mrfisher3043
New member
So here's the situation:
I live in GA and couple months ago was rear-ended while towing my 2014 18.5ft fiberglass boat & trailer. Other driver was found to be at-fault, he even admitted on the police report that he was looking at his phone which caused the accident. Two cars were totaled including his, my boat has had a/b $17k in fiberglass and mechanical damage repairs done, which his insurance has fully reimbursed me for.
My trailer however, which comes custom made from the factory for my specific boat model/yr, is damaged beyond safe repair, and needs to be replaced. My boat doesn't sit evenly on it and the framing is bent in multiple sections of the trailer. The one shop that would even touch the trailer could only do a minor weld job as a temporary fix to get it a short distance.
My boat/trailer manufacturer doesn't make this model/yr trailer (or boat) anymore, nor is this trailer for sale anywhere new or used.
After speaking with multiple 3rd party boat/trailer repair shops, they all highly suggested I get a custom-made trailer or at minimum a semi-custom trailer that has adjustable bunks/winchpost stand so that my boat sits properly on it. In my initial attempt to explain this to the at-fault party's insurance adjuster he didn't budge.
The adjuster instead found a bare bones "universal fit" style non-adjustable trailer online from a local marine trailer shop for $3,500 and the adjuster offered to reimburse me that value only. This $3.5k trailer has none of these main features as my current one including: 1)custom made or adjustable to fit for my hull, 2) painted black w/ powder coat finish, 3)swing tongue, 4)welded in steps on the tongue.
I just s/w that same local shop and they (like the others) also highly advised I go w/ a custom or atleast semi-custom trailer, as a universal style trailer will not properly fit my boat anywhere close to like my current one does, and presents potential safety and/or hull damage risk down the road, especially since I tow it long distances on hilly roads.
So I had the local shop send me an estimate for a proper fitting semi-custom made trailer that almost exactly mirrors the same specs/features as my curren trailer. It came to $8,000 total (including $600 tax).
$8k is the lowest cost I could find for either a custom or semi custom trailer with the same 4 basic features that my current trailer has as mentioned above. I got quoted as high as $13k from another company for a fully custom made trailer.
Do any folks here have any advice/suggestions on how I should present this argument to the adjuster for the $8k replacement value I'm seeking?
If the adjuster pushes back on the $8k, any advice on next steps I should take?
Additional note: I purchased the boat/trailer in spring 2024 for $21k and I added a/b $6k worth of upgraded components to the boat
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated before I contact the adjuster a/b the 8k estimate.
Thank you!
I live in GA and couple months ago was rear-ended while towing my 2014 18.5ft fiberglass boat & trailer. Other driver was found to be at-fault, he even admitted on the police report that he was looking at his phone which caused the accident. Two cars were totaled including his, my boat has had a/b $17k in fiberglass and mechanical damage repairs done, which his insurance has fully reimbursed me for.
My trailer however, which comes custom made from the factory for my specific boat model/yr, is damaged beyond safe repair, and needs to be replaced. My boat doesn't sit evenly on it and the framing is bent in multiple sections of the trailer. The one shop that would even touch the trailer could only do a minor weld job as a temporary fix to get it a short distance.
My boat/trailer manufacturer doesn't make this model/yr trailer (or boat) anymore, nor is this trailer for sale anywhere new or used.
After speaking with multiple 3rd party boat/trailer repair shops, they all highly suggested I get a custom-made trailer or at minimum a semi-custom trailer that has adjustable bunks/winchpost stand so that my boat sits properly on it. In my initial attempt to explain this to the at-fault party's insurance adjuster he didn't budge.
The adjuster instead found a bare bones "universal fit" style non-adjustable trailer online from a local marine trailer shop for $3,500 and the adjuster offered to reimburse me that value only. This $3.5k trailer has none of these main features as my current one including: 1)custom made or adjustable to fit for my hull, 2) painted black w/ powder coat finish, 3)swing tongue, 4)welded in steps on the tongue.
I just s/w that same local shop and they (like the others) also highly advised I go w/ a custom or atleast semi-custom trailer, as a universal style trailer will not properly fit my boat anywhere close to like my current one does, and presents potential safety and/or hull damage risk down the road, especially since I tow it long distances on hilly roads.
So I had the local shop send me an estimate for a proper fitting semi-custom made trailer that almost exactly mirrors the same specs/features as my curren trailer. It came to $8,000 total (including $600 tax).
$8k is the lowest cost I could find for either a custom or semi custom trailer with the same 4 basic features that my current trailer has as mentioned above. I got quoted as high as $13k from another company for a fully custom made trailer.
Do any folks here have any advice/suggestions on how I should present this argument to the adjuster for the $8k replacement value I'm seeking?
If the adjuster pushes back on the $8k, any advice on next steps I should take?
Additional note: I purchased the boat/trailer in spring 2024 for $21k and I added a/b $6k worth of upgraded components to the boat
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated before I contact the adjuster a/b the 8k estimate.
Thank you!
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