Fiberglass Damage

[Big dreams]

Does anyone know if spider cracks will total a boat?  I was prefishing Chippewa Lake Saturday and on my way home, a kid pulled out in front of me.  I was going full speed and the boat ended up sliding down the road.  The trailer pushed the Reese hitch straight upward and then that too came off and ended up I do not know where.  The motor is barely hanging on and it looks like the motor could fall off the boat at any time.  The mount that holds it up and the hydrolics are all gone.  The trailer is definately gone and the boat has groves and a couple of deep gashes that show the fibers.  The boat from top to bottom is spider cracked and I was wondering if the boat would be a total loss with spider cracks...

[motocross269]

Fiberglass guys can fix just about anything...I have seen some pretty incredible jobs on other sights....The question is will it be cost effective....If you are asking if you can run it the way it is I would have a Hull expert from your manufacturer take a look at some emailed pictures..They can usually tell from those..
If your asking will your insurance company total your rig...It probably depends on the year but I can tell you from first hand experience it doesn't take much fiberglass damage to label a boat "totalled"....

[fowlmouth]

I've seen boats with alot less damage than you described going through the auto salvage auctions. It just depends on how much the estimates are, your insurance company will do whatever is the most cost effective for them. Be nice to the insurance adjuster

[Big dreams]

Being nice to this adjuster is not easy.  She is hard to understand (foreign) and she is head strong.  Does anyone know if they go off from the blue book value or what similar boats are going for?

[MadWags]

Ask her for her work visa. This should help.

[bob o]

Ask her for her work visa. This should help.

now THATS funny right there.

it sounds like you will be in a new ride this year

[Big dreams]

It is not looking good for me at this point.  The insurance adjuster for the truck called and said it was only worth $3000.  I put so much into that truck, it is 100 percent rust free and show room quality!  Just because of the mileage they say it isn't worth squat.  I do not know what to do.  If I combine the claim of the boat and the truck, I might be able to replace my truck.  It is not clear at this time but Big Dream's fishing might have come to an end...

[Puma]

Often you can negotiate with these guys, if not the adjuster, their superior.  Get your agent involved, that's what you paid him for.  I had a 65 Mustang that some guy rear ended the Mrs. and they wanted to give me squat for it.  I found 3 other similar Mustang's that were for sale and argued that they needed to at least match those prices.
In the future, I would suggest all to use Bleeker Insurance in Big Rapids and Progressive.  I have had two claims with them and they were amazing to work with.  Like I lost a rim and they are no longer available, so they bought me 5 brand new ones to replace them all!

Good luck, hope you can work it all out.  Just don't sign anything until you are happy.

[Big dreams]

Thanks for the advise.  I have a few trucks similar to mine and they all go for around $6000.  The boat is a total loss I found out today.  I found a 20' Nitro on BassBoatCentral that has all new electronics and a 225 Merc on it.  If all fares well, I might have both...

[Mike S.]

Insurance people can be a pain to deal with.  I had my sled get hit this winter while sitting at a stop sign in Baldwin.  I fought with the adjuster, Satan I mean, for 4 weeks.  They are just out to make their pockets fat and screw the person who loses their stuff.  Hope everything works out for you.

[fowlmouth]

Read your policy, I remember when I insured my boat they asked me how much I wanted to insure it for.

[Big dreams]

They did ask how much I wanted to insure it for.  I think I told them 10,500 or 11K.  The NADA report shows the boat's worth to be only 6,300.  I would like to meet the creator of NADA and Kelly Blue Book!  Do you think they would give me the 10,500 over the NADA value?

[1javelin]

Insurance adjuster's suck.  Period.  I hit something with my motor last year and caused it to skip, blowing 2 pistons, and they told me it was impossible to hit something and that happen, but they would fix the skeg and prop!!!  Now thousands later and a new insurance company, I'm still waiting for the rebuilt powerhead to be put on so that I can enjoy the fruits of my struggles again!!

1jav