Poor Luck

[I Love teeth]

I had to shingle my house this weekend. My buddies dad had his boat in the shop. My buddy ask if his dad could borrow my boat for the weekend and I said yes. I usually dont lend my boat out, but I knew that is was in good hands. Sunday night got the call that I was dreading. They took off the safety chain and the winch strap and backed down a steep access. My mint boat went crashing into the concrete right were the transom and the hull meet. It has less than 100 hours on the boat and less than 15 hours on the motor. Damage to the hull, transom and all the rivets on the back. Thankfully the motor was trimmed up.

[GatorBait]

Ugh! Sorry to hear about that, definately the call no one wants.

[matthothand]

Good thing you have boat insurance?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ouch no good.. Hopefully if they are real friends, they will cover all costs to you.

On a side note, I cant even remember the last time I let someone drive my boat... never let any one borrow it. Then again my boat will do 80mph..

[fivebucks]

Guess the boat wasn't in such good hands after all. I thought most all experienced boat people know not to unhook the winch strap and safety chain until the boat is backed into the water. Sorry to hear about your bad luck.

[Northlander]

That buddy would be paying for ALL the damage! I never borrow my boat to anyone no matter what. I worked too hard to get it and cant risk someone taking away my passion for even 1 day.

[Barbelboy]

Who the heck unhooks both the strap and safety chain THEN backs down?

Bum deal man. I too have borrowed expensive equipment to "trustworthy" friends. No more. No matter who they are they just don't value it as much as you do.

I hope they make everything right.

[solbes]

Stinks for sure. I would hope they'd either pay the insurance deductable (if this can be filed as a claim) or for the full damage repairs.

You've just convinced me to stop trying to get family members to take my boat out. They've always declined, and maybe wisely so. I'm gonna try and get a little 12 foot put-put boat for them to take out instead.

[Daze Off]

Probably the difference between them being used to a bunk trailer vs. a roller trailer? Either way a sad deal all the way around.

[Maverick]

I never loan my boat to anyone and it's not because I am a some of a beach, but because I have gotten to know my boat and motor very well over the last three decades. I know how it starts cold or warm. I know when there are weeds on the prop. I know when she's not running quite right. As a matter of fact I might only know my wife as well as I know my boat. It doesn't matter who the other guy is there is no way they can get to know your boat (or wife for that matter) in a few hours. It is best to treat your boat like your wife and not to share either.

[bturck]

Sorry to hear of your loss. This should definitley be covered under your boat insurance, less your policy deductible. Those who had your boat in their control should definitley offer to cover your deduct that would be the correct way for them to offer their condolensces.....Good luck with the repairs....

[rmb]

not to be a jerk but i would ask for them to cover 100 percent of the repairs so i didn't have to file a claim with my insurance. if you file a claim most likely you are going to be paying higher premiums for the next several years and if it's like my insurance where my home, auto and boat are all with the same company it counts as a claim under my identity with the insurance company. thereofre if i have to file a claim under another policy it shows up as multiple strikes agains me and could result in much higher home and auto rates as well.

in my opinion they borrowed the boat not the insurance that goes with it. i know this sounds mean spirited but if you are going to borrow something of high value like a boat you better be prepared to replace/fix on your dime not count on the owners insurance policy.

[harvey lee]

I totally agree rmb. It should be returned in the same condition it left.

That's the biggest reason I hate to borrow things out.

I borrowed a friends snowmobile trailer once and I blew a tire out. Now the tires were shot pretty bad but I did replace the one that blew before I returned it.

The guy said you did not need to do that but I said yes, it broke when I was using it.

[herefish101]

always fix what you break, especially if it don't belong to you.

[GrizzlyAdams]

I was always taught if you borrow something you return it in a similar or better condition than when you got it. Also if you don't have the money to fix it if you break it don't borrow it. Probably why I hate borrowing things from other people. Never feel comfortable when I do and constantly worried something might go wrong.

[Northlander]

not to be a jerk but i would ask for them to cover 100 percent of the repairs so i didn't have to file a claim with my insurance. if you file a claim most likely you are going to be paying higher premiums for the next several years and if it's like my insurance where my home, auto and boat are all with the same company it counts as a claim under my identity with the insurance company. thereofre if i have to file a claim under another policy it shows up as multiple strikes agains me and could result in much higher home and auto rates as well.

in my opinion they borrowed the boat not the insurance that goes with it. i know this sounds mean spirited but if you are going to borrow something of high value like a boat you better be prepared to replace/fix on your dime not count on the owners insurance policy.

I agree 100%!

[Down Deep]

If there is damage to the rivets and if the transom is bent, crushed or has been flexed in anyway your boat has very serious damage that will be difficult to repair. At least to a like new condition. I backed the right rear corner of one of my Lunds ( into Northlanders trailer (just kidding NL) ) into a utility pole and crimped the rivets and slightly bent the attached sheet metal on the side of the boat. I had it repaired at a very good body shop who knew about aluminum repair. They could'nt repair it to keep it from leaking or match the paint. My insurance company eventually had to total the boat and I purchased a new one. What I'm getting at is that your boat may not be able to be repaired and it may be a huge burden on the borrower to be held accountable for the cost of a replacement or a new boat.

I disagree that the insurance doesn't go with the boat. When you agreed to loan it out you knew that there was some risk of a mishap and that risk is why you buy insurance in the first place. The person who damaged the boat should at least be responsible for any deductible and other out of pocket costs you may incur. About the only way your insurance costs will go up is if you have a liability claim that resulted in a at-fault collision with another boat or you injured someone.

The borrower could also cushion the inconvenience to you with a top-of-the-line rod and reel or something like that, but that would be up to him.

[bturck]

Every insurance company is different so speaking in general terms is usually the best that we can do. The company I've represented for 25 years would not raise premiums due to this kind of a loss; however that being said I wouldn't want to have a second claim within a short period of time, that could result in a non renewal. As stated thats why we buy insurance, but the offending parties if they have any sense of responsibilty should certainly offer to cover the deductible. Also as stated if you can't afford to cover the damages don't borrow someone elses equipement. I have only a very small handful, maybe 2 fingers on one hand, that I would allow to use my boat. I also put a lien on their house and bank accounts as soon as they would leave my driveway.....loooooooooool. Have a safe weekend everybody.

[Scott K]

I have let people use my old cheaper boats. But I have only had 1 person even ask me to use my good boat, and the answer was no.

[harvey lee]

I would not borrow mt toys to almost noone.

I would however borrow then to a few select individuals who I know would take care of any damages or at a minimum, the insurance deductable.

[bikeoutback]

I agree with Down Deep on the fact that the insurance goes with the boat. I don't have a boat but I'll use the one thing I have of any sort of similar value, my truck. I've loaned it out to my brother in law when he's need to move his tools or other such items and IF an accident happened I wouldn't expect him to pony up $20k to replace the truck. I would expect the $500 for the deductible but accidents happen. Accidents happen, hopefully there was insurance to take care of it and your buddy will pay the deductible and a case of beer to apologize and the friendship continues on. I know if it were any of my buddies and I asked them to pay for it in full and I had insurance on it I wouldn't have a buddy anymore and my friends are more important than a boat/truck.

** I don't borrow people stuff for this reason and I only lend stuff to a very small handful of people.

[magnum mike]

It takes a big set of grapes to even ask to borrow my boat. What's next, time with the wife or even worse the hunting dog?

[Dylan33]

It takes a big set of grapes to even ask to borrow my boat. What's next, time with the wife or even worse the hunting dog?

Hey Magnum Mike-

I'm gonna be in da range in a few weeks....can I borrow your boat to get some fishing in when i'm there?

[justinman]

I disagree that the insurance doesn't go with the boat. When you agreed to loan it out you knew that there was some risk of a mishap and that risk is why you buy insurance in the first place. The person who damaged the boat should at least be responsible for any deductible and other out of pocket costs you may incur. About the only way your insurance costs will go up is if you have a liability claim that resulted in a at-fault collision with another boat or you injured someone.

The borrower could also cushion the inconvenience to you with a top-of-the-line rod and reel or something like that, but that would be up to him.

I agree 100%. I just bought a new boat this season. I'm not saying I'd loan it out to just anyone but I have the kind of friends & family I know would make it right if something were to happen. If he says he knew it was in "good hands", im sure it wll be taken care of. Accidents happen, it sucks, but at least no one got hurt.

[ozzie]

the differnece between friends and good friends.....friends say sorry and nothing after (but they shouldn't have been able to borrow anything of value) and good freinds take care of it right after they explain what happened......

also the difference between bunk and roller trailers.....I have a bunk and I can't push the boat off with ice covering the bunks when it is on dry land and at a slant but that may just be my sweet bunks....LOL

Sorry to hear about the loss of the boat but hopefully things will be taken care of by your buddies dad!!