Feeling feed up: small damage to boat.

[stav]

Hi All,

Trying to enjoy a day at home with the kids but feeling cross about what has happened to the boat.

Boats are moored in wooden cradles and they have brest and spring ropes between them to hold them in approximate relative position. However the end boat next to me did not want to be tied as they where concerned about wear on their chains.

Over the winter the boat has not been in its cradle and I have had to put out fenders to stop it rubbing against the stbd quarter. The boat went back in to the cradle and all sat better so I took my fenders in. However they took their boat out again and over the Friday evening gale the damage to the STBD quarter was done. I then also noticed the damage to the pushpit but not sure when this happened but the owner of the boat to port said on the Friday afternoon he nearly called me as the errant cradle was against my boats stern.

I have written to the owner and dropped the letter in to where he works, name and address from public data source: racing result list and telephone directory, just asking for him to contact me but nothing yet, nearly a week.

What do I do next? What response should I have expected? Shall I just get on and repair it? I am not keen to make an insurance claim as never needed to in 37yrs of sailing. If it was me causing the damage I would be mortified and be offering to be down there at the weekend to fix it.

I know I only have an old cheap boat but it is all I can afford and suspect I spend a bigger percentage of my income on it than my neighbour, so feeling feed up.

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[nimbusgb]

Who rents you the mooring? Approach them since they have relaxed their mooring requirements which appears to have contributed to your 'loss'. Keep it casual be say that you have approached the other owner without success but feel that they are involved.

On the other side, the rubbing strake looks like a simple fix and the pushpit rail could be cut out and a new piece welded in to replace it.

As you say it's your boat and regardless of it's value you have the right to have it kept safe.

I'd ask the mooring owner to move either him or you prior to the next heavy weather.

 

[Fantasie 19]

Who rents you the mooring? Approach them since they have relaxed their mooring requirements which appears to have contributed to your 'loss'. Keep it casual be say that you have approached the other owner without success but feel that they are involved.

On the other side, the rubbing strake looks like a simple fix and the pushpit rail could be cut out and a new piece welded in to replace it.

As you say it's your boat and regardless of it's value you have the right to have it kept safe.

I'd ask the mooring owner to move either him or you prior to the next heavy weather.

...and then I'd put in an insurance claim - that's what you pay it for....

 

[Sandyman]

Just because she is an old boat makes no difference at all. Someone has caused the damage & are responsible for the repairs.
Do not touch the damage or make any repairs at this stage. He seems to be taking a while to respond. I would give him another week or so
then send another more forceful letter, something like..................I understand you are the owner of xxx boat which caused this damage to my boat
(send photos) on xxx date at xxx mooring. I have already written to you about this matter and have heard nothing from you.
Would you please contact me soonest to advise how you intend to pay for the repairs.

If I do not hear from you within the next 14 days then I will have to consider further actions to recover my loses.