Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

[mlrman]

OK, so a typical day at the ramp. It was packed and the guy next to me gets his boat all squirrely on the trailer and runs the back of his boat into the side of mine.

All that was damaged was the rubber rub rail that goes around my boat, and the metal trim piece the rub rail fits into.

Took a big gouge out of the rub rail and scratched up the metal guide pretty deeply.

I was calm about it, I realize the damage is minimal, especially on my old boat. But I like to keep my toys in good shape and the gouge looks like hell.

Should I ask him to pay to have this repaired or not worry about it?

I think I can buy a new rub rail and replace it myself and also sand the gouges out of the metal trim.

He was reluctant to furnish his insurance info, but gave me his business card and said he'd "take care of it, call him"

Advise?

Thanks.

 

[bsktball55]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

I would have him fix it. There's no reason that you should suffer because of someone else's negligence. I like to keep my truck and boat in pristine shape and every time I look at a scratch it pisses me off. I can handle ones I did because of my stupidity, but if someone else did it to your boat, they should fix it.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

I agree. The damage obviously annoys you or you wouldn't have even asked the question. Plus, you may find more damage when you dismantle things to fix it.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

Should I ask him to pay to have this repaired

YES !!, And tell him he is going to pay to have your boat fixed !! .

He was reluctant to furnish his insurance info, but gave me his business card

Oh NO !!. I also carry business cards in my wallet from other companies .
You're screwed on this one !!. If he is lieing ??.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

Before calling him, explore your options. Do you have hull insurance? How much is your deductible for hull damage? Do you have uninsured boater coverage (and may the other fellow be uninsured)? Does your uninsured boater coverage have a deductible (mine has no deductible)?

What you don't need is a lot of grief dealing with the other boater. If he's a stand-up guy and offers to pay a fair amount, that's one thing ... but if he's not, I'd utilize your own insurance coverage and let them chase him around.

 

[mlrman]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

I would have him fix it. There's no reason that you should suffer because of someone else's negligence. I like to keep my truck and boat in pristine shape and every time I look at a scratch it pisses me off. I can handle ones I did because of my stupidity, but if someone else did it to your boat, they should fix it.

see that's exactly how I feel!

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

Take it apart. If you can sand the gouge out. do that.
Find out how much the rub rail is and call him.

Ask him to pay for the replacement of the rub rail. He may do it..

 

[mlrman]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

YES !!, And tell him he is going to pay to have your boat fixed !! .

Oh NO !!. I also carry business cards in my wallet from other companies .
You're screwed on this one !!. If he is lieing ??.

LOL, I hear ya!

The guy is a general manager of an auto dealer with his picture on his business card, and he knew some dealer owner's names in my town.....plus a google search shows the guy is legitimate.

I know he felt bad....I just don't want to be one of those jerks that get's hit and tries to capitalize on the person's mistake.

I'll never forget checking my cell phone at a stoplight as I inadvertantly, slowly eased into the lady's bumper in front of me. I didn't even spill a cup of water in my car, that's how lightly I made contact. No damage, not even a scratch or crack. The b-tch actually claimed whiplash, HAHA! Sued my insurance company! I hate people like that.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

So just have him make you whole. Maybe you'll even make a friend out of the deal.

 

[mlrman]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

Then why ask?

QUOTE]

I asked because I wanted your opinions,

Just because I have an opinion on what I should do, that doesn't mean it's right.

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

...

I'll never forget checking my cell phone at a stoplight as I inadvertantly, slowly eased into the lady's bumper in front of me. I didn't even spill a cup of water in my car, that's how lightly I made contact. No damage, not even a scratch or crack. The b-tch actually claimed whiplash, HAHA! Sued my insurance company! I hate people like that.

Yet you want to act just like her? I'll bet you're gonna go to the highest priced marina you can find, have a quote to REPLACE the entire rub rail, then pocket the money and do the repair yourself?

Come on give me a break, it's a RUBRAIL!!!! They are MEANT to get damaged, that's inherently what they are there for for.

On a side note, WHY have manufacturers gone back to using metal frames for their rub rails? It's STUPID, cause they bend. A rubrail is SUPPOSED to be able to get bumped, rubbed, and generally abused. A rubber frame with a rubber insert is the only logical way to make a rubrail. Just like my 1997 Chaparral had.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

So just have him make you whole. Maybe you'll even make a friend out of the deal.

Yeah right! He's gonna make a friend alright, just not of the guy who tapped his rubrail a little!

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

Hey Bubba1235,
Let me come over and whack your boat with mine !!.
Will you forgive me ??.

Is the rest of the rub rail in pristine condition? If not you don't get a new free replacement,

You talk like a guy with a paper butt for a mouth.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

You talk like a guy with a paper butt.

I have no idea what that means, but it's funnier then heck!

I don't think the OP would be just like that lady if he was to ask for the cost of the materials, which is what it sounds like he's asking for.

TilliamWe - can we all take turns smacking into the bumpers on your car? that's what they're there for, right? An f'ed up bumper wouldn't bother you?

 

[idaharoam]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

I say its time to just be american. If you can fix it yourself and he can pay for a learning exsperience and his. Maybe you both would come out ahead. Just do the right thing friend what.what ever it is. The tried and true thing. You seem like a great boater. Where were you at?? The ramp enterance or were you docked??? Sounds like he had the ramp trying to land his boat. If you were at the ramp??? It gos both ways. Stay away from the ramp unless your loading or unloading... imo.

Ryan.

 

[mlrman]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

Yet you want to act just like her? I'll bet you're gonna go to the highest priced marina you can find, have a quote to REPLACE the entire rub rail, then pocket the money and do the repair yourself?

Come on give me a break, it's a RUBRAIL!!!! They are MEANT to get damaged, that's inherently what they are there for for.

On a side note, WHY have manufacturers gone back to using metal frames for their rub rails? It's STUPID, cause they bend. A rubrail is SUPPOSED to be able to get bumped, rubbed, and generally abused. A rubber frame with a rubber insert is the only logical way to make a rubrail. Just like my 1997 Chaparral had.

dude, I know it's a rubrail, but it looks like hell with a huge chunk missing from it! I work hard to keep my boat looking nice, and that rubrail was perfect before the collision.

I'm not looking to profit, but if I do in fact replace it myself, is my time not worth anything? We're talking chumpchange here, but it's the principal.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

He was reluctant to furnish his insurance info, but gave me his business card and said he'd "take care of it, call him"

not to be a ****, but I personally would absolutely NEVER show proof of insurance on a boat to another boater, EVER. (at least for any state that doesn't have a legal requirement for it) There is zero legal responsibility to show it.

When people know there is insurance involved, they tend to get lawsuit happy knowing there is a big fat insurance company behind it.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

I personally would absolutely NEVER show proof of insurance on a boat to another boater, EVER.

Dude !!, If you hit my boat. You better show me something !!.

What is this ??. I can hit your boat and NOT be responsible for my actions ??. .

Some people shouldn't own a boat and be on the water..

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

dude, I know it's a rubrail, but it looks like hell with a huge chunk missing from it! I work hard to keep my boat looking nice, and that rubrail was perfect before the collision.

I'm not looking to profit, but if I do in fact replace it myself, is my time not worth anything? We're talking chumpchange here, but it's the principal.

I hope you and the guy who damaged your boat talk tomorrow and work something out. I am hopefull it works out for both of you, and he is not a schmuck.

Yes, your time is worth something, for sure.

Let us know how it works out, sounds like he wants to pay it out of pocket, rather than get insurance involved.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Boat ran into me, should I make him pay for damaged rubrail?

I have never been one to baby a boat, my boat has dings and scratches all over it. Therefore in a situation like yours if it is a scratch I can live with I would let it go, especially if the guy wasn't being reckless and was civil about it at the ramp. I would hope if I damaged another boaters boat in a manner that didn't devalue it or hurt it strucurtaly he would be cool about it and tell me not to worry about it.

Reading your original post it sounds to me like you might owe him some repairs. If I was putting my boat on the trailer and there was another boat close enough to get bumped I might would think he shouldn't have been crowding me while I was loading my boat.