In September 2018 I hit a log with my sailboat. I could tell that there was some damage below, but I was able to
power back to my slip at a speed of about 6 kn without excessive vibration. When I went down below my
boat with a mask and snorkel, I found out that I had sheared off the strut which held the driveshaft. My
insurance company paid to have my
boat towed to Fairview Marina on Rock Creek; and had an adjuster inspect my boat. However, Fairview said they could not do the job.
So I took my boat further on down Rock Creek to Oak Harbor Marina. Oak Harbor said they could do the job. After they took my boat out of the
water and blocked it, John Clarke told me that in addition to the strut, my driveshaft was bent and I needed a new driveshaft. I explained to him that this was clearly wrong because I powered the boat at 6 kn without any excessive vibration, and if the driveshaft was bent, I would have had vibration so bad I could not have done 6 kn. John said he would not do the job unless I replaced the driveshaft. I felt I did not have any options because I did not want to chance having to go across the Patapsco River to another Marina without strut, and insurance was covering the repairs anyway.
After I picked up my boat I sent Oak Harbor Marina the following letter:
"Subject:
RE: Repair request
From:
<...> (Add as Preferred Sender)
Date: Wed, Nov 14, 2018 9:09 am
To: "John and Chris" <oakharbormd@gmail.com>
John,
I was quite surprised to find when I picked up my boat, that it wasn't really finished yet; but I really had to get it back to my dock. There are three items that I would like you to send someone down to my dock to finish:
1)
motor mounts. I don't know if the
motor mounts need adjustment or weren't installed properly, but I now have more
engine vibration than I ever felt before. It is almost as if there is no rubber in the mounts. It's not prop shaft vibration--that is silky smooth (good job).
2)
transmission linkage. I thought you were going to repair this. The linkage is terribly out of adjustment--I could BARELY put it into
gear. I am nonplussed and insulted that you thought that's the way it was before I brought it to you: first, because I told you it wasn't; and second because if it were anywhere near that bad, I would have asked you to repair it. I don't know why you are reluctant to take responsibility. You disassembled and moved everything around in the
engine compartment, and charged me almost $2000 for it, and yet you cannot conceive of the possibility that the
transmission linkage could have been knocked out of adjustment in the process?
3)
muffler. The hose between the
muffler and the engine is not a good fit and the muffler cannot stand up straight; but now it is almost horizontal. It needs to to be more vertical to properly
work and prevent backflow flooding.
Yesterday, I sent you a check for $7700. I have withheld $246 which I will give to whoever you send to me to do the above repairs.
......."
After a number of
communications where Oak Grove Marina said they would send someone out to finish the repairs, I ultimately had to hire Hild's
Marine to finish the repairs (4/26/2019). Hild's Marine charged me $557.37 to finish those repairs (check number 313 paid on 5/07/2019).
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