I keep Lucy E. in a slip at the Colonial Beach Yacht Center, overwintering her on her trailer at the marina, generally works well. Yesterday I received a call to let me know that a contractor dredging and moving spoils around the marina too down a power pole which managed to snag my mast on the way down, bending it every 10 feet to a 90 degree angle, thus leaving the boat with the appearance of having been stapled.
[ From what I could tell, no damage was done to the boat itself, no crazing of gelcoat or tearing of glass, and the rigging appears intact. I have placed a call to Otho Campbell of New Millenium who sold me the boat two years ago to see what arrangement could be made for someone to inspect the vessel and provide an insurance estimate prior to undertaking repairs. At the very least it looks like a new mast and a delayed boating season.
Not a good day at the marina.
Now might be the time to contact BWY of Seattle for an upgrade to a 32' carbon fiber mast. You can likely still use the existing sails but have the option of larger sails in the future. Just another option to think about.
Update: have heard from both Otho and Boat US, the former looking into the repairs, the latter sending a claims type down to look at the damage. The contractor who dropped the pole apparently has a long history of damaging boats insured by Boat US according to the claims rep who called.
I bought a new mast from the Mac Factory for $500 and re-rigged it myself (with some help from Bill Warnock, my Mac's new owner). Just unbolt off the old stuff and attach to new mast.
Piece of cake!
Your problem will be in getting a new mast shipped out to you! About the only way is for Mac to add a second mast to a shipping truck heading for your area.
richandlori wrote:Your problem will be in getting a new mast shipped out to you! About the only way is for Mac to add a second mast to a shipping truck heading for your area.
Well, by rights, the shipping and getting it to him ASAP ought to be on the Colonial Beach Yacht Center's insurance guy's plate (or the contractor's plate)... you shouldn't have to wait for a shipment of boats by the factory. That mast should be drop-shipped via truck freight directly from the Mac factory, with the expense bourne by the insured.
Dubraque,
I believe Kevin is correct, but I would not care who's insurance company paid to get the mast to you ASAP. As far as I'm concerned, your insurance company has an obligation (unless your policy says otherwise) to rectify the problem. Let them sue the other guys company to get their money back. At that time you would also get your deductible back.
Much stress was placed on the boat where it and the mast connect. Check out the deck at the base of the mast real well. Also check for cracks where the bunks and the hull meet. I don't know how long the pole pressed against the mast before she buckled, but a heck of a lot of pressure was put on the boat. Make certain the the mast was the only thing that gave way.
Otho is a good guy. I'm sure he will do his best to help you out.
The downward load on the mast would have been transfered through the flexible top deck to the support below which would press hard on the hull below that. I would have a careful check all the way down to the outside bottom hull to look for damage.
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Also, maybe the whole boat bounced around on the trailer and then came back to rest, so look for hull vs. trailer marks too.
From what I could tell, no damage was done to the boat itself, no crazing of gelcoat or tearing of glass, and the rigging appears intact. I have placed a call to Otho Campbell of New Millenium who sold me the boat two years ago to see what arrangement could be made for someone to inspect the vessel and provide an insurance estimate prior to undertaking repairs. At the very least it looks like a new mast and a delayed boating season.
