Boat fallen over :-(

Aeolus

Aeolus

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Just heard from my boat yard that my newly lifted out boat fell over onto its starboard side. Apparently it landed on a smaller wooden boat which was quite seriously damaged. They reckon that my boat (GRP, 1978 Seamaster 925, 29' LOA, weighs about 3.8 tons) has only suffered a gouge on the starboard side and one of the starboard shrouds has snapped.

No problems with liability etc - the yard's insurance will pay.

But, from anyone who has experienced anything similar in the past, what should I be checking for and making sure that my surveyor checks and that the rigger checks...... I.e. what other damage could have been caused that might not be obviously apparent.

Thanks
 
What a b**ger not nice,

Batteries worth a check, if gas lines that side, internal doors etc, bulkheads not damaged. Engine and mounts

Perhaps just get a surveyor to do a complete survey, the yard insurers should pay his bill plus get him to supervise repairs.

Inevitably it will all be fixed but the time etc will be a real pain.

Iota
 
Firstly, comiserataions, I can guess how you're feeling. We once owned a boat which befell a similar fate under previous ownership. In addition to external checks, I would insist on a surveyor inspecting the inside of the hull for stress cracking, even if that means removing furniture to get at the hull, and chainplates. The grp repair to our boat was a nuisance for years as the repair faded at a different rate and appeared to become stressed around the edges. In short, employ a good surveyor of YOUR choice but at the yard's expense - and stand by for more learned input from forumites far more knowledgeable than I!!!! I hope you're back on the water at the earliest opportunity.
 
If it was my boat I'd agree with all of the above but also be looking at a very detailed rig inspection and standing rigging replacement.

For a shock load to have broken one shroud, the forces on the other rigging wires and fixings would also have been substantial, it's what you can't see that would concern me.
 
Make sure to check the opposite side of the hull to the where impact occurred.

I once saw a Bowman 26 that had fallen over. Bulkheads were still well bonded near the impact, but had moved on the opposite side.

But, yes, best advice is to get a really knowledgeable and experienced surveyor, for that sort of boat, to give her a very thorough check over.

Good luck.
 
Without any doubt have a full and complete survey carried out.

Who knows what surfaces etc that might have got weakened and stressed. Breaks might occur after several years of sailing because of hidden damage now.

Might even consider the boat as a right off (sp!!!)
 
Bad luck.
They went over like nine pins in Plymouth last year. The marina responsible claimed there was remarkably limited damage - perhaps someone knows better and can report back?
 
Bad luck. You've had lots of good advice already, particularly to check the opposite sides - a sort of whiplash effect can occur. Also all doors and hatches for distortion, and look at tanks moving.

Choose a surveyor you know to be fussy and get him to go over the boat in detail. This could very easily be a write-off scenario even if on initial inspection damage looks minor - once you get into stripping out interior joinery to get at joints/bonds/laminations/tanks etc the boatyard bills can escalate rapidly.

I did once own a long-keeler that long before I bought her had been blown over in a typhoon - onto her side on concrete, and she was repaired, after pretty minor damage apparently - old heavy GRP construction.
 
I sailed on a Hunter Impala that fell over in the 1987 storm.

Though the repairs were strong enough, it turned the boat into a complete dog. No matter what we did or what the owner bought to make her go faster, she was never the same again.
 
Many thanks for all your input.

Went down to the yard to see the invalid - not as bad as feared but will need to be re-rigged and the hull repainted. I'll see what the insurance company's surveyor says and then check all the items that you mentioned.

Thanks again
 
Sorry to read your story, and I would certainly replace all rigging, as mentioned above. I would be thinking also about the keel-bolts which will have taken an unknown stress.
 
the risk here is of damage that you cant easily see - and no surveyor can spot problems hidden out of sight. so I would be thinking of some strip down work inside the boat even before the surveyor came on site. cetrtainly empty the boat and all lockers to give the guy a chance.

certainly I would be looking for replacement standing rigging, and a detailed examination of the mast attachments and chainplates for cracking or elongation.

all the bonded bulkheads need checking out plus any stringers in the area concerned - and dont forget the deck and things like stanchions.

the engine can have shifted on its mounts and destroyed the mounts. ditto rudder.

look for areas like the anchor locker where heavy objercts might have moved and caused damage. batteries? acid spilt?

select a surveyor from out of the area ie one who isnt dependant on the goodwill of the yard
 
Re: Boat fallen over:

And again...get your own surveyor...this is your one chance to ensure that all is well.It will be difficult coming back in six or nine month and trying to add to the claim.

Can't know how you feel but I would be seriously p'd off but looking on it as an opportunity may improve things.
 
Re: Boat fallen over:

The thought of that phone call sends shivers down the spine. Mine came when I was recovering from some illness or other. 10:00 the call comes and I am out of bed and in the car before my wife knew what was happening. The yards mooring had chaffed through just below the buoy and the boat had drifted through the moorings and sat down on her starboard beam missing rocks by inches. A phone call to an out of hours helpline for the insurers told me all I needed to know. Mooring gear stowed and locked away and lots of photos along with a couple of independent witneses. Little damage luckily but the insurers had a battle with the yard who refused to accept responsibility for their moorings. The mooring strop was still attached to the boat and the buoy was on the beach. the riser was on the seabed out of sight.
 
Sorry to hear about this: I hope you can get back on the water quickly. If you are kept ashore I reckon you should look for come compensation for that.

I'm surprised that other posters have not mentioned the mast specifically. An impact sufficient to break a shroud could well put a bend or two in a mast.
 
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