Bad news for the New Year. I'm starting out with my boat toasted from a portable heater extension cord that caught fire 12/30/06. The entire inside of my catalina 28 was badly smoked and the heat was hot enough in the cabin to melt some overhead plastic light lens. Does anyone out there have the expertise or experience to tell me what to expect in the way of troubles from repairs that go bad or hidden things that may come up later. Everything was in the boat, the smoke penetrated from stem to stern. Advice for dealing with the insurance company is welcome. Thanks
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Call your insurance agent now.
This damage would cost you much more then the deductible I think. They will have a surveyor come out to look at the damage for a report. You need to also get an estimate from your local boat repair shop before the insurance guy comes out. Give them a copy of the shop's estimate. Be honest with them and wait for the insurance company to contact you. They would normally send you a check for the repair less your deductible. Have the shop start working. If they uncover damage they didn't see before, they can send an updated estimate to the insurance company, and the insurance will cover it. That is my experience with Boat U.S. on a claim last year. The insurance company was great.
This damage would cost you much more then the deductible I think. They will have a surveyor come out to look at the damage for a report. You need to also get an estimate from your local boat repair shop before the insurance guy comes out. Give them a copy of the shop's estimate. Be honest with them and wait for the insurance company to contact you. They would normally send you a check for the repair less your deductible. Have the shop start working. If they uncover damage they didn't see before, they can send an updated estimate to the insurance company, and the insurance will cover it. That is my experience with Boat U.S. on a claim last year. The insurance company was great.
Where are you located...
Some friends did an incredible job rebuidling a 38' sailboat that was similarly damaged. Not sure they would do it again, but if you are around Annapolis area I'm sure they could tell you a great deal about the process. That boat was totaled and the decided to take the cash, keep the boat and redo it. Beautiful job now.
Some friends did an incredible job rebuidling a 38' sailboat that was similarly damaged. Not sure they would do it again, but if you are around Annapolis area I'm sure they could tell you a great deal about the process. That boat was totaled and the decided to take the cash, keep the boat and redo it. Beautiful job now.
soot damage
sorry to hear. I bought my C30 with fire damage. My biggest and hardest problem aside from the gelcoat work was getting the smell out of the boat. I found the new gelcoat smell only covered it for so long. I ended up replacing all the coverings in the boat to get rid of the smell. That will be your biggest challenge.
sorry to hear. I bought my C30 with fire damage. My biggest and hardest problem aside from the gelcoat work was getting the smell out of the boat. I found the new gelcoat smell only covered it for so long. I ended up replacing all the coverings in the boat to get rid of the smell. That will be your biggest challenge.
John, like jr said 'it's the smell that'll get ya'
Well maybe he didn't put it that way. Your insurance company should have 'experts' they call upon for this kind of work. As an ex-firefighter I know you're going to need a lot of luck with this mess. A neighbors house had a similar fire, (cushions and the like) and the workers took over a month washing walls to get out the smell. Whew! Please tell us how the fire was dealt with. Why didn't the boat burn to the waterline????
Well maybe he didn't put it that way. Your insurance company should have 'experts' they call upon for this kind of work. As an ex-firefighter I know you're going to need a lot of luck with this mess. A neighbors house had a similar fire, (cushions and the like) and the workers took over a month washing walls to get out the smell. Whew! Please tell us how the fire was dealt with. Why didn't the boat burn to the waterline????
if insured check your policy
Was the heater UN attended???...if so it may not be covered...ours purly states no unattened heaters....... We use to keep ours plugged in until I read the complete policy just for Sh*ts and Giggles...... So now No heaters unless we are on the boat. Good luck looks like an involved claim. sorry for your loss
Was the heater UN attended???...if so it may not be covered...ours purly states no unattened heaters....... We use to keep ours plugged in until I read the complete policy just for Sh*ts and Giggles...... So now No heaters unless we are on the boat. Good luck looks like an involved claim. sorry for your loss
Two more thoughts this morning
If you're lucky enough to have this damage covered by insurance, I'll bet they total the boat. If not, you have at LEAST a $30,000 casualty deduction on THIS YEARS (2006) INCOME TAX. Good luck John.
If you're lucky enough to have this damage covered by insurance, I'll bet they total the boat. If not, you have at LEAST a $30,000 casualty deduction on THIS YEARS (2006) INCOME TAX. Good luck John.
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