So here's the situation:
I live in GA and 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 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/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 some cheap "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 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 trailer bc 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.
So I had the local shop send me an estimate for a proper fitting near-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 a 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?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated before I contact the adjuster a/b the 8k estimate.
Thank you!
I live in GA and 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 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/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 some cheap "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 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 trailer bc 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.
So I had the local shop send me an estimate for a proper fitting near-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 a 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?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated before I contact the adjuster a/b the 8k estimate.
Thank you!
Statistics: Posted by mrfisher315 — Sat Feb 01, 2025 4:09 pm — Replies 10 — Views 460