Rental Blues

[mhaslam]

I am not a boater, The extent of my boating experience is renting a boat once a year on a lake in New England. My last experience may have ended my tradition. I am looking for feedback on what happened to me. <br />My wife and I and our 3 year old rented an 18' Bayliner with a 125 merc outboard on Lake Winnipesaki (sp?) in New Hampshire. While enjoying the day and going between the red and black markers the motor struck something (?). When I pulled the motor up it was apparent that we had struck something hard causing the prop to be broken as well as the lower fin (I would soon learn this was a skeg). <br />We slowly motored back to the rental company and informed them of what had happened. We knew that we would probably be responsible for the damage but the cost to repair seemed absurd to me. <br />They told me that the boat would need a new prop and a new skeg would have to be welded on to the tune of $610. This included $150/prop, $25/skeg, $175/welding, $210/3hrs labor, $50 to pull out of water. Does this price seem reasonable? HELP!!

 

[jfholijr]

Re: Rental Blues

Out of all the prices you quoted the $175 welding I think should be covered under the $210 for labor. I don't know of anyone who charges welding separate from labor. Are you buying a beed of weld?

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Rental Blues

It looks like to me they computed the price and then doubled it. But then you have to consider they are loosing money while it is being repaired.

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: Rental Blues

Don't they have an insurance cover on these boats? I would never rent anything that doesn't cover accidental damage for the Renter. What would happen if to sunk it ?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Rental Blues

I have needed to have a new skeg welded on my Merc. IMO the price on the new prop was reasonable, the price of the new skeg was reasonable and the welding charge was reasonable. I found a welder who worked on the LU without its disasembly. I did remove it from the motor however, and $210 is high for that task.

 

[Gus Mortimer]

Re: Rental Blues

I am with Unicorn. <br /> <br /> When you rent a car there is insurance. seems to me like accidental dammage should have been covered.<br /><br /> I just hope this doesnt ruin your fun next year. Maby try finding a new place to rent from, and see about that insurance.

 

[bluebyyou]

Re: Rental Blues

I think you should have paid for welding or labor...but both??? I had a broken skeg welded last year for $45.00 and it was completely broken off.<br /><br />Don't give up on boating...just rent elsewhere! Also try to find a credit card that will give you renters insurance.

 

[agrazela]

Re: Rental Blues

Either they want you to pay so their insurance rates won't go up, or they are going to get it fixed under insurance AND take your money.<br /><br />In any case, their repair estimate is exorbitant.<br /><br />Besides, you should be liable to them for no more than an insurance deductible...perhaps $50 to $150. Damage to their property is a foreseeable risk to renting, and they should have had the insurance.<br /><br />Stand firm...offer them $100 to cover their deductible. If they balk, tell them to shove it. If they are too cheap to buy insurance, they sure ain't gonna hire a lawyer to sue you.

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Rental Blues

Agree!!!^^^^^^^

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Rental Blues

My inlaws rented a boat up here, and when they returned it, they were forced to pay almost $400 for a new prop that the marina says they damaged. They are very experienced boaters, they know they hit nothing, and they boated in areas ranging from 300 to 700 feet in depth. They basically got suckered because the marina obviously rented the boat to them in that condition in the first place. The saddest part of all is we all know they just put another aluminum prop on, boat in the water, quick and easy, and pocketed the rest. Lesson my inlaws learned: Trim up the outdrive and check the prop first in the presence of a marina representative before heading out.

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: Rental Blues

I would not deal with any business that can blame you for damage that may have already be there. Maybe it's time to invest in a boat..

 

[quantumman29]

Re: Rental Blues

sounds to me like your being shoved into a corner and forced to make repair payments that clearly are not your responsibilty,unless it clearly states somewhere on your rental agreement that you are responsible for any and all damages,they should have insurance to cover the crafts that they rent,you shouldnt have to pay jack sh..t!<br />as a tournament bass fisherman i know the dangers of winnipesaukee and i also have a very good friend who is in the boat rental business on winni, every one of his crafts are insured against damages caused by renters, according to him:<br />IT IS EVERY RENTAL AGENTS REQUIREMENT TO CARRY ACCIDENTAL INSURANCE ON ANY CRAFT WHICH IS RENTED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC,IF THE ESTABLISHMENT YOU RENTED FROM DOES NOT CARRY RENTERS INSURANCE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO COUNTER SUE THEM FOR RENTING YOU A CRAFT THAT DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE COVERAGE!<br />THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEARLY DOCUMENTED ON ANY AND ALL AGREEMENT PAPERS YOU SIGNED,EVERY CRAFT ON THE WATER SHOULD BE INSURED,ALTHOUGH MANY ARE NOT,IT IS THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO REALIZE WHO,WHAT,WHEN,AND WHERE THEY ALLOW A CRAFT OWNED BY THEM TO BE OPERATED,THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT,THEY KNOW THE DANGERS OF THE WATER (ESPECIALLY WINNI) THERES BOULDERS IN THAT LAKE THE SIZE OF TRACTOR TRAILERS,TELL THEM TO SCREW OFF,YOU PAID FOR RENTAL,THEY GOT THEIR BOAT BACK,THATS ALL!<br /> MIKE