KevinV
Well-known member
With the extent of the damage I'm afraid I'd be giving this sentence some thought. Do you want to spend your time repairing, or sailing?
Unfortunate Road traffic incident
- Thread starter Steve803
- Start date
Refueler
Well-known member
Damaged boats DO sell .... I can remember various boats going up for bids and often silly money paid for them.
Anyone remember the midlands based yard that was next to a canal - they had loads of boats of varying condition .. turnover was constant .. name of Company escapes me at moment.
Anyone remember the midlands based yard that was next to a canal - they had loads of boats of varying condition .. turnover was constant .. name of Company escapes me at moment.
LittleSister
Well-known member
I'd say the boat is a write off. The cost of repairs - in £££s and/or time spent is more than it is worth, sadly. It would be better to buy another boat (and presumably trailer) than try to fix that one. (You may be able to reuse and/or sell the rig and various other kit from it.)
It appears to have 'encapsulated' keels. That is, the keels are part of the GRP structure of the hull, and the ballast (usually steel punchings in polyester resin) is filled inside. It is essential that the integrity of the GRP of encapsulated keels is maintained, otherwise water can get to the ballast steel ballast, it rusts, expands and blows/cracks the GRP keels. The keels have to cope with huge forces and signifiant stress - supporting the weight of the ballast (about 400kg) and the tendency to drop vertically when afloat; supporting the weight of the boat and tending to splay outwards when aground / ashore / on the trailer; resisting twisting forces when sailing (the keels have forces on them opposite to the power of the rig); and the tendency to be splayed apart. Any repair will need to be of a high quality and at least as strong as the original build (and will also reduce the resale value of the boat). That you are having to ask for basic advice on here suggests to me that you are unlikely to have the necessary skills and knowledge to be confident you could achieve that standard.
The damage to the trailer is important. You need to be absolutely sure that it is structurally sound when you are towing/storing something weighing a ton or more. Failure could be fatal to you or others.
If the trailer can't be made roadworthy you have a big problem because you will need to get another, or pay someone with a Hiab truck (£££S), to move it from its current location.
I hope you are able to claim against the insurance of the person who caused the accident, because even just disposing of the wreck could be expensive and difficult.
It appears to have 'encapsulated' keels. That is, the keels are part of the GRP structure of the hull, and the ballast (usually steel punchings in polyester resin) is filled inside. It is essential that the integrity of the GRP of encapsulated keels is maintained, otherwise water can get to the ballast steel ballast, it rusts, expands and blows/cracks the GRP keels. The keels have to cope with huge forces and signifiant stress - supporting the weight of the ballast (about 400kg) and the tendency to drop vertically when afloat; supporting the weight of the boat and tending to splay outwards when aground / ashore / on the trailer; resisting twisting forces when sailing (the keels have forces on them opposite to the power of the rig); and the tendency to be splayed apart. Any repair will need to be of a high quality and at least as strong as the original build (and will also reduce the resale value of the boat). That you are having to ask for basic advice on here suggests to me that you are unlikely to have the necessary skills and knowledge to be confident you could achieve that standard.
The damage to the trailer is important. You need to be absolutely sure that it is structurally sound when you are towing/storing something weighing a ton or more. Failure could be fatal to you or others.
If the trailer can't be made roadworthy you have a big problem because you will need to get another, or pay someone with a Hiab truck (£££S), to move it from its current location.
I hope you are able to claim against the insurance of the person who caused the accident, because even just disposing of the wreck could be expensive and difficult.
Mudisox
Well-known member
Let the Insurance Company deal with both the claim and its disposal.
Get another with money, along with a trailer there are plenty around. It will still have plenty to occupy your spare time over the winter.
Get another with money, along with a trailer there are plenty around. It will still have plenty to occupy your spare time over the winter.
Refueler
Well-known member
That really is the best way ....
Having gone through this with my boat ... believe me - I pray I don't have it again.
nevis768
Active member
Having worked in insurance investigation and road traffic enforcement, your car insurance normally covers any trailer you are towing for third party risks, so you can claim off the other car insurance for removal/repair to the boat. I'm not too sure if your own insurance would do the claim for you, but its a straightforward one to do yourself if you have good evidence. You may find you have legal insurance with your policy or house insurance which would do the claim. I think because you were driving your own insured car at the time, and the claim is against a negligent 3rd party, then your own car insurance should do this for you. However, it's not clear without seeing your policy, but that would be my thoughts. If you think you are covered it's worth challenging your insurance if they initially refuse, because they are always trying to cut down claims/work these days.
ylop
Well-known member
if as you say the collision was the result of the other driver's error then his insurer will be on the hook for the boat (just as they would for a pedestrian, cyclist, fence, lampost etc). If its a total loss (realistically it is) they should also be on the hook for the disposal costs. The good news is establishing the value of boat and trailer should be simple - because you just bought it.
Now, if the other driver's insurer is clever they will of course question if you could see where you were reversing with the trailer, if the lights were working etc and perhaps question if in these circumstances you should have had some sort of "banksman" to guide you or warn oncoming traffic.
Now, if the other driver's insurer is clever they will of course question if you could see where you were reversing with the trailer, if the lights were working etc and perhaps question if in these circumstances you should have had some sort of "banksman" to guide you or warn oncoming traffic.
Refueler
Well-known member
INSURANCE CLAIM against other driver ..... as 'nevis' says - most car insurance covers 3rd party or better for trailer as well ....
Please don't let this get away ... there are 000's of potential claims never filed because people take an easy way out ....
Please don't let this get away ... there are 000's of potential claims never filed because people take an easy way out ....
ylop
Well-known member
UK "3rd party" insurance doesn't usually include your insurer claiming from a third party - it covers you against claims from third parties.
Mister E
Well-known member
Tre was some mention of medical stuff, that can take a year to sort out.
The boat and trailer should be sorted out before that.
Remember it is the vehicle driver that your claim is against. So you can just deal with them and they claim the money back.
The boat and trailer should be sorted out before that.
Remember it is the vehicle driver that your claim is against. So you can just deal with them and they claim the money back.
nevis768
Active member
Nobody has said he has 3rd party insurance, but he is claiming off a Third party-the other driver, for the purposes of the person's insurance who hit his trailer he is the Third party.
Refueler
Well-known member
READ MY POST PROPERLY !
I did not say he had 3rd Party Insurance for his car ... I said the insurance usually COVERS trailer for 3rd party or better - assuming guy has Comp cover.
But even if he only has 3rd Party cover - the OTHER drivers insurance should be claimed against.
Refueler
Well-known member
ashtead
Well-known member
Clearly we don’t know the merits of the claim against the 3rd party driver and any contributory negligence on party of the OP but leaving that aside if he has legal expenses insurance which will often be underwritten by a different underwriter to his compulsory motor insurance I would be looking to those insurers such as ARAG or Allianz whose names will be in his policy. Sadly motor insurers are fairly incompetent in third party recoveries even when it’s clear cut like a stopped driver signalling to turn and the third party smacks into rear even when the negligent driver has given name of their insurer. The main concern of your average motor insurer is focussed on getting you back into a hire car sourced by their panel eg europecar etc as opposed to third party claims management company. So let’s assume the OP has legal expenses then the Before the event insurer appoints a firm like Irwin Mitchell to consider merits and the wheel starts rolling . I suspect leaving aside any medical aspects which take time to develop potentially the vessel/trailer damage is small ticket -let’s say sub £20k? Thus low level processing really if via courts. Clearly claims here for loss of use of trailer etc but based on pictures I guess the vessel plus trailer is sub £20k . So get on to the legal expenses insurer and hassle if you have cover. In absence of this your motor insure will fob you off as mailing third party recoveries is the poor relation of the insurer claims process but if there is no response a search on linked in might show suitable people to contact . The Ombudsman service is fairly useless in such scenario unless you have grounds against your insurer in some fashion. Obviously you could consult an independent solicitor to consider merits or just issue your own claim against the third party for boat/trailor which might encourage him to contact his insurer but clearly that involves an issue fee. Worse case the driver was uninsured
Biggles Wader
Well-known member
The OP has mentioned his legal team so that appears to be under way. ISTM that the issue is centered around liability. If the other driver is wholly to blame and has insurance then a claim can be made for any damage done. If there are "medical issues" then that just makes the claim bigger but can make it harder for those liable to fob you off. The OP states his own insurance is not involved. They need to be at least fully informed about the incident as a condition of cover. They are highly likely to find out anyway as insurance companies do talk to each other and might even be the same underwriter for both parties!
As for the boat----get it written off and get paid out. Plenty more similar out there and you have the Winter months to start again before going sailing.
As for the boat----get it written off and get paid out. Plenty more similar out there and you have the Winter months to start again before going sailing.
Mark-1
Well-known member
If this doesn't go through insurance the OP could consider buying (or accepting donation of) another Corribee with a sound hull. Swap the best bits over and scrap the damaged Hull.
Sell the surplus parts to go towards the cost of scrapping the fibreglass.
Sell the surplus parts to go towards the cost of scrapping the fibreglass.
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ylop
Well-known member
You did in post 26 and I am agreeing with you!
I did read your post properly. Steve (the OP) has insurance for his car. I assume that is a fully comp policy (because its actually quite unusual to have anything else these days). However as Steve correctly points out, most policies do not provide "full comp" cover to the trailer or its contents. Rather his cover for the trailer is 3rd party only - in case he prangs someone else with the trailer. That minimum to comply with the road traffic act is included in all policies.
The other driver, is required by law to also have as a minimum 3rd party insurance in case he mangles someone else. Steve is a 3rd party for the other driver's insurance. To this extent we all agree.
However, what you appear to have missed is that your own insurer will usually only pursue the claim on your behalf if you have fully comp cover - in essence you make a claim on your insurance which they then pursue the other driver (insurer) for. If Steve only had 3rd party cover then most insurers will not pursue this on your behalf, they will tell you to make the claim yourself. Steve only appears to have 3rd party cover for the trailer - his own insurer have no obligation to cover that damage and therefore no obligation to pursue a third party for the damage. It would seem that if his car is undamaged his own insurer are declining to get involved.
There's a lawyer handling an injury claim. I would have expected them to be happy to add damage to property to the claim too (they do with cyclists who claim for new clothing, helmets etc) although I expect they are in a claims handling place and their templates probably don't have a standard option for "boat on trailer" so might need a bit of thought!
Refueler
Well-known member
That reads a little different to the ambiguous post before ... going back to it now with this later in mind - I can see your point ....
penberth3
Well-known member
Absolutely. Keel/Hull integrity is the important thing, a repair must be done properly, if at all. Not the place to practise a bit of DIY GRP.
