Minor collision

[Calamity]

Bit nervous as it's my first post so please dont crucify me thanks.

Whilst reversing into my berth yesterday I dinged the boat next to me and put a minor scratch in his topsides. A mate had a look and reckons he can fix it for me for 30 quid. Should I get him to do this or had I best contact the owner?

Ta

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[jimi]

Serves you right for having the storm jib up the backstay;-)

Seriously I'd contact the owner if it wereme I'd be more pissed off with someone unauthorised working on my boat than someone dinging it. Plus it just good manners.

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[Calamity]

Ok, thats what I thought also but my mate said not to bother, and he knows a lot more about boats than me. It was his idea to put the jib on the backstay, how did you know about that?

Ta

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[Robin]

I heard That! nm

nm

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[Robin]

Hit & Runs

No I would be very annoyed at someone else doing a repair unasked. Everyone makes a mistake and this will be understood, the prat that damaged us was a RYA Yachtmaster Instructor on a club member's boat. My anger was 90% because they all chose not to own up.

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[tome]

Definitely contact the owner, it's good manners as Jimi says and even if he's a bit peeved this will be nothing compared to his wrath if you do unauthorised work on his boat.

Does your knowing friend read Sailing Today by any chance? This is a risky manouevre as witnessed by your accident - there's a whole thread on this subject, see Manouvres in Tight Spaces.

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[StugeronSteve]

Re: Hit & Runs

Thoroughly agree. No way should any repair be carried out without the owners consent! We were dinged by a school boat a week or two ago, with instructor at helm. Not too much damage but a bit more than 30 squids though! I wish that the mags would stick to basics at times with their handling tips. I know it's a larf to watch some of these techniques tried out, but not when your boat is on the receiving end.

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[Jacket]

Contact the owner first. If nothing else, you'd be breaking the law if you carried out work on his boat without his permission.

The bad news is, he'll probably insist that you pay for a profesional to do the work, and be well within his rights to do so.

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[Calamity]

Thanks to all for your posts which I agree with, but it's just got worse. I phoned my mate up to tell him not to bother but his wife says he's gone down the marina to fix the boat first thing.

Now what do I do?

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[jimi]

Well firstly thank your friend for being so helpful. This is also polite. Then go down and have a look. If its a shite job (ie you can tell Bobby Bodger did it) then reverse into the boat a few more time to eradicate evidence of botch up. Then Phone up owner and say "i've had a bit of an accident..etc..". If its a good job then whilst its not really the way to go then keep stum and give your mate £15.

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[DeeGee]

Phone the marina management anonymously and tell them you just looked out your window and saw someone 'interfering' with boat such and such "it might be nothing, mate, but I think he had a crowbar in his hand...". That should just about do the trick !!

<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all

 

[Aja]

Your so lucky!

When mates offer to do jobs for me either in the house or at the boat they never seem to do anything for months.

This guy must be worth his weight in gold

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[Calamity]

Dunno about lucky, it was his daft idea to put the sail up and we went charging into the other boats sugar scoop thing.

He's just called to say he needs to match the jell-coat. Anyone know what this is likely to be? The boat is white.

Ta

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[jimi]

Oh thats good, I mean it being a plasic boat and all that. You really need good light to match the gelcoat properly. Best if your mate detaches the sugarscoop and you do the job under a few halogen lamps in the garage. The heat generated will also wake it go off a bit quicker. Tell him just to chainsaw off the back in a diagonal slice ending up just above the waterline, don't forget the bit you're detaching will llighten the boat an lower the waterline level so he can go a bit lowerthan you'd perhaps think normal. Hope that helps

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[Guest]

Call the owner and tell the truth

BUT forget the bit about the sail !!! He'll really think your ***** and ask for you or he to have another berth !!
Honestly admit that your mate has overstepped the mark and is repairing it .....

I wouldn't mind so much if I KNOW ... don't tell me and I'll find out who did it !!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Neraida]

You are kidding aren't you? I would keep a look-out post if you start chopping bits off this person's boat as he will probably go ballistic if he catches you ( most would, me included).

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[Calamity]

I think he was pulling my leg about chopping the boat to pieces, though he had me going for a minute with the gell (jell?) matching.

What makes it worse is that the owner came down shortly after the incident, but didn't notice yet. I saw him talking to a bloke off a Bavaria and it didn't feel right not owning up. Now feeling really bad about this and have to find what jell coat my mate needs to match a white Benneto.

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[Aja]

Youve landed on your feet if its GRP. The guys who have wooden boats go nuts if you as much as look at their topsides.

Suggest that to help with the saily bit you buy a couple of back copies of Sailing Today. Much talk about how to perfect coming alongside with the help of sails in busy marinas.

In the meantime it should't really matter about matching the gel coat - and no need to carve a bit off the stern as Jimi suggests - though it sounds a really practical idea. Just get any old colour of gelcoat repair kit, and slap it on. A power sander plugged into the nearest socket will help to get it smooth once it has set. Of course use wet and dry. I find it really helps if it is raining to keep the paper from clogging. Then nip out to the nearest B&Q with a sliver of the original gelcoat and get the chappie at the Dulux mixing counter to match it for you - buy a tin of the stuff - go back to boat and paint over the (now perfectly smooth and dry) gelcoat.

Voila!

How do I know this works? Ermm.....

Donald

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[Twister_Ken]

I once crashed my Morris Minor. Unfortunately I hit one of her majesty's constabules, so I couldn't sneak off into the night.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[jimi]

Just as well you did'nt hit thge Bav, you'd have damaged your Moody, you know these things are Kevlar reinforced ... next strategy will depend on owner.. what sort of size & age is he?

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