wandering

Aye this experience has been a very expensive and traumatic lesson. Think I was a bit too complacent as a newbie but they do say experience is the best teacher… 😅

Yes I believe from what the insurer has told me the surveyor will come up with a rough estimate for the cost of repairs which I can get done at red hill marina

Thanks for this break down. Really helpful. Ta. Would be lost without these forums!! There is a personal effects section saying they will pay me £812 for my things which is nothing considering my laptop alone was 2k 😭😭 thankfully that was the only “expensive” item along with my iPad on the boat but my sofa will be ruined, fridge potentially, batteries, solar controller... Glad I had the ability to get my electric Brompton bike and battery off in time cause that was 3k! I may have to haggle a bit more, let’s see how generous they are

Gotcha. My ideal scenario is they get it out the water, pay me enough to get it dry and fixed up. Thanks for this info. Didn’t realise claims manager would be a third party acting on my behalf. I don’t necessarily want more than 27k if I can get the Marina to help me fix it back up for less than that price.

“This text is from Canal Contracting. An engineer will be attending your boat between 07:30 and 09:00 on 31/08/2023” I was informed this engineer is an independent surveyor who I imagine isn’t 100% independent. Do you think it’s worth meeting them? I am quite scared now as I am disabled and fear I may end up destitute if the insurance company wants to pay me less and the surveyor values it as less than I paid… Claims adjuster? I’m a bit lost and not sure of the difference between adjuster and claims manager and all that jazz. I have mostly been dealing with the insurance company admins.

I'l be honest, I didn't know it was needed as it wasn't on it when I bought the boat and I hadn't had any issues or water ingress... until I did.

As I noticed the boat slowly sinking from directly below where I was standing, I managed to pull up next to an island where we (4 men happened to be on the island, thank goodness) opened the engine bay and observed water coming in from the weed hatch. It was closed but didn't appear to be watertight. We tried to tighten it but because of the displacement, it proved impossible. We needed the boat to be higher so we could do that. By the time the man came from Beeston Marina with the pumps to help us, it was a little too late and water began to flow into the engine bay as a result of the starboard list. I don't know 100% for sure this is the problem as I'm not an expert but from observing the water flowing in from the weed hatch, I assume it needs a rubber gasket or something because it wasn't tight enough or watertight. Plus one of the men helping at the time, said that it is coming in from the weed hatch and no where else. When I left the canal and entered the river, I put the bilge pump on and water would come out (usually this would stop after less than a minute. I noticed after I left the marina until I reached the island, which is 10 minutes more or less, that when I put the pump on, the water wasn't stopping at all. Soon after, I noticed the exhaust fumes interacting with the water indicating I was getting lower. We couldn't see any obvious holes. I think because I was on a canal before where I would move slowly versus the speed of moving on the river sped up introduction of water into the bilge via the weed hatch. Speculation at this time though as I'm not an expert, just an educated guess

The policy states: What is covered: We will pay for physical loss or damage to Beatrice whilst ashore or afloat, being lifted, hauled out or launched, or in transit by road within the UK (provided by professional road haulier if over 30ft in length). What is not covered: • Loss or damage due to wear and tear, depreciation, gradual deterioration, or mildew. • Theft from the interior of Beatrice or place of storage ashore unless following forcible and violent entry, or theft of gear and equipment from the exterior of the boat unless violence and force are used. • Loss or damage resulting from electrolysis, osmosis or similar conditions. • Loss or damage due to escape of water from boilers, calorifiers and any other fixed water installation or appliances unless installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, and unless heating and hot water systems are drained if the boat is to be left unattended for periods in excess of 30 days. • Loss or damage to motors, electrics, batteries and their connections unless directly caused by Beatrice grounding or sinking (provided not due to a cause excluded within this policy), or by fire, contact with an external substance (other than water), malicious damage, theft, sudden accidental incursion of water following an identifiable and unexpected occurrence, dropping off or falling overboard of outboard motors, or by frost (providing all manufacturer’s recommendations have been followed). • Theft of outboard motors whilst attached to Beatrice or her tender(s) unless securely locked by an anti-theft device which prevents retaining bolts or clamps being undone, and unless you can supply the engine serial number. • Loss of or damage to consumable stores or moorings. • Protective covers more than 3 years old split by the wind or blown away. • The cost of making good any defect in repair or maintenance, or replacing or renewing any defective part, or making good any fault or error in design or construction. • Claims for loss of use of Beatrice Conditions which apply: • We will pay the reasonable cost of repair for loss or damage not exceeding £27,000 Reasonable replacement or repair may not result in the appearance and condition being the same as that prior to the claim. In the event of total loss or constructive total loss, we will pay £27,000 or at our option, provide a replacement boat of a similar age, size and type. • In the event of Constructive Total Loss, we will be entitled to retain any salvage. • We will not pay for unrepaired damage in the event of a subsequent total loss. • In the event of loss or damage to outboard motors, and only where the serial number is supplied, we will pay the reasonable cost or repair or reinstatement but not exceeding the market value at the time of loss which will be calculated as the new replacement price less a deduction of 10% per year since new, up to a maximum deduction of 70%. • We will pay reasonable costs of inspecting the bottom of your boat after grounding, provided incurred specifically for that purpose, even if no damage is found. • Wewill pay reasonable costs incurred, including salvage, in preventing or minimising a loss covered by this insurance.

He* I don't want to make any profit, merely have my home habitable and returned to form, or at least close to form. If the repairs come to less than 27k, happy days. They requested the receipt of sale and a recent survey This is most worrying to me in the event that it's written off - I don't know how far 27k will get me now, probably not a lot which is frightening as it was my home. I only got the boat 6 months ago...

Good tip. I'll be sure to investigate that. Let's hope they do give me what I need!

What goes through their minds?! That sort of behaviour belongs on a road, not a bloody mixed use towpath. I suppose my problem is assuming anything goes through that sort of mind. I hate to imagine how I'd contend with that if I were on the path with my two dogs. Probably wouldn't end pretty! What grinds my gears is seeing cyclists use the pavement / towpath as though it were a road because they're scared / not confident on the road. How is the answer to essentially act that way on the pavement and frighten pedestrians?

Christ, thought it was a train approaching! Guess someone's got a Deliveroo to get somewhere quickly for that tip...

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification. Appreciate that.

Thanks, buddy. Yeah, I managed to negotiate the price down when I bought her from the broker by about 7 grand. Plus I'd added things to enhance its value. But I also saw how much the previous owners bought it for and it was much, much less than I paid (by another 7 or so grand). It's so subjective. I sort of wish I insured it for a bit more now but lesson learned. It is a great little 40ft home that I got off a retired couple who merely had to hang up their windlasses due to age. They maintained it really well. I don't really have the skills or strength to fix it myself as I'm not good at that sort of thing but having spoken with Red Hill Marina, they said they have people who can help me bring it back to life and there's a place to store it and all that jazz which is promising. If they can give me a good price to restore the interiors then I'd be happy to buy the boat back if there is a total loss. I'll know in a few days hopefully once the independent surveyor forms his opinion. Pray for me!

OK, that is quite promising. I hope I can get similar treatment because I am effectively homeless after funnelling some redundancy money into the boat. Do you know his insurer? I'm with craftinsure.

Yes, 5 people will lift it next Thursday as that is the earliest they could do it. Because it's in the middle of the river, RCR said this complicated things a bit regarding logistics because they can't just drive there, they need "to get a boat there" to do their thing. RCR estimated the cost for recovery and the insurance company gave the OK. I wish it were faster too, images of my belongings floating around on the inside is killing me.

Aye, I thought as much, it's the write off and having to find another boat in this market for that money which does frighten me. I'd rather repair and refit, if possible... Fingers crossed.

I was moored opposite this barge recently and it didn't look very busy which is a shame since it looks quite interesting on the inside. I'm not a drinker so had no reason to pop in. Down the river, opposite the boat is another similar boat that operates as a museum which didn't get much attention either from the looks of things.

Hi there, As some of you may know, my boat sank on the River Trent last week and it turns out I have fully comprehensive insurance (thought for some reason, I only had 3rd party, thank God). The boat was my home and the insurance company have agreed to getting the boat out the water (10k...) and to Red Hill Marina for further inspection by an independent surveyor to assess the damage and create an estimate for repairs (or decide whether it's a total loss). Of course, I am worried about the electrics, my personal effects (passport, birth cert, heirlooms) water damage, mould and, importantly, the engine. My boat wasn't super expensive. I bought her for 27,000 pounds and insured her for this amount. Since buying the boat, I added some value in the form of solar panels, blacking, controllers, engine repairs, cratch cover repairs and so on which I have all evidence for. My contract says they will make reasonable repairs in the event of a sink or give me the money if the thing is a write off. I don't want to go through the rigmarole of finding another boat as I thought I'd got quite the deal with Beatrice. The reason the boat sank was because the weed hatch had come loose and not through a hole in the steel. My question is for those who have claimed on their insurance: what was the process like vis a vis claiming? Was your boat salvaged/repaired or was it a total loss? What was your experiencing claiming? What if the repairs cost more than the thing is insured for? In an ideal world, I'd like the boat to be like how it was before she sank - that is to say working electrics, running engine but maybe she need a new engine or maybe the boat needs to be refitted. I don't know yet but I'd like to be a bit more prepared come time the assessor visits the boat so I'm a bit more clued up. I know insurance companies aren't dying to pay out and want to reduce that as much as possible so any advice or tips would be highly recommended here... Thank you.

Not the exposed ankles! Who knew it had so much potency?

As a cyclist, the towpath seems to be the last place you'd want to use a bike or scooter. It's muddy, uneven, full of stones, branches, roots and pedestrians. One wrong move and you might end up in the drink as well... Glad they've banned the use of scooters but highly doubt this will be enforced at all. Just feels like a PR move tbh.

Aye, I think you might be right. I'll admit having the tank below my bed isn't the most beautiful of mental imagery but it does save me having to deal with it again or look at it. I can barely look at the pump while it's doing its thing... When I bought my boat, I didn't think about the toilet. I just assumed I'd carry on whatever tradition the original owner had in mind when they built it. I'm sure if I bought a boat today that had a cassette, I'd soon adopt that tradition without much fuss too, probably...

Indeed, nobody is forced to traipse anything around but the number of times I've seen folk with a set of wheels and a stack of cassettes on the towpath on the hunt for the Elsan point is quite remarkable, so much so that it must be masochistic. That plus the frequency of emptying it doesn't appeal to me. I agree with you though, why would you wander for miles, especially in the cold and rain? But people do, in fact, do that. I've witnessed it with my eyeballs. Makes no sense to me but, for them, I suppose their mooring 4 miles away is more precious than getting up close and personal with the Elsan point. Chacun à son goût. Must be a lot of kinksters on the network.

It's good to know a swift email can sort it out and that they are understanding. Seeing the spotter tie letters to people's tiller was a little disconcerting for me. Feels a bit like those TV licence folk, who hound with threatening letters through the post.

How does spotting actually work? I saw one in Barrow take my licence number and boat name. I wondered to myself, what if I was in this same spot 14 days later but in those 14 days, I actually travelled many miles and on my return journey I moored at the same spot I was at prior... aside from the fact the boat may be facing the other direction (which may be easy to miss, if not paying attention), how would a spotter know, providing another spotter hadn't seen me in that time?