Katy Louise struck by Mobo

[Lucy52]

Hi all. Katy Louise suffered an insult, when hit by Captain Calamity, attempting to drive his 36 foot Gin Palace.

I attach a picture of the damage to the Pushpit, and woodwork.

The lower rail of the pushpit is forced up about 3 inches, and the bent about halfway across the stern. It is pushed to starboard about an inch.

I am in Conyer off the Swale, and I am looking for a competent metalworker near here who could carry out a repair. If I have to, I could remove the Pushpit for collection, but that would be a pain. It would mean supporting the mast with the main tied off while I removed the backstays one at a time to free the Pushpit.

Most of the damage to the woodwork is cosmetic, but there are a few deep dents which will need attention. The cap rail has a split, this could be glued, and wouldn't show too much. The alternative of replacement is much more difficult, as it is held by closely spaced pairs of screws with neat plugs. The other end is steam bent in a gentle upward curve to meet the forward deck. It might be possible to scarf a piece into the aft section, but this would be awkward too, with all the screws and plugs and getting a neat scarf. It, too, would show, as the wood would never match.

I know there is an insurance claim, but first I require competent craftsmen. Boatyards are notoriously slow to respond and even slower in completing the work.

 

[Concerto]

For the stainless works, I would use Adweld, who are in the Medway Towns. Contact phone numbers are 07773022360 / 07793013044 and 01634 233046.

Adweld Adweld

Personally as an insurance company will be involved I would contact several boatyards who are able to do a complete repair. They will be able call in sub-contractors like Adweld for things they cannot do inhouse. I do know Adweld frequently do work for Gillingham Marina. They probably do some work in Conyer as they are quite mobile. Adweld have premises at Otterham Quay.

 

[Lucy52]

Thanks Concerto, I asked the local marina for an estimate, and told them that I had asked Alan Staley the Wooden Boat builder in Faversham as well. The yard manager has reportedly said he won't quote. I then emailed the marina saying I looked forward to receiving their estimate, and have heard nothing. They don't seem to want the competition. Allen from Faversham hasn't replied yet, either.

I have a good idea what it would cost to repair the steelwork properly and was hoping to track down someone local. I will ask at Iron Wharf and maybe Gillingham too. Obviously, it would be better to hand the work over to one yard to do it all, the trouble is I live aboard and would need to make other arrangements for this.

Adweld appear to be a National Company, I doubt if they have ever been in Conyer, if done here the marina will charge 15% on top of costs as a fee. It would be cheapest to remove it and take it to a steel fabricator, but that will involve some work.

I have to revarnish this year when the weather is warmer and the wood has had a chance to dry out. I may clean up the damaged area and assess the damage to the woodwork, most is superficial, but there are four smallish gouges that will need attention.

 

[HissyFit]

It would be cheapest to remove it and take it to a steel fabricator, but that will involve some work.

The price of the work shouldn't be yours to worry about; that's the miscreant's insurer's job. You should only need to be concerned about the expediency with which the work is done. If the work yard requires that you be off the boat, when you would otherwise be using it for accommodation, then they should pay for that too.

 

[R.Ems]

Alan Staley's work is excellent. I would ask Cindy at Wilkinsons Sailmakers for suggestions as well. But you probly know them anyway, being local.

 

[lynallbel]

Have a word with Paul Martin sailmaker, as I think he did or still does stainless railings?

 

[johnalison]

I'm sorry to read about this, but at least the boat can still be sailed. Something similar happened to us, though not on that occasion a motor boat but a racing yacht returning to its finger berth. I would suggest that you sink your pride and go on sailing in a wonky-looking boat in the knowledge that the repairs may well take some time. I don't know if sealing the wood with varnish would help or make repair harder.

 

[Tranona]

I feel for you - on the woodwork side I have similar but a bit worse on the same place on starboard side on my GH that has been bodged and irritates me every time I climb on the boat as the ladder is right next to it. Often small bits of damage are more hassle than more extensive damage to put right. With the pushpit, not sure that can be repaired in situ. I had similar damage on my Bavaria pushpit - bent in 2 directions. Fortunately it was easy to take off and the repair, including letting in a new bit of tube where it was too short to get the bend out was less than £200. Important advice from the fabricator was to measure the footprint carefully sol that they could fasten it down on the surface table in exactly the right place as it is on the boat while they do the work.

On the insurance side, assume the other party has admitted liability. If so you have the choice of making a claim on your own insurance and they will recover from the guilty party or claiming directly off him. The former will probably be less hassle, but you may well have to pay the excess and then try and claim that off the third party. Claiming off the third party may allow you to claim more and there is no excess to worry about, but you may have more hassle with their loss adjuster beating you down. Depends perhaps on how big the claim is and the size of your excess. In either case it will be up to you to organise the repair and the contract will be between you and the repairer. Your difficulty in finding somebody to do the work is just the way things are in this trade, particularly bad at this time of year and in these uncertain times. As you can still use the boat there is a lot to be said for finding one contractor to do the whole job and letting him fret about sourcing the sub contractors if needed.

 

[rotrax]

The lads in Hayling Yact Company do great S/S work. I saw them use a carboard template for the footprint of the uprights when repairing a similar job.

They are called 'Latbros' - two brother from Latvia. They are very skilled.

 

[Seastoke]

Well if you were moored then it could be the mobos fault , can you explain the accident please.

 

[pandos]

If it was me I'd probably agree a payment for the repairs with the other party/insurer.

Pull the stainless steel back into place my self with rachet straps repair the wood work as best I could and get on with the sailing season.

when things are more settled over the winter, with the repair money in my pocket, I'd look at getting things more properly repaired along with any other bits and pieces on the boat that needed fettling...

 

[R.Ems]

Also, carefully check inside in case there is damage to the glass fibre.

 

[Malish]

If you fancy a trip across the estuary then Mr Stainless at SYH Levington is very capable and the yard is available for the woodwork too... they will have a queue at this time of year, like most.

 

[R.Ems]

If you fancy a trip across the estuary then Mr Stainless at SYH Levington is very capable and the yard is available for the woodwork too... they will have a queue at this time of year, like most.

Another vote for Mr Stainless, beautiful work, pricey though ...but if the insurers are paying...

 

[pandos]

If it was me I'd probably agree a payment for the repairs with the other party, and pull the steel back into place my self with rachet straps repair the wood work as best I could get on with the sailing season.

then with cash in my pocket, when things are more settled over the winter I'd look at getting the repairs done along with any other bits and pieces that needed doing.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Surely the first thing is to approach your insurers and find out how they want to operate? I wouldn't dream of commissioning repairs after an incident like that without speaking to my insurers, or if you wish to make the claim directly from the other party, to their insurers. Any "get me through the season" repair might well vitiate your claim. And as others have pointed out, if you're a live-aboard with no other dwelling, you might well be able to claim for loss of use.

 

[Tranona]

And as others have pointed out, if you're a live-aboard with no other dwelling, you might well be able to claim for loss of use.

You can't do that if you have a marine policy as it does not cover loss of use. If, however you claim on the other party you stand a chance because their obligation is to put you back in the position you were before the accident. However unlikely to be successful on 2 counts. First the damage does not affect the functioning of the boat (either as a boat or as somewhere to stay for long periods)and second it is a boat, not a residence.

You can get insurance for a "proper" residential boat - that is one that is moored on a proper licenced residential mooring, and the OP may have this, but suspect not.

 

[doug748]

If it was me I'd probably agree a payment for the repairs with the other party, and pull the steel back into place my self with rachet straps repair the wood work as best I could get on with the sailing season.

then with cash in my pocket, when things are more settled over the winter I'd look at getting the repairs done along with any other bits and pieces that needed doing.

Absolutely. Insurance companies like a quick solution if they feel it is moderate. Some people seem to see this sort of thing as a pools win and string things out in a way that only hurts themselves. If you go down the route of multiple quotes and specialist repair, not only will loads of sailing time be lost but you could be frustrated, let down and end up with a worse result than handling it yourself. Plus a load of bureaucracy to deal with.

Once you satisfy yourself that the damage is limited, present a letter to his insurers with your reasoned estimate, for repair by yourself and sub contract during normal maintenance next winter. Point out that this avoids additional cost of arranging alternative quotations, delivery, hauling out, blocking and relaunching - as well as preserving your sailing season. Mention that it is for full and final settlement, they like that.

This is a bit brash but maybe a figure of £500 to £900 would cover that with some comfort and still be attractive to his insurers. I have done this, it works and is, to my mind, infinitely better than drawn out dealings with boatyards, underwriters or their loss adjusters.

.

 

[Lucy52]

Hi to all, thank you for your kind replies, I have been away at work.

In the first instance I contacted my insurer, I was moored up at the time and so, there is no question of liability.

The insurer will require more than one quote, and I asked here to find yards with a good reputation.

R. Ems. I had a recommendation for Alan Staley and believe Cindy at Wilkinson's Sails, uses a steel works on the same industrial estate to make the frames for spray hoods and the like. Allan is very busy and has had a member off with sickness, but will come and look when he can.

Paul Martin, sailmaker, is likely to uses someone similar to Cindy for steelwork.

johnalison. You are quite right, life is short, much better to get on with life and other things. The bright work all needs redoing, and there is lots of it. The varnish has built up over twenty years. It is cracked and crazed, and requires taking right back to bare wood.

Tranora. It is Epifanes Wood finish, which looks wonderful, but is a lot of work and doesn't last. I looked at a Crabber in the yard that uses Cetol. It looks good, but doesn't have the same gloss finish. I am in two minds, and believe the colour of the stain coat would make a difference, but I want to avoid devaluing the boat.
Of course, I am on a regular marina contract, there are no true residential moorings here. The original idea was to explore Europe in my retirement, as other boaters here did, but I am not so keen on making the Schengen Shuffle.
I have asked my insurers how best to make my claim, and it depends on what the underwriter says.

rotrax. Thank you, there are good steelworkers around the Solent, but they are a long way from North Kent.
seastoke. See above, there will be no Col Regs thread here.

pandos. I can live with the boat as it is until it can be done professionally.

AntarcticPilot. Yes, my first port of call, I sent the insurers pictures of the damage, but need quotes for them to consider. I have no intention of bodging it.

doug748. I will take the advice of my insurers about the best way forward, but getting quotes is not easy at this time of year. Moreover, I would rather a yard did the work, though I could split the steelwork from the woodwork. The local yard wanted to repair the steelwork while on the boat, they felt that to remove it would require taking the rig down. You have to undo the backstays to do this, but it is not too hard to get off without removing the rig, I could then get a professional to repair it. And yes, this is not my problem, but it could facilitate a more timely completion of the work. I also want it to be done right.

Edited to remove hyperlinks.

 

[wilkinsonsails]

FYI I bend the spray hood frames ? for Wilkinsons.
I could straighten that bend in situe for for you But there may be a dent left at the cross over when it is pulled out .
If it’s an insurance job Then the frame needs removing and a new aft bar welded in . Process Plant can do that for you . I don’t expect there would be much change left from around £ 1000, that’s remove , re weld and polish and refit .