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Old 11-01-2017, 08:20   #1
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Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

We're in Mexico, and we had a 92' aluminum megayacht crash in to our davits.

We had a crew working on the deck. I was down in the aft cabin with headphones on watching TV. Suddenly I heard some loud noises, and started to get up to investigate, when the boat suddenly lurched and heeled over. I knew we were being hit, I figured a boat was coming in to the slip next to us. I ran on deck and saw this 92' boat smashing us into the dock. Our davits were bent all to port, there wasn't anything I could do. A moment later the boat backed away.

They went over and docked, I went over and asked for a copy of their passport, the ship registration, and their insurance. A woman pretended to be the owner, claimed she didn't know where the physical pieces of paper are, because her husband isn't there, and said she was emailing me the information. I waited and watched my phone, but no emails came.

We're pretty sure the owner was drunk when they shuffled him off to a cab, promising to be back with paperwork from the "other marina". They emailed me the info later that night.

When I find out who the owner is, I google him. He doesn't seem like a very reputable person. The way the whole thing went down, I figured he was going to try and run. The next morning I find out they worked late into the night (Sat), and Sun morning, to paint over all the damage on their boat.

Luckily I have before pics, cover up pics, lots of pics. We have video from the marina showing him hit us. The locals have been very supportive.

So the damage to Volare seems like:
Davits are a total loss, the tubing has collapsed in several places
Stern rail, same.
Bow rail/pulpit, the dock line pulled one side over collapsing it, total loss
Boarding ladder was crushed between the boat and the dock, total loss
Fiberglass damage where the ladder was crushed into the boat
Fiberglass damage around the davit backing plates on the stern.

The guy who has plead guilty to tax evasion and paid millions in fines and been on probation, the guy who tried to install cameras in his daughters tanning salon, is saying he thinks we're exaggerating the damage!

So we have pictures, we have video, we have witnesses, a retired USCG commander who saw it, we have a lloyds of london yacht manager who can attest to the condition of our boat before the accident, we even have recent before pics that show none of this damage.

So they're sending a surveyor down from San Diego to review the damage. We're getting quotes.

We used to have Seaworthy but they were bought by Geico. So far things have not been going as smoothly as we hoped.

Here's a link to the video. If anybody has any useful insight, from the video, or in a similar situation, please share.

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Old 11-01-2017, 08:25   #2
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

Unfortunately, your video shows nothing of the event you describe.
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Old 11-01-2017, 08:39   #3
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

So, hand all the evidence over to your insurance company and let them get on with it, that is what they are paid for.

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Old 11-01-2017, 08:42   #4
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

The impact is near the 7:00 mark.

Good luck recovering your loss. (That is sincere, not sarcastic.) We had a similar situation, but we were in the States. We were hit at the dock by a marina owned charter boat that was being moved by a marina employee. We were not in attendance for the show, but luckily a neighbor was there to see it. The dock hands came back under the cover of darkness to buff and touch up the paint. They did not, however, straighten the swim deck. When you start loosing sleep over it, just fix your boat and move on with your life. If you don't collect on the damages, Karma will. No, we didn't recover any $, but something tells me it will all come out in the wash. ;-)
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Old 11-01-2017, 08:51   #5
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

in mexico--
report to port captain
report to marina manager who is in essence the harbor master. file claims with insurance and provide pictures with circles and arrows and a paragraph or two on the back. find a helpful abogado for turistas... the lawyer will let you know what are your alternatives. marina may know names of lawyers.
goood luck.
i am saddened by your unfortunate accident.
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Old 11-01-2017, 08:55   #6
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

Wondering why you didn't call the cops.
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Old 11-01-2017, 08:55   #7
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

Yes, deal with the Mexican authorities. One person I knew was hit by a Mexican fishing boat in harbor. They ended up working with the Port Captain and the tourist agency who got it resolved. The tourist agency hates bad press involving visitors.
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Old 11-01-2017, 08:56   #8
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

That sucks, but it sounds like you made it very hard for him to wiggle out of.

I got hit in a marina here in Victoria by my ex-neighbors 30 foot long bayliner, took a chunk out the fiberglass.

Marina did nothing, and when I tried to go through my insurance he threatened me so I dropped the claim (just decided to repair it myself). Sounds like you'll have better luck!
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Old 11-01-2017, 09:03   #9
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheechako View Post
Yes, deal with the Mexican authorities. One person I knew was hit by a Mexican fishing boat in harbor. They ended up working with the Port Captain and the tourist agency who got it resolved. The tourist agency hates bad press involving visitors.
exactly. port captain harbormaster and pix with splainations on em.
tourism is the supreme and reliable income source in a depressed nation.
guy who worked for me for a while got his boat hit while at anchor. hit by a party catamaran captained by a gringo.....

i hope the surveyor sent is kjels christian--he is THE best. you will like him. honest and objective.
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Old 11-01-2017, 11:05   #10
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

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when I tried to go through my insurance he threatened me so I dropped the claim
Threatened you? And you didn't call the cops either?
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Old 11-01-2017, 11:24   #11
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

Madwand, he's in Mexico, and possibly doesn't have good enough Spanish to do that.

Zeehag and Cheekako have this one nailed.

If autumnbreeze has insurance, then he should also notify them.

Ann
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Old 11-01-2017, 11:24   #12
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

^^^^^^^^^^^ Ann, he's talking about me and I live in Victoria, Canada

Quote:
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Threatened you? And you didn't call the cops either?
Nah, they couldn't really have done anything, and it would have escalated things further. I work during the day so lots of time for bad stuff to happen to my boat when I'm not there.

Easiest to walk away and just repair it myself
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Old 11-01-2017, 11:33   #13
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

Ann, I have zero Spanish, but I'm pretty sure I could get the authorities there if I needed them. All you need is the other party making a complaint about you damaging THEIR boat days later and you'll wish you figured out how to call.
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Alctel...that's how bullies get emboldened. Letting them get away with it.
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Old 11-01-2017, 12:25   #14
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

La Paz has a huge boating community and morning VHF Net...

I would suggest, that in addition to what has been suggested above, that you put it out on the Cruisers Net as I am sure you are not the first boat this has happened to.

Another resource in La Paz is Club Cruceros
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Old 11-01-2017, 13:25   #15
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Re: Have you ever been hit by another boat in another country?

So you'll never believe this. The word we just heard from some marina staff is that this guys wife fell on the docks and is now on crutches.

You can't make this stuff up.

We're working with the locals and the authorities. Things are moving ahead,we're just trying to cover all our bases, because this guy is slimey... like he'll try to run slimey... or fake another accident slimey...

I'll be writing an article on the experience.

I hope after the insurance company watches that video they tell him he has to have a licensed captain move that boat.
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