Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

[maproy99]

So, say someone rear-ended my boat while on the trailer. Probably the lower unit would be trashed, and maybe the transom.
So, how does this work out for insurance? Does a boat shop do the work and bill the other guy's insurance or what?

Hey, maybe I can take the trashed aluminum prop off and put a trashed SS prop on and get that replaced too!

For some reason this just popped into my head, hopefully it isn't dayshaview soon to happen.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

So, say someone rear-ended my boat while on the trailer. Probably the lower unit would be trashed, and maybe the transom.
So, how does this work out for insurance? Ask your agent. I'm sure a crushed transom would elicit a "totaled" finding by the adjuster. Does a boat shop do the work and bill the other guy's insurance or what?

Hey, maybe I can take the trashed aluminum prop off and put a trashed SS prop on and get that replaced too! Ha ha! That would be fraud my friend...but I know you're just joking...right?

For some reason this just popped into my head, hopefully it isn't dayshaview soon to happen.

Don't you mean deja vu? French for "having been seen already."

:facepalm:

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

You would report this crash to your insurance company, and they would work with the other driver's insurance company to determine fault. Keep in mind that the damage in such a situation may not be limited to your boat. Your trailer and towing vehicle could also sustain damage, not to mention any injury or death which may happen in a really bad crash.
Assuming that the other driver was 100% at fault, AND if they had insurance, the at fault parties insurance would pay toward the damage, up to the book value of the item. Potentially tens of thousands of dollars damage, perhaps more.

 

[becxlt]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

So, say someone rear-ended my boat while on the trailer. Probably the lower unit would be trashed, and maybe the transom.
So, how does this work out for insurance? Does a boat shop do the work and bill the other guy's insurance or what?

Hey, maybe I can take the trashed aluminum prop off and put a trashed SS prop on and get that replaced too!

For some reason this just popped into my head, hopefully it isn't dayshaview soon to happen.

This Type of accident I'm sure happens all the time . Check your insurance policy ! see
if you have coverage for a un-insured driver .

Happened to a guy I know... the guy who hit him had no insurance and no real assets to go after . His boating season was cut short .

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

Pretty obvious but that is a conversation for your insurance company....... although all of the "internet lawyers and self proclaimed professionals" will probably pipe in. Call your agent oh and don't stop suddenly with faulty tail lights!!

 

[Mason78]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

I'm not an internet lawyer but I did have a friend in a similar situation. He was involved in a minor crash while towing his boat. Insurance company told him that the boat was covered under the truck policy while on the trailer and the boat policy while in water.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

My first boat was totalled in a car accident. I was stopped at a signal at high noon on a sunny day. It was a wooden boat.

The front of the guy's car hit the transom square on the port side, and just missed the motor. The force of the collision split the tongue in half, sending the front half thru the car's gas tank. The bow eye pulled out thru the stem, the bow hit the trunk of the car, then careened thru the convertible top, missing my head by inches, then landing 2 lanes over.

I had 3 lanes of the highway tied up. The motor came out unscathed. Used a borrowed trailer and 4 guys to get all the pieces home.

Couldn't get anybody to come to the house to quote a repair. Finally, the guy that did come was mad because he didn't work on wood boats. He quoted me a HUGE price for repairs.

The insurance co. adjuster appraised the car and did a good job. Then he pulled out the boat reapir estimate and said "What's a transom"....LOL. It said it needed replacing.

The company balked at the price, saying that the NADA valued the boat very low since it was wood. They finally agreed to the full estimate, but only after i said maybe my neck hurt! I had to sign a waiver i wouldn't come back for more $. It was one of the most traumatizing experience i ever went through. If it ever happened again, I would go to the ER with neck pain....

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

I had a rider added to my boat coverage for agreed replacment on the boat while its being towed.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

I had a rider added to my boat coverage for agreed replacment on the boat while its being towed.

I hear other people say the same thing, but nobody would do it for me without an appraisal. Then, they would only "agree" to an amount equal to what the appraiser valued it at. Same thing for my car. I have a mint condition 32 year old classic. Current value is more than what it cost new, but book value is hardly anything. The insurance company increased my comp up to the appraised value only.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

I`m in the insurance business and deal with this frequently. If fault rested solely with the other driver you would have two sources of compensation. The other drivers liability carrier or you own boat insurance policy. If your policy pays you will have to pay your deductible and once paid, they would seek reimbursement from the other guys insurance company and if successful would reimburse you your deductible. I would not try to pad the estimate by swapping props as it is unethical and illegal.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

Another suggestion is adding to the tie downs on the trailer. I have a chain and bracket on the trailer tongue, that goes to a turnbuckle and hook. The hook goes in the bow eye, I use the turnbuckle to tighten it. This in effect chains the bow to the tongue of the trailer, and if you got hit from behind, might keep the boat from climbing over the rear of the tow vehicle. I put it on because I have a roller trailer in a hilly area but it is a good safety feature if hit from the rear....

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

Another suggestion is adding to the tie downs on the trailer. I have a chain and bracket on the trailer tongue, that goes to a turnbuckle and hook. The hook goes in the bow eye, I use the turnbuckle to tighten it. This in effect chains the bow to the tongue of the trailer, and if you got hit from behind, might keep the boat from climbing over the rear of the tow vehicle. I put it on because I have a roller trailer in a hilly area but it is a good safety feature if hit from the rear....

JimS said the bow eye was pulled from the stem. All the chain in the world wouldn't have done diddly. Huge forces at work here.

 

[maproy99]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

Well, hopefully it never happens. I could just see something like this turning into a nightmare for someone.
Anyone else thinking about making a bumper for their trailer now? JK

 

[JimS123]

Re: Just to to thinking about what if someone rear ended my boat

JimS said the bow eye was pulled from the stem. All the chain in the world wouldn't have done diddly. Huge forces at work here.

IMHO, a chain / turnbuckle combo for a bow tiedown IS mandatory. All my boats have one and always have. Having a safety chain dangling is just silly. Firm attachment to the trailer is the only way to go. It'll save you under the right circumstances.

However, when a drunken %$##@# hits you from behind at 30 mph when you are standing still, nothing is going to save you. Seeing a trailer tongue impaled 6" into the blacktop highway is quite an eye opener!

As an aside, just try to winch a 16 footer with a 75HP OB onto a borrowed trailer with no bow eye.....with the boat on the ground!