Delta RIB  5.5m

Acting as Marine Insurance Loss Adjusters, European Marine Services was recently instructed to inspect and report as follows:

• Casualty details including views on what caused the damage.
• Review the estimates for repairs to the third party vessel and advise whether you consider the work fair, reasonable and casualty related.
• Provide us with your reserve estimate.
• Witness details, where applicable.
• Subrogation* details, where applicable  ( * Insurer’s right to pursue a third party)
• Photographs of the damage.

The accident happened at speed and resulted in extensive damage to the GRP hull plus rupturing the inflatable tube (sponson) with the RIB being close to sinking.  Fortunately no one was hurt

View of extensive damage to GRP hull

What is important is not the results of our investigation / inspection or how the accident happened which remains confidential, but that the insurance company required the following documentation as part of its claim consideration from the insured parties

• Warranted all vessels classed and certified
• Warranted all vessels are fit to encounter the ordinary peril of seas, rivers, lakes or navigable waters, properly crewed, equipped, fuelled, provisioned and with all equipment in proper working order. Seaworthiness applies not only to the physical conditions  of the hull but to all its parts, equipment and gear.
• Were the crew fully qualified up to RYA Level 2 power boating, VHF AND Sea Survival courses.

The above clauses (extracts) being part of the Insured Marine Policy Terms & Conditions  ie. the small print

This being important to boat owners whom have the misfortunate to make a claim in the event of an accident

Therefore make sure that as an owner / operator / user of small high speed craft that you are fully aware of the Insurance T&Cs,        

If not you may possibly find that you have no cover

DC27 – Salvage Buyer Required                                                                                         (# 00870)

Due to an unfortunate incident (not a structural fault) this private Dawn Craft – DC 27 boat unfortunately sank earlier this year but was quickly refloated with minimal structural damage

Inboard petrol engine has been partially inhibited (bores filled with oil etc) propulsion being an outdrive unit

We represent a major Marine Insurance Company who have requested we dispose of this DC 27 on their behalf and are therefore looking for a salvage buyer – professional or private

If interested contact us as below

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd – Marine Surveyors & Consultants Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Herbert Woods Gaff Rigged Half Decker 1937                                                               

This 20′ gaff rigged broads yacht is a classic and was built by Herbert Woods of Potter Heigham at the same time as the early YBOD (White Boats) that currently race on Wroxham & Barton Broads

To all intents and purposes this yacht is actually a White Boat with some small changes, such as there is no horse with a block fitted for the mainsheet on the aft deck.  The keel is also slightly longer and possibly a fraction deeper however everything else is the same.  Herbert Woods may well have experimented with this yacht and YBOD sails will almost certainly fit

She has been kept in a garage for the last couple of years and being unused is in very good condition, being re-planked in 2006.

We undertook a pre purchase survey and found only minor problems such being easily remedied. The seams being sikaflexed have done well although there is a risk of taking on a lot of water when next launched, but the seams will quickly take up.

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Hampton Safari 25  – Survey for Insurance Purposes                 

Louis Bodmer – This week undertook at Eastwood Whelpton – Upton Yacht Station (home of one of the few dedicated sailing hire fleets on the Norfok Broads) – An insurance survey of this 40+ year old Hampton 25, being probably an ex hire boat, but now in private hands

The Hampton Safari originated on Oulton Broad in the early 60s (initially in wood) being a forward drive hire boat.  Subsequently GRP mouldings were made and many other builders (including Dawn Craft Wroxham) produced this very popular inland waterway boat, both as private and hire craft.

The first Hamptons with sliding forward roofs were produced in 1968 followed by sunshine roof versions.  The hull has a long central box keel giving good manoeuvrability and versions produced as 2 / 4 berth with a single central engine

This particular boat needs quite a lot of cosmetic attention plus improvement to services installations.  To include battery electrics, fuel system and LPG installations

The painted hull has been subject to impact damage especially in the bow area and gunwale fendering bolts show evidence of external corrosion.  The mild steel extended skeg arrangement supporting the single semi balanced rudder shows evidence of corrosion

No boat has sunk as a direct consequence of osmosis – and as always in the majority of broads based boats of this vintage there is intermittent osmosis. The extent is not too severe and structurally this boat should continue for many more years to come

More information, findings and practical recommendations for boat owners to follow in due course or call us to discuss

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

County Court Judgements  CCJ’s   ……………………..   NAME  &  SHAME

To:    All Yacht Brokers, Boatyards and Marine Service Providers  –  BE  AWARE

European Marine Services Ltd have the following Marine Services – Bad Debts  ….

Despite CCJ’s and issued Warrants we regretfully have been unable to secure payment from the following parties for marine services provided

Warrant #  0A021983     Seamaster 813    ‘Thrifty Six’      £ 429.00          (#781)                              Mr Stewart Rogers of   7b Market Place, Bungay Suffolk

Warrant #  0A021999      Bourne 30          ‘Tipple Too’       £ 449.80           (#749)                             Mr Peter Gray of   3 Stockmen Field, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire.   We believe the party is converting this boat to live-aboard

Should you know of these parties or have any current address we would be pleased to hear from you   –    Please share / circulate

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

 Mariah 260 Sports cruiser – Insurance Claim Sinking                                                 

European Marine as loss adjusters were instructed by a major marine insurance company to inspect this boat following its unfortunate incident and establish the following:

Causation and any action taken to prevent such a loss    Accidental damage if any to have caused this loss.   Mooring conditions and Condition of vessel prior to the incident.   

The background to the incident was that the vessel hit an underwater object resulting in major damage to the Mercruiser outdrive unit, resulting in the ingress of water, partial sinking and a flooded engine compartment

More information, findings and practical recommendations for boat owners to follow in due course

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 12301603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Princess 266 – Accidental Sinking      

European Marine as loss adjusters were instructed by a major marine insurance company to inspect this boat following its unfortunate incident and establish the following:

The cause as to the accident. Any accidental damage. Mooring conditions and condition of vessel prior to the incident.

The background to the incident was that the vessel due to strong prevailing winds, with a combination of high tides the vessel was blown onto the bank with the aft cockpit / cabin partly submerged. Consequential damage to the two Volvo Penta petrol engines, engine compartment flooded and rear cabin flooded

More information, findings and practical recommendations for boat owners to follow in due course

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 12301603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Chris Craft 26  (1938)                                                                                                                   

We were instructed by the owner to undertake an inspection for insurance purposes of the 1938 classic 26′ Chris Craft. Other than a few very minor problems this 76 year old Chris Craft passed with flying colours and is a credit to her current owner having taken the time at enormous cost to (almost) rebuild her to an as-new condition

  View of internal structural condition

The owner found  Chris  (ex Charleston) in 2007 , rotten as a pear  and barely afloat,   languishing on the Thames at Trinity Buoy Wharf,  London E14.

In 2007  she was taken to Woods Dyke boatyard Horning  for repairs, which ultimately developed in to a full rebuild. Woods Dyke closed half way through the rebuild so I took her to Phoenix Boatyard at Potter Higham where I discovered that  much of the work done at Woods dyke was of a poor standard and had to be redone. The owner virtually rebuilt the entire boat at Phoenix, leaving untouched only some frames, small sections of chine , the stem and part of the center line , which were in excellent condition. So she can still be considered as an original  vintage boat rather than a new build.

She had previously spent a number of years on the Norfolk Broads but the owner was unable to definitely establish this for definite and there is another virtually  identical Chris-Craft called “Roma”  moored at Richardson’s in Potter Higham and there may be confusion about which boat is which.

The Nanni 3.8 9 (with upgraded 100 amp alternator),  Halyard CV05 Aquadrive,  flexible engine mounts and s/s shaft were  all new and fitted in 2009,  since when the boat  has had  only minimal use but has been stored under cover and the engine has been serviced and regularly  run under load, every week or so.

For information & marine surveys contact European Marine Services Ltd                                            

Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

SeaRay 290 Sinking 

Mercruiser Stern Drive Investigation.                           

This is important information for all Mercruiser Sterndrive installations / owners.

Being appointed by a well known Insurance Company to investigate this unfortunate incident, and without going into too much detail surrounding the circumstances of this incident we detail the causes and lessons to be learnt

Through a combination of high tides, highest rainfall recorded for the month, damaged rear cover, bilge pump failure and a strong current the twin petrol engine sterndrive 32′ offshore express cruiser sank.

Investigation

There was no evidence of any hull impact damage or no skin fitting failure

We were aware that both Mercruiser Stern Drive units had been totally submerged

There was no visual evidence of the transom bellows having split being the usual problem in such circumstances.

However from a previous (similar) investigation we were aware that the Mercruiser stern drive alloy casing – enclosing the steering arm / head – BEHIND THE MERCRUISER BADGES is subject to electrical / galvanic / electrolysis activity

Consequently the alloy casing wall behind the Mercruiser Badges is destroyed with a resultant hole and the inevitable sinking

View of resultant damage & water ingress through hole (electrolysis) in outdrive casing

Due to the stick-on badges this damage (hole) cannot or may not be seen or realised by a conscienous owner

Lessons to be learnt ……….

1.  Pre-requisite to have an operational / automatic bilge pump – failure may result in an insurance claim refusal

2.  Protect exposed areas, cockpits etc with a serviceable cover

3.  Investigate and monitor the alloy casing enclosing the steering head, remove the Mercruiser labels if necessary to inspect

This boat was an insurance write off

This is the second (similar cause) sinking incident / cause that we have investigated – You have been warned

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants 
EMS also undertake Boat Safety Inspections & Engine Inspections

www.europeanmarinesurveys.com
Tel: 01603 327 123  

With the winter season setting in many boat owners have already booked their spot in a yard to either carry out winter project, maintenance or simply to store the yacht. This obviously involves lifting out and propping the vessel ashore and then putting it back in the water comes spring.

Now what we’ve found over the years is that many owners forget their insurance policy requires to have an insurance survey carried out generally every five to seven years time. And often they remember it during summer, thus having to organize the lift of the boat once again for the survey to take place instead of enjoying the good weather.

So how about going through the whole process just once and booking your insurance survey with us whilst the vessel is winterized. It will also enable you to carry out the possible recommendation before spring and to enjoy a worry free summer.

Check our website for the latest fees.

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com