Wrecked Lower Unit, What to expect Now

[jeepguy]

Brand new boat with a 115 Evinrude E-Tec. Hit a very hard submerged object on our lake. Had a stainless steel prop on it. Prop suffered a signifigant amount of damage (repairable), but the lower unit is thought to be shot. My question to anyone who has a similar experience....

Does boat insurance usually cover something of this sort?

Is this something that is usually repaired, or is the unit usually reparied as a whole?

How long does a perair of thsi sort take, cost?

[bassmann77]

Insurance should cover the repair. Check your policy or call your agent. My insurance will cover any on the water mishaps like hitting objects or submerging it. Good Luck with everything!

[Big Tom]

Hit a very hard submerged object on our lake.

Would that be a rock???

I'd call the agent. No sense wasting time with folks that don't know what you have for a policy.

[YoMan]

Insurance should cover it. They ended up replacing the whole lower unit in my case. Just had to pay my deductible ($500). Im with State Farm. Total repair was in low $6k range.

Insurance did not jump fortunately, in last 2 years either which is a good thing. I forget, but i think someone mentioned you get a "free" at fault incident covered, but only once every 3 years.

Worth checking your policy or asking the agent.

[BobT]

A co-worker just went through this. He has boat insurance with State Farm. He hit a rock with his 1998 90hp Evinrude while on a weeklong fishing trip in Canada. Used it for three more days and definitely knew something wasn't right due to noted vibration. When he got back he pulled the lower unit oil plugs and found metal shavings on the magnets. Took the lower unit off his outboard and brought it in for repair. They had a rebuilt one on hand and he bought that one along with a new impeller and water pump housing since his was beginning to show wear. Total bill was approx. $1,500.00. His insurance cost him about $150.00 per year. Basically got all of his premiums back from the past 10 years that he owned the boat less his $100.00 deductible and his labor to remove and reinstall the lower unit.

[ozzie]

your insurance should cover you in this case.....

[Down Deep]

Over the years I've damaged two lower units and insurance will cover it.

Call and report a claim. Take it to a dealer or repair shop. Get an price for repair. Forward price to adjuster. Have it repaired. Pay deductible. Pick up boat. My guess would be three weeks to get back on the water.

[jeepguy]

Insurance is covering it, $250 deductible. Not bad considering the new lower unit they are replacing it woth costs $4500. The stainless prop is being repaired and going on a-sales-site/hsolist. A new composite prop is going on just in case something else is hit. We are on the Chippewa Flowage in Hayward, WI. This is a very scary lake to boat on as there are a lot of unmarked hazards, so the odds of chewing up another prop over the years is good.