I have a 1999 H260 that was hit by lightning about two months ago. The insurance conpany has finally decided it is a total. It has fourteen holes in the hull, many to the ballast tank, and a few other problems. The insurance company is refusing to pay for the trailer, saying it was not dammaged, I am still fighting that. It was purchased as a set, insured as a set and I believe it should be totaled as a set. The boat was underinsured and I will not be buying another so have no need to hang onto it. Has anyone else heard of totaling a boat but not the custom built trailer it came on? I am a little curious how they think they will haul it out of my yard for less than the price of a trailer.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
T
Tim P
Sell It Yourself?
You might be better off keeping the trailer and selling it yourself. Boat trailers are hot items in many areas. I sold a 1971 trailer a few months ago for far more than I ever thought I'd get for it. I'm not sure how adaptable the Hunter trailer is to other makes/models but they are well constructed and certainly have value. I empathize with you. I lost my first boat in a freak storm last May and was uninsured. It was a '71 in so-so shape and I felt it wasn't worth insuring (other than for liability). Lesson learned. Nonetheless, I did recover just about all of my loss by selling the trailer, motor, mast, and other items separately. I was amazed at the value these items held and at the power of the internet. Most of the items sold to parties from many miles away. If I was you, I'd see what the insurance company will let you keep off the boat. Good Luck!
You might be better off keeping the trailer and selling it yourself. Boat trailers are hot items in many areas. I sold a 1971 trailer a few months ago for far more than I ever thought I'd get for it. I'm not sure how adaptable the Hunter trailer is to other makes/models but they are well constructed and certainly have value. I empathize with you. I lost my first boat in a freak storm last May and was uninsured. It was a '71 in so-so shape and I felt it wasn't worth insuring (other than for liability). Lesson learned. Nonetheless, I did recover just about all of my loss by selling the trailer, motor, mast, and other items separately. I was amazed at the value these items held and at the power of the internet. Most of the items sold to parties from many miles away. If I was you, I'd see what the insurance company will let you keep off the boat. Good Luck!
B
Bob Gravenstine
Same thing happened to me.
My 26 was hit by lightning this spring and the insurance company declaired it a total loss. The total loss was for the boat and all it's equipment plus the outboard. The trailer was not included. My boat was at a marine yard when they informed me of the total loss. I pushed the insurance company to decide what they were going to do with the boat as I was intending to use the trailer to go find another boat. I suggested that I could tie a rope from the hull to a strong fixed object and tow the trailer out from under the boat. This was not what they wanted me to do. They finally suggested I could salvage the boat. I did and spent the good part of the summer repairing it. I am very happy with my decision. It looks like new with all new electrical equipment and wire, professional patch and paint job. Sails great and still beats most of the boats most of the time on the lake that I sail. If you are handy and can find some local talent, you may be able to repair your 260 and still have a great boat. You also may be able to get most of your money back by salvaging and sell the parts. Your only problem will be getting rid of the hull if you decide not to fix it. Good Luck.
My 26 was hit by lightning this spring and the insurance company declaired it a total loss. The total loss was for the boat and all it's equipment plus the outboard. The trailer was not included. My boat was at a marine yard when they informed me of the total loss. I pushed the insurance company to decide what they were going to do with the boat as I was intending to use the trailer to go find another boat. I suggested that I could tie a rope from the hull to a strong fixed object and tow the trailer out from under the boat. This was not what they wanted me to do. They finally suggested I could salvage the boat. I did and spent the good part of the summer repairing it. I am very happy with my decision. It looks like new with all new electrical equipment and wire, professional patch and paint job. Sails great and still beats most of the boats most of the time on the lake that I sail. If you are handy and can find some local talent, you may be able to repair your 260 and still have a great boat. You also may be able to get most of your money back by salvaging and sell the parts. Your only problem will be getting rid of the hull if you decide not to fix it. Good Luck.
L
Larry
Repair is not practical
According to Hunter Marine the boat is damaged badly enough to require complete disassembly too access the ballast tank for repairs. They do not think it can be put back together and made to look good. If it were lead ballast I would fix it. With the fiberglass exposed and burned in the ballast tank it is going to be expensive to fix right. The boat has only been in the water for six months and the trailer has less than 350 miles on it. Unfortunatly it is not adjustable. It could be modified with a saw and a tourch, but that takes a lot of value out of a galvanized trailer. At this point I am thinking about looking into lead ballast if I ever purchase another boat. I am sure I would have been able to get many more years of enjoyment out of a boat with more traditional design.
According to Hunter Marine the boat is damaged badly enough to require complete disassembly too access the ballast tank for repairs. They do not think it can be put back together and made to look good. If it were lead ballast I would fix it. With the fiberglass exposed and burned in the ballast tank it is going to be expensive to fix right. The boat has only been in the water for six months and the trailer has less than 350 miles on it. Unfortunatly it is not adjustable. It could be modified with a saw and a tourch, but that takes a lot of value out of a galvanized trailer. At this point I am thinking about looking into lead ballast if I ever purchase another boat. I am sure I would have been able to get many more years of enjoyment out of a boat with more traditional design.
G
Guest
insurance
Contact your state insurance commisioner and ask for an opinnion on the matched set law in your state. it may7 be that with a little prodding and a letter from the state you may get your wish
Contact your state insurance commisioner and ask for an opinnion on the matched set law in your state. it may7 be that with a little prodding and a letter from the state you may get your wish
G
Glen Koops
J
Jeff Davis
My 240 was struck too
My H240 was struck by lightning when it was one year old. Insurance totaled it also. They did not buy the trailer. The insurance company sold the boat to the Hunter dealer as salvage. I sold the trailer to them also. Since I was buying another boat from them, I got a good deal on the trailer.
My H240 was struck by lightning when it was one year old. Insurance totaled it also. They did not buy the trailer. The insurance company sold the boat to the Hunter dealer as salvage. I sold the trailer to them also. Since I was buying another boat from them, I got a good deal on the trailer.
J
Joe C
Work it to your advantage
Push the insurance company to a decision between paying you a fair price for the trailer or leaving you an allowance for your keeping it. The allowance should be low enough that you can sell it for more since you have no use for a trailer without a boat. The trailer is listed as an option but almost all boats are sold with a trailer. Push the fact to them that it should not be your expense and burden to solve the problem without compensation for your time. Good luck, Joe
Push the insurance company to a decision between paying you a fair price for the trailer or leaving you an allowance for your keeping it. The allowance should be low enough that you can sell it for more since you have no use for a trailer without a boat. The trailer is listed as an option but almost all boats are sold with a trailer. Push the fact to them that it should not be your expense and burden to solve the problem without compensation for your time. Good luck, Joe
L
Larry
They are paying for trailer
Well I was able to get then to pay for the trailer and the boat. They came up almost $10,000 from their original estimate. They claimed they thought the original was quite generous.
Well I was able to get then to pay for the trailer and the boat. They came up almost $10,000 from their original estimate. They claimed they thought the original was quite generous.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.