Etiquette when hit by another boat when in marina?

[SnaxMuppet]

What do you think is the correct thing to do when you are hit by another boat when on your berth in a marina?

Basically I was hit last night by a yacht entering the marina... several big bangs... he then went on to raft against a boat on the other side of the marina. He knows he hit me but not an apology at the time in spite of my protests! Anyway, I didn't here from him once he had berthed... perhaps he thought it was best sorted in the morning as there was no benefit from doing anything in the middle of the night but I would expect him to contact me to sort out reparation/compensation for the damage in the morning... wouldn't you?

Or am I expecting too much?

In the past I have seen many people just bash their boat against others in marinas and they thought nothing of it... I imagine that no action was taken to ensure that the owner of the attacked boat was contacted... but I could be wrong and everyone contacts the owner of a boat they hit to offer to make good repairs... yeah!

I would contact the owner somehow and offer to make good the damage... am I unusual in this?

 

[Neddie_Seagoon]

Oh Paul, you know these East-Coast types /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Hope your damage is not too serious. Wouldn't surprise me if he has looked at his vessel, seen no new marks, and assumed that you are likewise undamaged so no harm done. I would wander round this morning, and (cheerfully) say "Y'know you bumped into my motorboat while coming in last night?, well I've a bit of damage on the [port/starboard] side so I've come to get your insurance details.....".

See where it goes from there.

What a piss-off.

 

[oldgit]

Suppose it depends on how heavy the impact,a squeeze on the fenders and the boat moves a bit is just one of those things that probably requires him to walk round at a sensible hour and inquire if everything is OK but no more,he however may be relying on you going over there if anything worse has occurred.

 

[omega2]

Get round there before he runs away.

 

[PRH]

May be wise to photograph any damage on both boats....

 

[GRR]

I agree. Assess any damage and take a few photos. also a few photos of his boat so he can't deny being there.

Any witnesses ?

catch him before he slips away

 

[oceanfroggie]

Need to define what "hit" means in this context

Boats bumping fenders and rubbing strakes is one thing with perhaps a light scuff on the gell coat, but a grp to grp perpendicular impact, or anchor roller, or damage to staunchions or t-boning is quite another. We've received a few serious thumps especially in windy conditions but they were all absorbed by fenders a few of which even burst, but we had no real damage as such. On the other hand a pal of mine had his 42ft mobo rammed beam on at 6kt by a charter boat, was t-boned and spent 6 weeks in a boat yard being repaired (internal joinery and bulk heads crushed).

 

[Ballistix]

Agree with Froggie. Although yesterday we saw a 40 foot yacht hit another historic yacht head on in the wind! He then drove off, unbelievable... Don't trust em..

In the same day I saw a guy reverse a huge yacht with amazing control, clearly a pro, but in my experience the norm is they can't berth.

T

 

[oceanfroggie]

Yes that's been my obervation too, many yachties seem to be rather poor boat handlers when it comes to berthing and close proximity maneouvering. Some have an over relyance on crew running around with ropes and boat hooks, lots of shouting, etc. Some yotties claim the higher ground when it comes to seamanship - tut tut! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif But there are some good ones too, especially the single handers. There's also the difference between "waking" from a loud bang that does damage, and the mere annoyance of "wake" from a passing mobo /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[DAKA]

It all depends just how bad the damage is.

The legally correct thing may just wreck your day/weekend.

If it is just a scuff that will just about compound out with a little filler then do it yourself and next time put more fenders out.

If it is serious damage then go straight round to see him, be polite and point out the damage, this will of course cause a lot of friction and will spoil your day , weekend, week and even season if he shares the same marina as you.
You already know he is not a very nice person as he has not already been in touch with you, he could have left a note under your canopy if it was late.

From some of your posts on here I also deduce you can be a little fiery sometimes too, if it is not too bad have a good moan on here, take your aggression out on us as you normally do and then you will not have to fall out with your neighbour or end up pushing a raggie in the drink !

In the mean time I hope he pops round to see you and you sort it out amicably. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[mjf]

I believe the correct thing to do in these cases is to tie up and them pop over to the guys who you touched and access the situation. If someones O/B offer an apology and provide whatever is needed. In most cases a light touch will be forgiven esp. when no damage.

Does upset me when you witness a bang and the 'hitter' just bugg*rs off - I always report these incidnets to the marina staff who in my case are 24/7.

 

[mickshep]

This takes me back! I 2001 I moored my newly restored teak sloop in H/pool marina. In the next berth was a fast fisher type vessel with 2 x monster diesels. I was down below when my boat was struck with such force that I was thrown accross the boat. As I was attempting to get on deck Janina was struck again. I got on deck to witness the fast fisher owner attempting to berth his boat using full throttle in forward and reverse using the pontoon and my boat as bumpers. I'm not over egging this. He used so much throttle when shifting into reverse that his bow was surging up and down. His response when finaly berthed with the help of 3 bystanders including myself? an apologetic shrug! He freely admitted that as much as he practiced he couldn't berth to save his life. But he did have enough money to pay for damage so it didn't matter, at this point I had to be physically restrained,(Not kidding)! Neither he or his pal from a neighbouring boat gave a sh*t and even suggested I was over reacting. The impact had fractured a 2.5" thick solid teak rubbing strake and 2 burst fenders. I think that had she been glass the damage would have been catastrofic. Oh and no, he left the marina shortly after without coughing up. Just a quick edit here,
This isn't a pop at mobo'ers. Arseholes are arseholes whatever their chosen form of boating. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Regards all, Mike.

 

[Wiggo]

There was a charter yacht (so ostensibly run by someone who should have known better) a few boats along from us who hit our neighbour's bow coming in to the berth. He was happy to ignore the collision but the dockmaster saw it and hoofed over in the workboat. The huge collection of ironmongery on the sharp end of his boat had actually punched a hole through our neighbour's bow below the strake. Because he moors stern-to and you could only see the hole from below, it may have been weeks before he saw it.

 

[oceanfroggie]

[ QUOTE ]
Arseholes are arseholes whatever their chosen form of boating.

[/ QUOTE ]That's a very fair comment.

 

[KevB]

Regardless of how light the impact was I would expect him to be round pronto (that night) even just to say he'll be back in the morning to assess any damage.
If he hadn't shown up after half hour or so I would have gone to see him.

we wouldn't bump someones car and not stop would we?

 

[Ballistix]

Arseholes are arseholes whatever their chosen form of boating.

Tis true.

Saw a 40 foot Mustang anchor 10 feet from the beach at Ryde yesterday and then a mate in a rib racing in between other boats!! All drinking beers...it made me feel very uncomfortable and it was really ugly...lots of pissed of people but this lot didn't care one bit..

T

 

[mitchc]

I'd be checking damage whilst they finished "parking". If they haven't come round to see you after 15mins, I'd be going for a walk to have a chat with them.
Slow nudges with lots of fenders some times can't be helped in tight qaurters but being "hit" is unacceptable. The situation can be made easier with an immediate appology/exchange of details.
Can all be done amicably if the culprit is approached in the correct way.

Good luck, and by the way enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[gjgm]

time to put the tender out the stern on a long floating line.....

 

[No Regrets]

If somebody damaged my boat, and ignored it, I would happily lob a brick through one of their windows.

Quid pro quo.

 

[oceanfroggie]

[ QUOTE ]
If somebody damaged my boat, and ignored it, I would happily lob a brick through one of their windows. Quid pro quo.

[/ QUOTE ]Glad your not running the show in the white house then! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Talk like that makes even Bush sound like a moderate! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif