Captain Caveman
Lieutenant Junior Grade
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2005
- Messages
- 1,051
A month and a half ago, some young person driving a company car tried to exit the highway from the middle lane. I was in the right lane and swerved into the shoulder to avoid the collision and laid on the horn. The driver moved back into their lane, slowed slightly and then attempted to cut behind me to exit. Of course, my boat and trailer were attached so they smashed into it. It put a 2ft long dent and scrape into the side of the boat that also peeled paint. You can see the bulge on the inside of the carpeted hull. The trailer fender got knocked loose and the side marker light is gone. Of course I was furious, but calmed down quickly when I realized how young the driver was and that they were trembling with fear. We exchanged info and I started a claim with their insurance company.
This all happened to my 2008 Alumacraft fishing boat/trailer/motor combo. Overall everything was and still is in good shape. The only way that my rig showed its age pre-accident was through marks on the paint from docks and other boats (tied up together while jigging with buddies). I took my boat to the dealer who said that the aluminum stretched and will never be restored to perfect shape. They also said that the cost of fixing the dent, repainting the boat, and all was going to far exceed the cost of the boat - well over $10k. I am still waiting for the estimate.
I've never dealt with the prospect of an insurance company "totaling" my boat but it sounds like that is a strong possibility. It seems as though I will never get my boat restored to pre-accident condition without spending a lot of my own money. From what I understand, the insurance company will just offer to send me a check for the pre-accident value of the boat, which is probably only $3k-$4k based upon my research. Now I really want to yell at that driver!
Has anyone dealt with a situation like this before, and how was it resolved?
Do they total the boat only since the trailer damage is minor and the motor was not involved - or do they total the entire combo? Do they value all of the add-ons if they total the entire package such as trolling motor, batteries, sonar, etc.?
How much can I negotiate/argue with the insurer about boat value?
I have done a lot of research about comparable used boat sales in my area. There are comps but as we all know, there is no reliable blue book for 17yr old boats.
This all happened to my 2008 Alumacraft fishing boat/trailer/motor combo. Overall everything was and still is in good shape. The only way that my rig showed its age pre-accident was through marks on the paint from docks and other boats (tied up together while jigging with buddies). I took my boat to the dealer who said that the aluminum stretched and will never be restored to perfect shape. They also said that the cost of fixing the dent, repainting the boat, and all was going to far exceed the cost of the boat - well over $10k. I am still waiting for the estimate.
I've never dealt with the prospect of an insurance company "totaling" my boat but it sounds like that is a strong possibility. It seems as though I will never get my boat restored to pre-accident condition without spending a lot of my own money. From what I understand, the insurance company will just offer to send me a check for the pre-accident value of the boat, which is probably only $3k-$4k based upon my research. Now I really want to yell at that driver!
Has anyone dealt with a situation like this before, and how was it resolved?
Do they total the boat only since the trailer damage is minor and the motor was not involved - or do they total the entire combo? Do they value all of the add-ons if they total the entire package such as trolling motor, batteries, sonar, etc.?
How much can I negotiate/argue with the insurer about boat value?
I have done a lot of research about comparable used boat sales in my area. There are comps but as we all know, there is no reliable blue book for 17yr old boats.