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Post by loafer on Jun 6, 2018 20:50:33 GMT
Dear All,
I recently suffered a damaging collision by a hire company boat whilst I was out walking the dog. Despite evidence that it was the only boat moving around here that day, no-one took the boat name. Of course, the hire company paid no interest because I couldn't say which of their boats it was.
I have a suspicion that, even if I had witnessed it and noted the boat name, the hire company would still not have been helpful. That is the opinion of many other boaters local to this hire company.
My question is, therefore, does anyone here know what these companies are liable for, or does anyone have experience of taking any action against such companies? Any helpful hire boat managers here?
Any useful stuff gratefully received, ta.
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Post by Mr Stabby on Jun 6, 2018 20:58:11 GMT
Doubt there is much you can do if nobody witnessed the collision to be honest. How bad was the damage?
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Post by kris on Jun 6, 2018 20:59:24 GMT
I would suspect if you didn't witness the accident, then it will be difficult. I've been hit by a hire boat whilst on the boat, the hire company still didn't give a fig. If the damage is severe it might be worth sseking legal advice,sending a legal letter. Good luck, I hope the damage wasn't too bad.
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Post by Telemachus on Jun 6, 2018 21:51:15 GMT
Can’t help with the question as I’ve no experience of it, but did you ever get your camera system sorted?
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Post by patty on Jun 7, 2018 5:18:20 GMT
I suspect without witnesses there is nothing you can do..
If the hire boat suffered damage in the collision the hirers would lose their deposit..in that case it a win win for the hire company...its a shame no-one saw or got the name of the boat..
How much damage was done?...any 'paint' from their boat on yours?...
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Post by pearley on Jun 7, 2018 8:08:50 GMT
We've been struck twice by hire boats. The first was by an Anglo Welsh on the Thames which ripped the front fender off and broke some glassware in the boat. AW were very concerned and paid for new glassware, the fender I repaired with a couple of shackles.
The second time was in Oxford whilst moored when an Oxfordshire Hireboats rammed us from behind whilst trying to overtake another boat. This again broke the fender chain and took a lot of paint from the counter edge. The hire boat didn't stop but I caught up with them at Isis Lock. Witnessed by the Boatyard opposite who phoned the hire company. They were fairly unconcerned but eventually coughed up £30 for new chain and fir me to repair the paintwork. It wasn't until later it became apparent that the impact had also cracked the internal part of the flexible exhaust coupling.
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Post by loafer on Jun 7, 2018 18:45:35 GMT
Doubt there is much you can do if nobody witnessed the collision to be honest. How bad was the damage? A sledge-hammer-like "dink" in our gunwale (no problem) but most of my tools were on the floor, shaken off their wall mountings in the engine room, and a bathroom door wouldn't shut. I fixed the door myself, but took most of the day with a plane. Thanks for your answers, but what I'm really asking is - what if i HAD witnessed it, took the boat name and had verification, then who is to blame, the steerer or the hire boat company? Are the company responsible? I'm just thinking for the future, not trying to chase them up without the boat name and no witnesses. Nick, yes - I fitted a dash cam in the appropriate porthole, but no-one has bumped us since! |
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Post by loafer on Jun 7, 2018 18:46:55 GMT
We've been struck twice by hire boats. The first was by an Anglo Welsh on the Thames which ripped the front fender off and broke some glassware in the boat. AW were very concerned and paid for new glassware, the fender I repaired with a couple of shackles. The second time was in Oxford whilst moored when an Oxfordshire Hireboats rammed us from behind whilst trying to overtake another boat. This again broke the fender chain and took a lot of paint from the counter edge. The hire boat didn't stop but I caught up with them at Isis Lock. Witnessed by the Boatyard opposite who phoned the hire company. They were fairly unconcerned but eventually coughed up £30 for new chain and fir me to repair the paintwork. It wasn't until later it became apparent that the impact had also cracked the internal part of the flexible exhaust coupling. Yes, it was also some time before I discovered our bathroom door wouldn't shut. If our boat was a lightweight type, I'd have been concerned about hull integrity! |
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Post by Mr Stabby on Jun 7, 2018 18:55:30 GMT
Doubt there is much you can do if nobody witnessed the collision to be honest. How bad was the damage? Thanks for your answers, but what I'm really asking is - what if i HAD witnessed it, took the boat name and had verification, then who is to blame, the steerer or the hire boat company? Are the company responsible? When I hired a boat I paid a small supplement for Collision Damage Waiver so presumably responsibility lies with the steerer unless he has purchased this. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2018 19:01:40 GMT
Doubt there is much you can do if nobody witnessed the collision to be honest. How bad was the damage? A sledge-hammer-like "dink" in our gunwale (no problem) but most of my tools were on the floor, shaken off their wall mountings in the engine room, and a bathroom door wouldn't shut. I fixed the door myself, but took most of the day with a plane. Thanks for your answers, but what I'm really asking is - what if i HAD witnessed it, took the boat name and had verification, then who is to blame, the steerer or the hire boat company? Are the company responsible? I'm just thinking for the future, not trying to chase them up without the boat name and no witnesses. Nick, yes - I fitted a dash cam in the appropriate porthole, but no-one has bumped us since! I guess we all make mistakes. We’ve been bumped into a few times over the years. I’ve bumped into other boats a few times. See it as a reciprocal thing and part of the relaxed boating culture. If it was malicious/deliberate then you’d have to be there to truly know that.. Then you’d have the option to chase after them to give them a piece of your mind. To answer your question, the hire boat company has insurance so initially I’d go after them as they have a reputation to uphold. |
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Post by thebfg on Jun 7, 2018 19:08:20 GMT
to me the above is the logical answer.
if you knew the boat name and hire company. I would go through the insurance company too.
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Post by peterboat on Jun 7, 2018 20:11:06 GMT
Lie like a cheap chinese watch, say you were on the boat but knocked unconscious in the collision! Mrs Loafer will provide the bump. Mrs loafer will say she saw the boat but was to busy treating you to give chase!!!
Will that do your honor?
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Post by patty on Jun 8, 2018 5:20:44 GMT
I think if u know the boat and hire company you have first hand account which is better..In that case I'd write strongly worded letter outlining date, time and specific damage and take pictures if u can.
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Post by Gone on Jun 8, 2018 7:32:02 GMT
Doubt there is much you can do if nobody witnessed the collision to be honest. How bad was the damage? A sledge-hammer-like "dink" in our gunwale (no problem) but most of my tools were on the floor, shaken off their wall mountings in the engine room, and a bathroom door wouldn't shut. I fixed the door myself, but took most of the day with a plane. Thanks for your answers, but what I'm really asking is - what if i HAD witnessed it, took the boat name and had verification, then who is to blame, the steerer or the hire boat company? Are the company responsible? I'm just thinking for the future, not trying to chase them up without the boat name and no witnesses. Nick, yes - I fitted a dash cam in the appropriate porthole, but no-one has bumped us since! I am not a lawyer, but my understanding is - ‘Who is to blame’ will always be the person responsible for control of the vessel at the time of the collision, however you can only contact them via the hire company, and probably the insurance used by the person on the tiller will have been arranged via the hire company and a condition of the insurance is that the person being claimed against will assign their rights to manage the case over to the insurance company. So the short answer is to ask the hire company for the name & address of the person that hired the boat, and the insurance company, and contact the insurance company direct and not via the boat yard. But the insurance company will want ‘proof’ their client was responsible. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2018 8:59:22 GMT
What does it say in your insurance, is it like car where you have to report it to yours and let them deal with it?
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