hmason
Guru
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2013
- Messages
- 2,766
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Lucky Lucky
- Vessel Make
- Pacific Mariner 65
One year ago this month our treasured Grand Banks 46 Europa "Magic" arrived in Stuart, FL after a 1,600 mile trip from Westport CT. Having made this trip several times we were well acquainted with the route and the trip was a pleasure. Two weeks later our good fortune changed.
We were tied up at our usual dock at Sunset Bay Marina when with no warning a former sail boater slammed his new to him 37' Nordic Tug power boat which he drove for the first time, directly into the starboard side of Magic. The impact was right at the rub rail and destroyed the stainless steel rub rail, put a small hole in that area, took out the teak hand rail and the teak caprail. It was a t-bone allision (yep it's a word--look it up) his bow into our side.
It took one year to settle with our recalcitrant insurance company (Progressive) but we engaged a maritime attorney and finally got a settlement we can live with.
Now our luck changes dramatically for the better. During our long battle with our insurer, Grand Banks Yachts opened their new US headquarters and service facility in, of all places, Stuart, FL.
We delivered Magic to Grand Banks yesterday and they will perform all the repair work. They have the original construction plans for our boat and are skilled in working on Grand Banks Yachts. All the damage will be repaired and we are taking the opportunity to replace the teak decks with fiberglass non-skid, and replacing the teak hand rails with stainless steel. The entire boat will be waxed and all remaining brightwork taken down to bare wood and refinished. Our boat has been upgraded consistently over time and is up to date in all respects. When all the work is completed we will essentially have a new boat.
And then she will be offered for sale as we will be moving to a bigger boat. We live aboard and are looking forward to bigger spaces. Someone will get a gem.
We were tied up at our usual dock at Sunset Bay Marina when with no warning a former sail boater slammed his new to him 37' Nordic Tug power boat which he drove for the first time, directly into the starboard side of Magic. The impact was right at the rub rail and destroyed the stainless steel rub rail, put a small hole in that area, took out the teak hand rail and the teak caprail. It was a t-bone allision (yep it's a word--look it up) his bow into our side.
It took one year to settle with our recalcitrant insurance company (Progressive) but we engaged a maritime attorney and finally got a settlement we can live with.
Now our luck changes dramatically for the better. During our long battle with our insurer, Grand Banks Yachts opened their new US headquarters and service facility in, of all places, Stuart, FL.
We delivered Magic to Grand Banks yesterday and they will perform all the repair work. They have the original construction plans for our boat and are skilled in working on Grand Banks Yachts. All the damage will be repaired and we are taking the opportunity to replace the teak decks with fiberglass non-skid, and replacing the teak hand rails with stainless steel. The entire boat will be waxed and all remaining brightwork taken down to bare wood and refinished. Our boat has been upgraded consistently over time and is up to date in all respects. When all the work is completed we will essentially have a new boat.
And then she will be offered for sale as we will be moving to a bigger boat. We live aboard and are looking forward to bigger spaces. Someone will get a gem.