[300sflyer]

Understood... Thanks again.

[Shabah 198SE]

300sflyer,

Is that a reflection or a scrape on the right side trim cylinder?

I see that you are running a stainless steel propeller. These props are very strong and can greatly save on prop damage. On the down side, they are really hard on gears (any good marine mechanic knows that). You could have easily hit something that would bend a prop shaft and do other physical damage without hurting the prop. What are the mechanics suggesting as the cause of the new and clean fracture? Did you get a copy of their statements? You appear to have full coverage on your boating package and that break is not a wear and tear item (nor is a bent prop shaft).

In my case, I have stopped using stainless propellers. Yes, you get slightly better performance from a correctly matched stainless prop and they are less prone to damage. To me, the downside is too expensive. I'm running a four blade aluminum prop that can be bought new for about $140.00. These things are so cheap, they are not even worth fixing. In addition, I would rather lose a prop than lose gears and a gear case.

Unfortunately, mikeyt is correct about the onus now being on you in this case. I would suggest that you take a number of detailed photos of this damage (especially the clean break) before it weathers.

Personally, I would not give up on this one.

Good luck

Shabah 198SE

[300sflyer]

If you mean on the outside of the right trim cylinder, that is a factory decal.

When I pressed for an alernative explaination to the damages other than an underwater impact, none of them would offer any possible alternatives.

[Shabah 198SE]

300sflyer,

My trim cylinders do not have a factory decal there. To me, it looked like the same kind of marks/scraping as seen on the nose cone.

It is really nice when people will say something to muddy the waters for you yet fail to come up with an alternative explanation. It won't help your vacation, but that should work in you favour.

Is this you home base shop, or do you normally use another facility?

Shabah 198SE

[300sflyer]

Our family vacation is indeed over. With most of my wife’s side of the family were along with us for it [14 of us in total with 8 kids ranging in age from 6-19], losing the use of the boat on the third day was a HUGE disappointment for everyone. We had all been looking forward to it since the previous year there. [Second year at this cottage] My insurance company could not care less about that...

Yes, you are correct about no alternatives for the cause of damage. I too find that extremely odd. They simply stated an impact could not have caused the damage, but would not even take a guess to say what did.

I generally do my own repairs and maintenance if at all possible. I will certainly not be doing any future business with either of the two previous shops who would not offer any possible explanations for the damage.

As I stated before, I am very likely finished with my present insurance company as well.

[300sflyer]

Update:

My insurance company has reluctantly agreed to cover the cost of the repairs. I will not quote their exact wording, but in a nut shell they have stated they still do not believe me, or the other witnesses to the incident, but because one expert has stated that an underwater impact is indeed possible, it’s now covered. I am feeling somewhat vindicated...

Now I just have to wait for them to tell me what my cost of the repair will be. I was informed that any and all "wear and tear items" will not be covered, [bearings, seals, bellows, ect] in addition to my $500 deductable.

Something tells me I will be cancelling the claim, and fixing it on my own anyway.

[indykoch]

Good to hear they're going to cover it. From the looks of it, I think it will be well over your $500 deductible. Depending on the parts they have to replace, you may even get the bearings, seals, etc. covered since they might come as an assembly and are required when replacing the other stuff anyway. Keep us posted, sounds like an interesting situation.

I'm still a little perturbed that they wouldn't think it was a submerged impact - the damage looks pretty obvious with new scrape marks, etc, and there's plenty of ways for certain items to get damaged while others didn't (like the prop). I've had and heard of many auto collisions that caused other problems due to the impact that you'd never think was actually due to the impact itself. But I've also heard of insurance companies trying to get out of anything they can.

[Dredd]

With a gimbal ring break like that the transom plate should really be replaced too, while you're at it. The assemembly from merc is around $1700 and the motor will have to come out. So, I'd say be thankful they have changed their minds. Congrats.

[300sflyer]

Originally Posted by Dredd

With a gimbal ring break like that the transom plate should really be replaced too, while you're at it. The assemembly from merc is around $1700 and the motor will have to come out. So, I'd say be thankful they have changed their minds. Congrats.

Can you elaborate a bit? None of the repair estimates I have contain the whole transom assembly, but rather just the gimbal ring itself.

I am pleasantly surprised they have changed their minds, but at the same time still quite bitter from the false accusations, and all the delays.

[mikeyt]

Congrats.