Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 04-12-2018, 14:48   #1
Writing Full-Time Since 2014
 
thinwater's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,559
Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

There are two things I hear on forums a lot that I wonder about (well, more than two, but only two that I'm asking about now):
  • "If you do that you'll fail your next survey." This might lead to an insurance problem, but the insurance surveys I've witnessed were pretty cursory, and mostly addressed through hulls, sump pumps, and fuel systems.
  • "If you do that and X happens the claim will be denied." The thing of it is, if insurance didn't cover mistakes I really wouldn't bother with it. Huricanes are rare here and practically everything else results from a mistake. But I do make mistakes, and I'm not so sure an honest DIY error is going to get a claim denied. And of course, if the boat goes up in flames and sinks, I'm guessing their not going to try to figure out if one bad solder joint caused it.
What DIY or other fixes of modifications have you either KNOWN to cause denial or do you wonder about? Or for that matter, anything else.



I'm going to making some inquiries, so I need specific cases or situations.
__________________
Gear Testing--Engineering--Sailing
https://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/
thinwater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 14:56   #2
Marine Service Provider
 
boatpoker's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,047
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

If you install your own propane heating system and don't tell your insurance co.
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
boatpoker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 15:43   #3
Writing Full-Time Since 2014
 
thinwater's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,559
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

Quote:
Originally Posted by boatpoker View Post
If you install your own propane heating system and don't tell your insurance co.

Oh dear.


If you have a furnace installed or replaced in your home a code inspection is generally required. I wonder if there are specific things that would trigger a requirement for survey or notification? I never thought about it, but it would make sense, perhaps.
__________________
Gear Testing--Engineering--Sailing
https://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/
thinwater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 15:48   #4
S/V rubber ducky
 
sailorboy1's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

I also wonder how many of these stories are internet urban legend verse fact.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
sailorboy1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 16:19   #5
Registered User
 
Fiveslide's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Boat: JBW club 420, MFG Bandit, Snark
Posts: 871
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

Quote:
Originally Posted by boatpoker View Post
If you install your own propane heating system and don't tell your insurance co.
These kinds of things drive me crazy! There are times when home versions of systems will work on a boat and I'm all for appropriate use of cheaper items. HVAC systems are not one of them. Spend the little extra money on a marine system, maintain it properly, I bet it will Outlast whatever you bring from home and rig up.

There was a photo on here the other day. Boat for $79,000 had a window unit ac stuck in the forward bulkhead and a home ceiling fan hanging precariously somehow from the cabin headliner in the vberth. I'm basically poor, I love cheap boats, but if you do stuff like that, I don't want your boat, period.
__________________
I love big boats and I can not lie.
Fiveslide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 16:24   #6
Marine Service Provider
 
boatpoker's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,047
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorboy1 View Post
I also wonder how many of these stories are internet urban legend verse fact.
Like this one ...... insurance denied.
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
boatpoker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 16:27   #7
Marine Service Provider
 
boatpoker's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,047
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

or this one ...... insurance denied.
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
boatpoker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 16:29   #8
Marine Service Provider
 
boatpoker's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,047
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

or this one ...... insurance denied.

I literally have about 1,000 of these
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
boatpoker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 16:38   #9
Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Chesapeake Bay
Boat: Hunnter Legend 37.5
Posts: 1,012
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

Quote:
Originally Posted by boatpoker View Post
or this one ...... insurance denied.

I literally have about 1,000 of these
How do you have so many?
bensolomon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 16:40   #10
Registered User
 
Fiveslide's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Boat: JBW club 420, MFG Bandit, Snark
Posts: 871
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

Quote:
Originally Posted by bensolomon View Post
How do you have so many?
He's a thorough and knowledgeable marine surveyor and people do dumb things to boats.
__________________
I love big boats and I can not lie.
Fiveslide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 16:46   #11
Marine Service Provider
 
boatpoker's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,047
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

Quote:
Originally Posted by bensolomon View Post
How do you have so many?
4,693 marine survey reports
43 court proceedings as expert witness
422 disputed insurance claims investigations

There are somewhere around 2,000 photos on my website and another 80,000 in my files
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
boatpoker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 16:49   #12
cruiser

Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

I would think anything you do after the survey that is not done by a pro as per ABYC, that **could** be claimed to have caused the problem, would very often shift the burden of proof to the owner.
john61ct is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 16:53   #13
Registered User
 
Fiveslide's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Boat: JBW club 420, MFG Bandit, Snark
Posts: 871
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

Quote:
Originally Posted by john61ct View Post
I would think anything you do after the survey that is not done by a pro as per ABYC, that **could** be claimed to have caused the problem, would very often shift the burden of proof to the owner.
Very true. ABYC standards are a click away on the webs. I used to keep a copy on my phone and consulted it often when working on boats, mine and others. Ignorance of good and proven practices is not an excuse.
__________________
I love big boats and I can not lie.
Fiveslide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 17:05   #14
Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Chesapeake Bay
Boat: Hunnter Legend 37.5
Posts: 1,012
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

Quote:
Originally Posted by boatpoker View Post
4,693 marine survey reports
43 court proceedings as expert witness
422 disputed insurance claims investigations

There are somewhere around 2,000 photos on my website and another 80,000 in my files
That's fantastic!!! Great career! how often have you burst into laughter when you see some of the stupid things people have done? I consider myself to be kind of stupid, but looking at those few photos I feel much better about my own shipwrighting, which is mostly leaving it to the professionals.
bensolomon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 17:07   #15
cruiser

Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
Re: Insurance--DIY fixes that your insurance might not like

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fiveslide View Post
ABYC standards are a click away on the webs. I used to keep a copy on my phone and consulted it often when working on boats, mine and others.
Link please
john61ct is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
DIY, insurance

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Might or Might not have made the biggest Mistake of my life jaygatsby Monohull Sailboats 89 13-01-2019 13:23
Plotting Fixes With Navigation Software Bill Shuman Navigation 20 01-02-2011 14:10
Sorry, Can't Find the Thread on Stinky Head Fixes FLKokopelli Plumbing Systems and Fixtures 8 07-12-2009 17:45

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:27.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.