12v circuit destruction!!!!!!!! UPDATE AUG 1 2013

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May 25, 2004
446
Catalina 400 mkII Harbor
ok here it goes.

after my claim to boat us, they sent a "surveyor" out to the boat. i made an appointment to meet him at his first available opportunity so i could expedite the repair.

the guy shows up and calls me from the parking lot about a sand wedge away from my boat. he tells me his leg hurts and his buddy would come down to look at the boat and take pictures. the buddy comes onboard and starts taking pictures, i tell him the systems that were down and tell him to go to the stern. "what’s that" is his response. I’m thinking what the hell, but point him to the back of the boat. he takes his pictures and reports back to the parking lot. the "surveyor' says he has enough and he will contact me in a couple of days.

at first this didn’t bother me too much, but I’m an idiot.

i get a message to call the "surveyor" and we discuss the claim. he told me to get an estimate and i would not have to have the parts bench tested due to them being a 2001.

i call the usual suspects to get the estimate and had the hardest time to getting someone to come out, the largest local yard wanted a fee upfront and told me they wouldn't except payment from the insurance co. the local catalina dealer never called back. i finally had a local independent come out and didn't get an estimate. (too busy, 14 hour days, router went out). so i call a yard i used to store at and got an immediate response and an estimate right away!

so i send it to the "surveyor" the same day i get and follow up with a phone call, remembering his MO from his visit. he assured me he received it and will forward it to boatus.

so here i am anticipating some resolution to my issue, keep in mind the boating season is short in chicago and expensive. i have no gauges, chart plotter, stereo, etc. i did change the lights so i could use the boat.

fast forward to july 25, i start calling the claims dept at boatus. no response until july 30. the gentleman calls back and tells me he has no estimate and maybe i should call the "surveyor" back. at this point i start seeing red and my blood pressure is mounting. thinking that this is the guy you hired, maybe you should call him!

i remain composed and call the "surveyor". he says let me check my files, "oh here it is, they will never except this estimate it needs to be broken down more"!!! well heres where i starting losing it, i told him why didnt he tell me this when i submitted it to him 3 weeks ago. them i remember that this incompetent ass wouldnt even get out of his car!! so whos the real idiot.


so i call boatus and ask to a speak to a manager, one answers the phone and i tell him the crappy service i have gotten. and how bad the "surveyor" is and how he dosnt leave the car and sends a person that dosnt know what a boat is to take pictures! How I cant get ahold of my claims person etc. he tries to calm me down and asks me to send him the estimate.

He calls me back and tells me that indeed the raymarine parts need to be bench tested, that the estimate did show the breakdown but it was not in the price column, I explained to him that this would have been avoided if it wasn’t due to the incompetent ass “surveyor” he sent that represented his company, worked for his company etc.

His response;

“too bad”

He says he will send a new surveyor out and start over. I told him that maybe I have a second claim due to loss of use due to their incompetence (errors and omissions) . I was told that I was not covered for that, then I threw out the “maybe I should forward it to my attorney” response. He said fine make sure I give the attorney written authorization.

Typical, the insurance company wants to hold on to their dollars, screw the customer, im sure they will cancel me after this.

Btw, the new surveyor is scheduled to come Tuesday. I hope he knows what a boat is!

Updates to follow.
 

kenn

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Apr 18, 2009
1,271
CL Sandpiper 565 Toronto
This is hindsight of course, but if the first surveyor wouldn't get out of the car and do the survey, I would have simply turned him away and called the insurance co to send a real, walking surveyor.

It's a tale of woe to be sure, but you will not get too far too fast if you tear a strip off of them at every turn.

Yes insurance companies take their time paying. Can you not start buying replacement gear now, while also pushing for a settlement? As you said, the season is flying by.
 
Jul 25, 2007
320
-Irwin -Citation 40 Wilmington, NC
I find this story amazing and as a surveyor myself, more than a bit upsetting. If the surveyor was not physically capable of doing the job he should not have excepted the assignment. Also he is acting as a adjuster for the insurance company and should have gotten the estimates himself after all that is what the insurance company is paying him for. So for all real surveyors I apologize to you you for this mess. BoatUS is a crap shoot on how they handle claims, some agents are better than others. I hope things go better with the new guy.
 
Jan 1, 2006
8,005
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
What actually happened? Was this lightning?
My question too. I don't remember this thread from past posts. I would like to know if there's another way to fry an entire 12v system - and avoid it and the woes described.
I don't think it's overkill to hire your own surveyor when you have a substantial claim pending.
 
Jan 22, 2008
7
Catalina 310 Boston MA
I'm surprised. In years past, Boat/US had excellent service and handled their claims promptly and without any headaches. This had not only been my experience, but that of several friends as well.
However, a few years ago Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett's group) bought Boat/US's insurance division.
I wonder if things have changed since the new owners took over?
Until now, though my Boat/US policy was more expensive than what I could find elsewhere, I paid it due to the hassle-free experience I had in the past.
I wonder if it's time to consider a new carrier?
 

reworb

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Apr 22, 2011
234
Beneteau 311 Ft Myers Beach
According to the Boat/US website their insurance coverage is underwritten by one of three different carriers depending upon which state you live. One of those companies is Seaworthy Insurance. I have a Seaworthy policy that was purchased direct from Seaworthy

My boat was hit by lightning on August 3rd, I called Seaworthy on August 4th the lady I spoke to said an adjuster would contact me within 72 business hours. The adjuster called me on the 6th. He explained the claims procedure and said a surveyor would contact me within 48 hours. The surveyor never contacted me within the time frame so I called the adjuster and within 15 minutes the surveyor called told me he would be out the following Monday or Tuesday. Monday went by no call no show, Tuesday mid morning I received a call that the surveyor was on his way. Upon his arrival I asked what I should turn on and If I should plug the boat to AC power (AC is off as battery charger is shot) he said he did not need either. All he did was take a few pictures including one of a chartplotter that is not damaged he said to send him the repair estimate and left. He did not check anything.

I called the adjuster and asked what the whole point of the surveyor was as he did not check anything nor even have the courtesy to make an appointment, the adjuster basically called me a liar and said the surveyor did more than he did. The adjuster also stated the surveyor may have to come back to verify the damages. I asked why the damage was not checked when he was there and the adjuster again intimated I was not telling truth about what the surveyor did. I also pointed out the claims letter that they sent out was dated the 6th but not mailed until the 9th. I have also been told not to start any repairs, so the boat sits not able to be used as both the alternator and battery charger do not function not to mention the other damages. I have also been told it may take up to a week even to look at the repair estimate. To add insult to injury the surveyor is from the east coast of Florida and the boat is on the west coast of Florida, a several hour drive.

Make of this what you will in my opinion it indicates a pattern of delay in claims processing.
 
May 27, 2004
2,059
Hunter 30_74-83 Ponce Inlet FL
After the thousands of Geico, Progressive, et al ads telling me I could save $???.?? if I switched, I called a couple of reputable companies that friends know about and got quotes... AYKM? I had been with the old carrier for over thirty years. I saved $1200 a year and the only difference is the Med Pay limits.

The concern for switching the boat insurance from Boat US after twenty years is that with a 34 year old boat, a new company may not be interested in covering it. But I guess I'm going to start looking for a new boat insurer and see what happens. Shame about Boat Us though.
 
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
This incident would irritate me as well. Insurance companies tend to be a pain in the butt and they are definitely looking out for themselves and not the customers. They will raise your rates too since you had a claim.

This situation sucks and I am sorry to hear it!
 
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