Hull Damaged While In for Repairs!

dvuyxx · #1 (**permalink**) 08-19-2011

Aaargghhh! I had my boat at a local marina's service department for repairs. I had a mysterious diesel leak that they eventually found and addressed. That was the good news. The bad news ... the boat was poorly tied up and was damaged.

The portside aft hull was hitting a small finger pier (see photo). The overall area of damage is about 1 to 1.5 feet wide. Most are light scratches, but there are a couple of dings that show the primer layer ... and a few that go down to the original paint. I don't believe anything is as deep as the gel coat or glass layup. My guess is that a couple of the scratches need some filler, then the rest can be touched up with Awlgrip and buffed out.

Two questions ...

1) What are your thoughts on repairing this? Am I correct in how to address the repair?

2) The marina says they are not responsible. I don't recall signing anything. It's not as if I was a slip renter ... shouldn't they be responsible?

celenoglu · #2 (**permalink**) 08-19-2011

The marina is responsible. They are the ones that take the boat on land and park it. It is their responsibility to do a proper job. They do not allow anybody except their personnel to handle the boat on the land. They are responsible for it.

MarkSF · #3 (**permalink**) 08-19-2011

I'm not an expert on the law, but to me it seems like they SHOULD be responsible for the boat until you take delivery of it following repairs. Did they move it to this slip and then tell you it's ready? I'm surprised at their attitude to be honest. Or do I mean not surprised but dismayed.

sailingfool · #4 (**permalink**) 08-19-2011

You know for sure when and how this damage happened, but the marina may not...and even if a worker does, they may sadly deny so.

So if the marina doesn't step up, you need to go to your insurance, who may be willing to treat it as insured damage, but that may not remove the deductible. they will then explain paint value is depreciated, at least 5% if not 10% per year, so they will similarly reduce any subsequent payment on repair costs.

Assuming you have a standard Awlgrip color, you may have a shot at a partial repair...I don't know, most shops want to do only a full side. The best strategy may be to get a quote for painting the side, and after the deductible and the depreciation, you may be able to cover the costs of a patch job and have to live with a repair that YOU can see.

Ignore the posts to come about suing, wont happen.

Best of luck with this...but you are probably screwed... at least that was my experience in similar circumstances.

dvuyxx · #5 (**permalink**) 08-19-2011

To clarify, the boat never went on the hard ... it was all at this one slip.

Would I really need to paint the whole side? ... or could they touch up the scratches and then buff it out?

Siamese · #6 (**permalink**) 08-19-2011

What!?!?! A marina that won't step up and take responsibility for something they wrecked? What's this world coming to?

But seriously, good luck with getting a decent remedy. Based on what the marina has already told you, it's pretty obvious you're hosed.

Awlgrip doesn't touch up very well, which is its major downside.

The decision to not fix your boat comes down to just one guy. Where does he live?

tommays · #7 (**permalink**) 08-19-2011

Well

Who tied UP the boat in the slip ?

Its not really gonna fix without showing

sailingfool · #8 (**permalink**) 08-19-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvuyxx

To clarify, the boat never went on the hard ... it was all at this one slip.

Would I really need to paint the whole side? ... or could they touch up the scratches and then buff it out?

I believe repair pros prefer to do a side so they dont have to worry about being held responsible for the results of a patch. I assume that depending on whether you have a standard paint and how old it is, you may be able to get someone to do an area patch (i.e the last five feet of the side..). I have never had an Awlgrip patch done...

Minnewaska · #9 (**permalink**) 08-19-2011

HDChopper · #10 (**permalink**) 08-19-2011

What Marina was this ?

This is eeeezackly why I opened my own bike shop back in the 80''s , got tired of paying the premium price just to have it done correctly no more no less just correctlyand getting half A$$ work back from a shop !

Good luck recovering anything from dishonest ppl , Marinas have all boaters by the short hairs & unless you have doled out copuious amount's of money to THIS Marina you are not thier "buddy".