed on how things go just incase something like this happens to someone in the future.

 

[stevens]

Re: Fantastic Weekend

Guys,<br /><br />any technical views on the following three points?<br /><br />1) Those gaskets aren't expected to or meant to ever break, right?<br />2) The life expectancy of such a gasket?<br />3) The prescribed regular maintenance program wouldn't necessarily predict nor prevent such a gasket failure, right?<br /><br />Your answers may be of help to this chap. Any official Mercury advise on this somewhere on the net, maybe?