[Muggi]

Doing some much-needed venting...

Beautiful warm night on the lake last night, the GF and I decide to take my '01 z212 Shabah out for some stargazing. I live upriver so navigating out at night can be tricky, but I know what I'm doing. No problems at all.

We run out to a nice spot, set up shop, enjoy ourselves for about an hour. So, time to head home!

I'm taking my time. no rush, it's gorgeous out! My speedo is busted, but I know from RPM (I was @ 2000) that I'm going about oh...16-18. My lovely Smart Tabs keep me happily planing along.

I'm following the shore back to the river, about 75ft out. "HMM," I say, "that's an odd ripple in the water..."

Nope. Too late to do anything (besides yell, "OH ****!") I recognize: it's a swim platform. A completely flat, UNLIT, wooden platform all the way out here. My poor baby hits it at speed, we go airborne.

I frantically start checking my ski locker, my engine bay, etc etc. it's the middle of the GD NIGHT, are we abandoning ship?! Thank God, all dry. Boat's vibrating like mad, but I can maintain directional control. I limp my way back up river. As I approach my dock, I can smell something burning.

Checked her this morning (too angry to sleep), and she's still dry. No fluids leaking into the water. Prop is...well it's THERE, but not very prop-shaped anymore. I have no idea if my outdrive is bent or what. I cannot imagine what the bottom of my baby looks like right now. No clue on the burning smell.

I'm just...livid. I cannot believe how lucky my GF and I were. I'm writing this to waste time before calling the State Police. That jackass is going to get someone killed.

[theeasynine]

So much for a romantic evening. Maybe the burning was the steam coming out of your ears. Hope that dock gets taken out of the water.

[Muggi]

Well, my ability to judge distances numerically is pretty bad

State Fish and Boat came out to look at the damage; they knew exactly what I hit. One of the developments on Wallenpaupack had their dock break free during a storm. They collected up all the dock pieces and placed them on shore, but decided to LEAVE the furthest-out section moored to the lake floor with NO markings or warning light.

That platform is moored at 125' from shore, off the end of a point (so it's far and away the furthest thing out - all the surrounding docks are hundreds of feet away).

The damage is a destroyed prop, and a section of gelcoat about 2" wide by 4ft long. Can't believe I got off so easily. The repair quote is $1800.

The only fun part now is the Homeowner's Association hasn't/won't respond to me. They only use email or physical mail. I don't want to sue, we're all fine and the damage isn't bad - I just want my damn boat fixed. I wasn't even going to call my insurance company.

[mikeyt]

So call your insurer, let them fix it and then let them subrogate against the negligent party. If they're successful you will even get your deductible back.

And hopefully there is no un-noticed damaged to the gear train in the outdrive.

[cptbraine31]

I am sorry to hear your story. The most important thing is that you and your girlfriend are not hurt and are safe. Now I don't blame you, I would be HIGHLY upset if I was in your situation. MikeyT is right, stay on your insurance company like stink on ..........welll, you know. Have the shop pull that outdrive off. Check your bellows, gimbal bearing, engine alignemnt, u-joints, drain the outdrive fluid (check for metallic and milk color), and do a compression test on the outdrive.

The good thing for you is that your transom is ok (from what you said). A leaking or torn transom is nothing short of terrible. If the outdrive is destroyed, you can easily replace it with a SEI outdrive for about 1500.00 cash.

Good luck and hope you can get everything fix quickly for more boating season

[Lucky14]

You have the police report and documentation that another party knowingly left a navigational hazard unlit at night in the channel. File with your insurance pprovise copies of all of it and let them sue. That is what you pay them for.

[Lucky14]

In the wnd if you dont have insurance get a civil attorney and have them draft a letter to the HOA and submit a bill for the repairs with accompanying documentation referenced but not provided.

Alll HOA are basically llcs or corporations and also have to have money in the coffers to provide for thier services. This is particularly true if they have features that include risks, i.e. pool, clubhouses, playgrounds or a marinia. They have insurance or are privately insuranced by a sppecial fund. Go after them for the damages and legal costs