Tree attacks dinghy

[Grehan]

The big willow next door suffered badly in the recent strong winds.

Good News : our cars weren't parked underneath like they normally are.
Bad News : our ply Mirror dinghy was. Branch plummeted earthwards, through the vinyl rain cover, through the ply hull 'bout half way between mast and shrouds, and hit the dirt.

Result : a three inch diameter hole.
Their property insurers say they aren't covered, and so does ours.
So I've got to get it mended well, but cheaply (can't / don't want to do it myself).

Any suggestions?
[Oxford area or within striking distance of]

Many thanks

I'm in the phonebooth. It's the one across the Hall

 

[Trevethan]

Though not insured thyey may still be liable for damage caused by their tree to your property. Any decent neighbour would have offered to make good the damage..

A chat with someone legaly inclined might help?

Regards,

 

[LadyInBed]

Sounds like a job for the 'Small Claims Court'.
Good job you were in the phonebooth.

 

[BrendanS]

Neighbours are almost certainly liable. Damage by roots is seen in law as 'active trespass', so a tree falling onto your property will be seen legally in same light.

 

[bedouin]

Probably not.

The neighbours will only be liable if they were negligent - in other words if they should have known the tree was dangerous, and had done nothing about it.

In most cases wind damage is classed as an "Act of God".

If they were negligent then their insurance policy would cover it anyway.

 

[snowleopard]

fixing it...

if you want to fix it yourself there are various options: a) cut out around the damage, make a piece of 6mm ply to fit the hole and another about 1-2ins bigger all round, apply epoxy resin & insert the patch with the overlapping piece on the inside, support underneath and hold in place with weights till it sets. use ploythene to stop the weights & pads sticking.
(b) a sililar job can be done with individual veneer patches of varying sizes resulting in no extra thickness but this is a lot more tricky.
(c) stick a bit of ply in the hole and apply glass clothy & epoxy both sides (sand back to bare wood first)