sjoukje
New member
Hi
Four weeks ago my boat, a 10m steel motor yacht, was hit on her marina berth by a vessel, a large wide beam steel barge, attempting to moor in front. A small sports cruiser was also damaged by the same vessel. The accident was witnessed by a number of persons including marina staff and a member of the police, who incidentally was trying to fend the vessel of my boat. I was not present.
An verbal agreement was made with the owner that he would pay for the lift out, the relaunch and materials for me to repair the damage to my boat; subject to the damage found on the smaller sports cruiser. The damage to my boat was fortunately cosmetic, a number of dents - damaging the fairing filler and paint work. After getting a quote from the marina for a lift out/in, I estimated a total bill of around £500 if I did the work myself; at least double that, or more, if the on-site repairers did an insurance quote.
The small cruiser was lifted immediately as there were fears that she may be badly damaged as she was squashed against the pontoon by the 20 odd ton (?) barge. It would appear that incredibly no structural damage was done and the boat was subsequently relaunched and the cosmetic damage polished out.
The barge has now left the marina, the owner confirming by phone to the marina staff, in my presence, that he is unlikely to return. He admitted to the member of staff that he had damaged my boat, I was then given a copy of is insurance certificate by the marina office.
I telephoned his insurance company to ask about how to proceed with a 3rd party claim only to be told that as the owner had not reported the alleged accident that I cannot yet make a claim. They are sending him a claim form to his address at the marina but have told me that unless he acknowledges the claim they are legally unable process any claims. I have told them that he has left the marina and will not get the form.......current whereabouts unknown, last address was a box number at the marina.
So I'm guessing that the £3 million 3rd party policy is not worth the paper it's printed on, and before you ask I am insured 3rd party only, so cannot make a claim against my own policy. It appears that if you refuse to inform the insurance company of any potential claim, and then do a 'runner', they can just refuse to pay out, great !!!
Thankfully no one was injured or killed.
So do I put this down to 'experience', and get the boat lifted out and start the repairs myself ?
Rant over !!
Four weeks ago my boat, a 10m steel motor yacht, was hit on her marina berth by a vessel, a large wide beam steel barge, attempting to moor in front. A small sports cruiser was also damaged by the same vessel. The accident was witnessed by a number of persons including marina staff and a member of the police, who incidentally was trying to fend the vessel of my boat. I was not present.
An verbal agreement was made with the owner that he would pay for the lift out, the relaunch and materials for me to repair the damage to my boat; subject to the damage found on the smaller sports cruiser. The damage to my boat was fortunately cosmetic, a number of dents - damaging the fairing filler and paint work. After getting a quote from the marina for a lift out/in, I estimated a total bill of around £500 if I did the work myself; at least double that, or more, if the on-site repairers did an insurance quote.
The small cruiser was lifted immediately as there were fears that she may be badly damaged as she was squashed against the pontoon by the 20 odd ton (?) barge. It would appear that incredibly no structural damage was done and the boat was subsequently relaunched and the cosmetic damage polished out.
The barge has now left the marina, the owner confirming by phone to the marina staff, in my presence, that he is unlikely to return. He admitted to the member of staff that he had damaged my boat, I was then given a copy of is insurance certificate by the marina office.
I telephoned his insurance company to ask about how to proceed with a 3rd party claim only to be told that as the owner had not reported the alleged accident that I cannot yet make a claim. They are sending him a claim form to his address at the marina but have told me that unless he acknowledges the claim they are legally unable process any claims. I have told them that he has left the marina and will not get the form.......current whereabouts unknown, last address was a box number at the marina.
So I'm guessing that the £3 million 3rd party policy is not worth the paper it's printed on, and before you ask I am insured 3rd party only, so cannot make a claim against my own policy. It appears that if you refuse to inform the insurance company of any potential claim, and then do a 'runner', they can just refuse to pay out, great !!!
Thankfully no one was injured or killed.
So do I put this down to 'experience', and get the boat lifted out and start the repairs myself ?
Rant over !!
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