Your opinions please!

robmcg

robmcg

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 Sep 2006
Messages
1,886
Location
In exile in Scotland
Visit site
Boat has a dark blue painted hull. It was painted maybe 7 or 8 years ago by a previous owner.Type of paint and exact colour are unknown, although it was had painted with an excellent finish. Damaged sustained to one side of the hull, extensive enough to merit a repaint. What would you do?

1. Just touch up damaged areas and live with a bit of a mismatch
2. Paint one side of hull only and live with other side looking different
3. Paint both sides to ensure best colour match

What are the panel's thoughts?
 
both sides - you'll find it difficult to match and it will fade over time - different paint, different rates of fade.
 
Should also say this is an insurance job. Insurance company say it is adequate to paint one side and get a close match that would not devalue the boat in any way. I am not so sure. Have asked around and most people (brokers, surveyors, painting people) say it will result in a devaluation of the boat and make it more difficult to sell on. What do others think?
 
Just tell your insurance company that you don't agree and that you have solicited the opinion of Surveyors and Brokers to test the insurance companies opinion.

I would also get a couple of estimates for one and two hull sides plus a statement from the companies on colour matching and fade rates. Submit this with a letter, don't call them.

My experience with insurance companies is that they try to get away with as little pay out as possible (naturally) but when reasonably challenged, will agree with no fuss at all.

They work a numbers game. Out of so many claims they expect to get away with it, so its worth it to them, they also expect to have to pay out more when challenged. They hope you wont challenge.

Bloody actuaries never right, never wrong!
 
Just a thought - have you got an excess on your insurance policy?
If it is quite a high excess, I would tend to go along with Twister Ken's suggestion above.
If not, then you are paying the extra premium for having a low excess, so I think it would be reasonable to ask for both sides to be painted, to ensure that the colours are matched.
 
You will never see both sides at the same time, so a close match may well be acceptable to you if the insurance will not pay for both sides.
 
Given a representative scraping of the paint, any decent colour blender should come up with a very close match, practically identical. to what is now the colour of your boat.

However, the rate of fading is unlikely to be the same as what you have now and the sprayer would (if he is honest) probably refuse to guarantee that the two sides will age / fade /deteriorate at a similar rate.

At that stage you will have one more bargaining point with which to consolidate your claim to the insurers for a complete paint job, which is what should be done.
 
I had a similar problem some years ago, after a collision a hole had to be patched and the gelcoat - red - did not match at all. The only option was to repaint, but the insurance company - other party - did not want to know and very reluctantly agreed to pay for one side only!!

I stuck to my guns and insisted that my boat was returned to the condition it was in before their client collided with it. That is to say, the same colour on both sides.

In the end they agreed but it took about 6 months of argument and a threat of legal action.
 
robmcg said:
What are the panel's thoughts?
Click to expand...

It sort of depends on the quality of the existing finish and the degree of damage and maybe a few other more subtle factors.

My topsides were damaged by another boat whilst I was alongside. The damage was not great but I had just spent over £3000 on a topside respray. I felt to ask for a full respray would be cavalier and unreasonable and in the end I was happy for a patch to be sprayed in, by the yard that did the original job.

If the damage is significant and you do persuade the company to do a full paint up, you have to be aware that they may want to make a deduction, as the boat will be improved condition. This could cost you maybe 40% of the cost of the paint job. This may well suit you but given the expected life and relative cost of a hand painted finish it may be better to settle for one side to be refinished....my guarded opinion is that I would settle for that.
 
Last edited:
Easy.
Get the 3 yards to estimate for repainting both sides, but on the estimate sent to the insurance company the price is for just one side.
Get both side repainted.
Simples.
 
Car repairers will quite often spray a panel with a perfect match to existing paint but they have the benefit of well documented pigment matches.

Insist that the boat is returned to the condition prior to damage. I guess the Ins company are arguing that the paint was old, faded, scratched etc. Comes down to a battle of will and how well you can read the small print.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top