It shouldn't happen to a dog ...

B

Bill.Secure

New member
I picked up my new 2007 CD-25 exactly two weeks ago at Cutter Marine in Baltimore. This past Monday afternoon on the way back from having the trailer fitted to the boat, I was "rear ended" after I had stopped at a red light prior to making a left turn.

The driver of the offending vehicle lacked a license and I still don't know if the vehicle he was driving was insured. He hit me about two seconds after I had stopped. A witness stopped and reported to me and the police that the vehicle that hit me had been driven very erratically for the past several blocks.

The aluminum trailer frame appears bent (which would total the trailer). The lower unit was knocked off the 150hp Honda leaving jagged metal way up inside the remaining part of the motor. I'm wondering if the motor is totaled as well. The propeller slashed deep into the transom penetrating to the balsa wood in one place. I think I can see at least one small crack inside the transom. However, a lot of the trim is now ill fitting and/or cracked and one of the doors in the cockpit floor closes with difficulty leaving me concerned that there might be structural damage.

The insurance company (Progressive) appears to be being helpful and the claims adjuster is supposed to see the boat next week. The boat and trailer are currently parked in a church parking lot as both I and the police were concerned it might not be safe to tow. The insurance adjuster wants to see it before it is moved.

Does anyone have any experience with the kind of fiberglass repair involved in such an accident? The insurance adjuster assures me that repairs to an area normally leave it stronger than the original. The hit was strong enough to jam the neoprene roller back into the winch and rip the metal by the two lower bolts that fasten the winch to the trailer. Any other advice would also be welcome.

This shouldn't happen to a dog... right?

Bill
Edgewater, MD
 
What a terrible tale. I am so sorry. It sounds eerily familiar to Milehog's incident out here on the west coast.

There are others more knowledgeable about hull repairs, but I would think the damage can be fixed as good as new. I would press hard to have the motor replaced rather than fixed.

Again, so sorry to hear this. Hope you had a good Thanksgiving anyway.
 
Bill,

So sorry man. On top of eating to much turkey your post really turned my stomach. I sure feel for you.

I don't have the knowledge to help you with your hull repairs and sure hope I don't have to learn under the same conditions as you. Even with 26000 miles of towing the Hunkydory this remains one of our biggest concerns every time we head out.

Wish you the best in working through this ordeal. I know you will get the best advice possible from others on this site.

Jay
 
Bill-

You're right, that shouldn't happen to a dog! As a matter of fact, It shouldn't happen to a low-life belly draggin' 'gator lost in the sewers of New York!

All joking aside, I'd get the trailer and motor replaced if at all possible, from what you've described. Make a case that they cannot only not be repaired completely, but that they will also be unsafe and the insurance company will be liable for any injuries resulting from their failure during operation. Insurace companies understand liability.

The boat is much more fixable, as fiberglass can be amazingly repaired and restored by a real pro.

At least you and your family weren't injured in the accident! Another accident years ago on Highway 80 in California involved a C-Dory owner being rear-ended by an 18 wheeler coming down a grade. The driver was hurt pretty badly, as I remember.

Good Luck with the outcome! Keep us informed as things develop. We're hoping for the best for your and your C-Dory.

Joe.
 
I deal with insurance companies everyday and I would take a few steps in advance of your adjusters arrival if time allows.

1. Take pictures of everything from every conciveable angle....take lots of pictures.

2. Contact Cutter Marine and get the name and number of a marine surveyor. Depending on your luck, your adjuster maynot be very knowledgeable when it comes to boat and motors...have a second openion...just in case.

3. If you are not satisified with the insurance company offer of settlement, hire a independent adjuster, he works for you and can deal with the insurance company better then you can, knowing the inside dope.
Most work on a commission of around 10%.

4. Don't get in a rush...take the time to get it settled and repaired right.

Good Luck and Hope your Holiday's become happy ones.
 
Hi

From my experience there is often hidden damage in the bow after such accidents. Inspect the area around the bow eye inside and outside the hull. Remove the V berth cushions and inspect the joint where the hull is glassed to the v berth liner. During impact the sides of the hull would have pumpkind out, so closely inspect the critical hull to bulkhead joint where the forward cabin bulkhead (pilot station) is glassed to the hull and top deck. And inspect fuel and water tank hold downs. They often do not survive sudden shocks like that.

Mark Toland
 
What a terriable thing to happen. We all fear this. We put an extra light bar with 3 very bright LED center lights, and the turn lights in bright LED, fitted so the light bar is on the swim step easily seen by another driver on our last boat. A similar light bar is in the works (PVC pipe as the support) for the TC 255.

Excellent suggestions above. Definately have your own surveyor and lots of photos from all angles. Look for "Stress cracks". The boat can be repaired--but measure all dimensions very carefully and compare with another boat--to be sure that more internal damage was not done.

The transom is a fairly easy fix--but it may need to be recored--the reason is that the balsa is most likely crushed, and if filled with glass, the new transom may weigh considerably more if just glass was added. Look for cracks around the motor mounting bolts--also get a good look at the inside of the transom. The door/frame, can be replaced and the area recut/glassed, but be sure that all cracks are taken care of--and if there is distortion, there will have to be some restorative work. Also check where the cockpit liner is glassed to the hull for deformity. There is some chance that the boat should be totaled if there is damage to the bulkheads and liners etc. You had a brand new boat--the insurance should be sure that you have a new boat when they are thru...

Find the best glass repair shop--this may not be the dealer, but the dealer should know who the best glass repair shop is--and you might have to go down to Annapolis etc to find that. Let them give you an estimate--and then settle with the insurance co.

I would have Progressive junk the motor and trailer--We all wish you the very best. I have had excellent results dealing with Progressive in the past, when I had a motor damaged by hurricane debris.
 
thataway":qsr0ean7 said:
We all fear this. We put an extra light bar with 3 very bright LED center lights, and the turn lights in bright LED, fitted so the light bar is on the swim step easily seen by another driver on our last boat. A similar light bar is in the works (PVC pipe as the support) for the TC 255.
Click to expand...
When you think of this – your trailer is as low as they can make it and often the boat will hang over the end with the lights being under the boat. If the person behind you is a semi truck sitting up high, they have to look down to see your lights. In heavy traffic with rain it is easy for him to not notice your lights in time to stop.

Because of this thread and the one from Milehog, I think I am going to take Bob’s advice and do the same as he.
________
Dave dlt.gif
 
Mike, I agree 110% with Bill... your dealer, which has a good reputation in the Baltimore area of the bay, can help you get the right people in to document and assist you in supporting your claim. Best of luck... Butch

PS... All I can say is document the crap out of everthing till the boat is back to original specs...
 
Two different auto body shops have looked at the hitch and the frame of the truck. Neither thinks there is a problem nor do either of them believe that the three to four hours of labor (and the associated cost) necessary to completely measure the truck frame is justified. Both shops said there had been a slight movement of the hitch but neither saw a potential safety problem. The second shop owner suggested I go to a nearby and well thought of alignment shop (the second shop owner goes there) and have an alignment, rotation and balance job which I'm due for anyhow.

He said to tell the owner what had happened and then the alignment technician would look things over further from below. I'm going to ty to get that done as early next week as possible.


Bill
 
Bill,

Sorry to hear about your "Event."

Several valid comments already. I particularly like the suggestion about getting a marine surveyor, a fiberglass specialty shop, and several other's (e.g. Marks comments about the fuel/water tanks and pumpkining).

One more item to mention. Some automotive shops offer a repair warranty on their work - it may be that other tradesmen will do the same thing. At least worth asking....

In late September my truck was stolen in Albuquerque. (Short version: police caught the illegal alien, but not before a high speed chase that ended with major damage to the truck ('05 F350 diesel) and "totaled" the '83 BMW M/C I was bringing home from Dallas.) My point is to say: the "5-Star" shop that's doing the work provides a "lifetime" nationwide warranty on any repairs they do, and there are Lots...and I hope to keep the truck a LONG time. (Repair bill currently $19,400 and that was with no drive train damage ... thank you USAA.)

Check out the warranty possibilities; but I'd try to hold-out for a new Honda.

Casey
C-Dory Naknek
Lake Montezuma, AZ
PS: Casey's 'new' hobby is learning about m/c repair(s)!
 
I would be concerned about the powerhead of the Honda, there could be a bent crank. What I think about is the very fine tolerances to which these engines are manufactured and if damaged from direct hit, the engine may go for 100 hours during which there could be uneven wear leading to ??? and $$$.

Your dealer should be able to help.

Rick
 
Go for a new engine. Cutter should help you with that. As for the boat, a good fiberglass repairman will bring it back to perfect.

Do not jump on the first offer from the Insurance company.

Also go for a new trailer.

What happened to the other driver? Did he get arrested? Did you get a copy of the police report and all the names of the wittnesses? It is amazing how things get lost, when we find out that the driver of the other car was politically connected, his Uncle being a Senator or something.

Fred (From the land of the Chapaquitick Bridge) Get my point.
 
I don't yet know what happened to the other driver. He had no license, no ID of any type and theoretically could not speak English. I don't know if he returned to the police station the next day when they had an interpreter available. I will be very surprised if a) he showed up; or b) if the car he was driving was insured. He was ticketed for driving without a license but if he just disapears that doesn't do much good.

On another note, I have engaged the services of a surveyor to assist me in dealing with this stuff.

Bill
Edgewater, MD
 
Bill, profound sympathies to you. I am sick at the thought of that kind of foolish damage to a brand new boat! I expect Progressive will take good care of you, especially with all the tips above. You'll be on the water in the spring.
Best of luck,
 
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