Hull Damage! HELP

[Carl]

Last week I got the phone call from the marina I never wanted. "I got good news and bad news for you. The good news is your boat is being huled out for the winter as we speak . The bad news is someone hit your boat and there is some damage." When my wife and I arrived to inspect the boat we discovered some damage to be an understatement. Sometime during the hul-out process the hull of our Hunter 30 was "dented" on both the port and starbord sides. It was right at the point where the straps from the crain go. When I pointed out the damage to the owner of the marina his comment was "That shouldn'thappen, I'll have to talk to the crane operator to see if he knows anything about it." Has this ever happened to anyone else? Can anyone give me advise on what to do next?  '

 

[Gary Jensen]

Hull damage report

Get in touch with your marine insurance company as soon as possible. They will most likely have you fill out an accident report with the police and or Coast Guard who usually investigate boats that have repordedily have been "HIT"... It wouldn't take a brain surgeon to figure out the cause of the damage and I'm sure a marina would not want to jeopardize themselves with a false police/coast guard report!!!

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners]

Yes, call your insurance co

The sooner you do it the sooner they'll act. They'll tell you what to do from there.LaDonna

 

[Rick Spear]

Find a new marina

I don't think that I would feel comfortable leaving a boat in a marina where they don't know how to haul boats without damaging them. Get the insurance money and move somewhere else.

 

[Dick McKee]

Carl...I dont know if this fits your situtation,

but there have been a couple of posts recently about hulls bowing in or out when they are not suported correctly in the cradle. When I saw your post and you said that the damage was to both sides I thought it might be a shot. I tried to find the past posts , but was unsuccessful. They did indicate as I remember that the bowing will go away if the boat is correctly supported. Good LuckDick McKeeS/V Constellation

 

[Dick McKee]

Carl..I had to be blind, the post is

in mid size boats on 11/8

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Crane Damage

Carl, while you're looking at hull damage, pay close attention to your shaft, strut, and rudder as well as paddlewheel of knot meter (if so equipped). I would suspect that if they did not know where to position the slings, they may have tried a few time to get "the proper balance", and done more damage than you suspect.Do call your insurance and have the boat thoroughly inspected by someone from a reputable yard. Good Luck