Need an opinion !!

W

walterv

Moderator
Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2004
RO Number
12640
Messages
6,381
When I laid up the boat this year I had it shrink wrapped and the boat waxed.

When I removed the wrap I found two bow rail stanchions were broke at the weld on the base. The two stanchions were the same ones one port, one starboard.

My assumption is that they broke the bow rail while putting the shrink wrap on and should be liable for the repair, what say you?

Also,
When I removed the shrink wrap I have all kinds of marks on the hull that is going to require another buffing, I have never had that problem before with others that have shrunk wrap the boat. PS, I have the shrink wrap come right down to the paint so I don't get that mark where the shrink wrap touches the gelcoat

Now we did have that Nor-Easter, which caused me to lose some of the shrink wrap in the stern of the boat. The wind direction of the storm directly hit the stern of the boat.

The repair was $300.00

So what do you think?

Thanks
Walter
 
I think you'll have about as much success in collecting as i will from the jerk that hit my Jaguar with a golf ball.
 
Walter,

I was going to give you a hard time regarding the constant search for a cheap shrink wrap guy at the Anchorage but in all fairness the Nor-Easter caused major and minor damage to a large number of boats. IMO you want the wrap tight but I can see how the strong winds would put stress on the bow rails. I don't think anyone warrants that a shrink wrap job can withstand winds close to hurricane strength. In summer, that would have been a named storm.

Personally, I would be relived that they properly jacked the boat and forget trying to recover from the guy. I assume there wasn't anything obviously wrong with the job he did because like me, you would have been all over it.

My .02
 
Greg! Now that is funny!!! You owe me a monitor!
 
"two bow rail stanchions were broke at the weld on the base."

Broke at the WELD...???...
I guarantee you that there isn't any shrink wrap that's stronger than a weld so the shrink wrap would give way and tear looooooooooong before a weld was broken.
I'll bet there's more to the story.

(Unless it wasn't really a "weld")...???
 
How about an insurance claim?
 
I hear you Mark, that's why I asked I did not want to be a dick to the guy.

Greg,
He still never billed for the work he did last year, so I probably owe him $800.00

$300.00 is not worth a claim.
 
Walter,

How did the welder repair it? Did he have to remove the base and then weld or did he weld it in place?

I have a friend who had 5 or 6 stanchions break.

He needs to figure out how to fix it.

Thanks.
 
Marks on the hull from shrinkwrapping are a guarantee IMO if the end of shrinkwrap is anywhere on the hull side gelcoat. I no longer allow people to shrink my boat like that, I shrink all the way to the chines.

Shel
 
quote:
Originally posted by Robyns Nest

Walter,

How did the welder repair it? Did he have to remove the base and then weld or did he weld it in place?

I have a friend who had 5 or 6 stanchions break.

He needs to figure out how to fix it.

Thanks.

Click to expand...


It was done while in place which I think was not the right thing to do but in my case was ok.

My bow rail is held in from below, it gives a nice clean look on the deck, but the downside is if I ever had to remove the bow rail I would have to pull apart my forward state room.

The reason I am saying its not the right way to do it is when the base plate gets hot, the sealer underneath ozzes out, now you have a bow rail that leaks.

In my case the two stanchions that were repaired are above my anchor locker, so I have access to loosen it up from underneath and then re-bed the rail.

Walter
 
Walter, I had 3 in a row on the port side break the same way, at the base. I can get to the nuts on the first 2 so I plan to unbolt and slide something underneath for the welding. On the 3rd one I am going to have him just try a tack on 2 sides. Contrary to what Tang said the shrinking process can crush railings. I use spreaders at the widest points fore and aft but I guess I will need more next fall. I do my own shrink wrapping so...

Good luck
Niles
 
I just don't understand how these marina's and people who do shrinkwraping are not liable for damage, I own a service business and need to carry liability insurance to cover any damage done due to my work. If I was to tell my customers to put a claim in I would not have customers. It seems like everyone I've talked to that had damage that's the answer they get, put in a claim. These business's need to take responsibility or improve on service to stop damage.
 
Could heavy winter snow load have been a factor in the weld issue? WalterV's profile just says Albania. Is that Albany NY?
 
Hard to prove, let alone know what really caused the damage. I would just eat the 300..
 
Walter,
As said earlier, shrink wrap is not going to break welds...I think you had some windage hitting the shrink wrap and abeam of your boat. this probably caused a twisting motion at the base of the bow rail and the welds let go.
My T-top's bolts backed out a bit from probably the same scenario.
Just my .02
Perry
 
I had one break and one bent on my boat last year. The wind pressure vibrated and bent the stantion until it broke. I my opinion, not the shrink wrappers fault. This year I took the life lines out and had the stantions sticking through the shrink wrap. No damage this year.
 
A boat at ss3 lost a section of bow rail. Wind got under the shrink started to tare it away and got all wrapped up in the bow rail... As more the shrink let loose there was more pressure on the rail... Eventually bolts and welds failed. I think they said like 16,000 in damage. Alot labor to disaseemble the cabin to get to the backing plates. Wind is a terrible thing .

Rob
 
Sue the manufacturer or the shrink wrap and the company that makes the tie down cord..........use Dave's attorney ! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top