Our 2004 Hunter 33 was docked in Slidell at Oak Harbor where the eye passed right next to the I-10 twin span across Lake Ponchartrain. It looks like our boat is a total loss becasuse we not been able to find it, but the dock is gone wher it was and the other boats all sunk. The insurance people have told me that if it sunk, it is a total loss and that in time they will declare it a loss if it is not found. The harbormaster said that the lagoon will be dredged before reconstruction of the marina so it will probably turn up. Salvage operations are already going on. We have replacement cost insurance and have been told that we will get the base amount or if we replace the boat, they will pay whatever it costs to replace our boat. They said to start listing the options and personal effects. Does anyone have first hand experience with this? If so, we appreciate your comments and information. Thanks from the disaster area.
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What happened to me
I lost my Cheoy Lee Clipper in Hurricane Isabel. The insurance company paid me well. However they completely screwed up the salvage of the boat which was required. They called in a salvage company and then deceided the boat could stay where it was sunk. The salvage company charged 5000 dollars to put an oil boom around the site and prepare to salvage the boat. The boat could not be left where it was. I had to hire another salvage company to salvage. This cost 7000 dollars. Both of these charges had to come out of what they paid me for the boat. If the first salvage company had been allowed to finish the job my salvage cost would have been cut in half. Don't let insurance adjusters have anything to do with salvage of the boat. You must make these decisions yourself. That is the moral of my story.
I lost my Cheoy Lee Clipper in Hurricane Isabel. The insurance company paid me well. However they completely screwed up the salvage of the boat which was required. They called in a salvage company and then deceided the boat could stay where it was sunk. The salvage company charged 5000 dollars to put an oil boom around the site and prepare to salvage the boat. The boat could not be left where it was. I had to hire another salvage company to salvage. This cost 7000 dollars. Both of these charges had to come out of what they paid me for the boat. If the first salvage company had been allowed to finish the job my salvage cost would have been cut in half. Don't let insurance adjusters have anything to do with salvage of the boat. You must make these decisions yourself. That is the moral of my story.
Salvage
As far as salvage is concerned, my policy is suppose to include coverage for salvage,pollution liability, etal. The Marina said that the whole area would be dredged so my boat will need to be hauled out. If there is a charge associated with this before I settle, I think that this should be covered. If I settle, then it would seem to me that the boat now belongs to the insurance company and it would still be their liability. Why would the old owner be responsible?
As far as salvage is concerned, my policy is suppose to include coverage for salvage,pollution liability, etal. The Marina said that the whole area would be dredged so my boat will need to be hauled out. If there is a charge associated with this before I settle, I think that this should be covered. If I settle, then it would seem to me that the boat now belongs to the insurance company and it would still be their liability. Why would the old owner be responsible?
Consult a maritime atty...
Sorry for the loss of your boat. Considering the amount of money and circumstances you are dealing with (unimaginable from my end), it seems that spending a few dollars to get a pro's advice ~up front~ would be money very well spent. Given the types of questions you raise above, this issue seems ripe for mis-interperation, mistake, etc. Seems that you could get cauth in the cross-hairs easily. I would think that there are/were many maritime/insurance attorneys based in NO. Of course finding them now may be as difficult as finding your boat. Give the Louisiana Bar Association a call, they can probably get you a list of attys' dealing with these matters and perhaps some with crisis lines set up right now. BOAT US might also be a good resource, assuming that they are not your insurer too.
Sorry for the loss of your boat. Considering the amount of money and circumstances you are dealing with (unimaginable from my end), it seems that spending a few dollars to get a pro's advice ~up front~ would be money very well spent. Given the types of questions you raise above, this issue seems ripe for mis-interperation, mistake, etc. Seems that you could get cauth in the cross-hairs easily. I would think that there are/were many maritime/insurance attorneys based in NO. Of course finding them now may be as difficult as finding your boat. Give the Louisiana Bar Association a call, they can probably get you a list of attys' dealing with these matters and perhaps some with crisis lines set up right now. BOAT US might also be a good resource, assuming that they are not your insurer too.
Attitude
It is so true about how a tragedy brings out the best and worst in people. Some of the people I have spoken with at my insurance company have been very caring, but have been up front to say "I don't know the answer". Ohers have told me information that is wrong, but have then come back to tell me they were wrong, after I questioned whether this was correct. However, it is the ones that will not admit they are wrong or could be wrong and then have this attitude that they are in control and victims have to suffer more. I have replacement cost coverage for my 33. I have been told that the coverage would not replace the boat after I was told that the coverage would replace the boat. I have been told that the coverage would only replace the boat with a used boat and then I have been told that the coverage would replace the boat with a new 2006 model. Then I was told that the coverage would replace the boat with a new 2006 Hunter 33, but would provide no replacement if I wanted to replace the Hunter 33 with a Hunter 36. My agent said I should check the policy. The policy said that the "limit of liability" for replacing my boat was the amount to replace a boat like mine. It did not say that I would be prevented from stepping up and paying the difference, but the last person insisted that this is the deal period, end of discussion. Anyway, when I asked for a supervisor, she just said that they were too busy but they would call back. Of course that did not happen. In trying to determine whether I should even get another boat, I am considering a 36 because it has room for a generator. With no marinas and the devastation in the area and the lenghth of time it will take to rebuild, I can't really see having another boat in this area without a generator. I can only suppose that the person I spoke with has some sort of "attitude", so I will keep trying to find someone who cares.
It is so true about how a tragedy brings out the best and worst in people. Some of the people I have spoken with at my insurance company have been very caring, but have been up front to say "I don't know the answer". Ohers have told me information that is wrong, but have then come back to tell me they were wrong, after I questioned whether this was correct. However, it is the ones that will not admit they are wrong or could be wrong and then have this attitude that they are in control and victims have to suffer more. I have replacement cost coverage for my 33. I have been told that the coverage would not replace the boat after I was told that the coverage would replace the boat. I have been told that the coverage would only replace the boat with a used boat and then I have been told that the coverage would replace the boat with a new 2006 model. Then I was told that the coverage would replace the boat with a new 2006 Hunter 33, but would provide no replacement if I wanted to replace the Hunter 33 with a Hunter 36. My agent said I should check the policy. The policy said that the "limit of liability" for replacing my boat was the amount to replace a boat like mine. It did not say that I would be prevented from stepping up and paying the difference, but the last person insisted that this is the deal period, end of discussion. Anyway, when I asked for a supervisor, she just said that they were too busy but they would call back. Of course that did not happen. In trying to determine whether I should even get another boat, I am considering a 36 because it has room for a generator. With no marinas and the devastation in the area and the lenghth of time it will take to rebuild, I can't really see having another boat in this area without a generator. I can only suppose that the person I spoke with has some sort of "attitude", so I will keep trying to find someone who cares.
Satisfaction for now
O.K. Now the latest person at the insurance company has been more helpful and had a better attitude. The first lady put me in touch with a sceond lady that said that I would have to deal with a third party if I wanted to get the replacement value otherwise they would not pay. Of course, the policy does not say this, but if I get satisfaction then that is alright. I have already spoken with the third party and he said that I would have some choice in picking a dealer and that I could upgrade. I will keep my fingers crossed.
O.K. Now the latest person at the insurance company has been more helpful and had a better attitude. The first lady put me in touch with a sceond lady that said that I would have to deal with a third party if I wanted to get the replacement value otherwise they would not pay. Of course, the policy does not say this, but if I get satisfaction then that is alright. I have already spoken with the third party and he said that I would have some choice in picking a dealer and that I could upgrade. I will keep my fingers crossed.
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