How do you guys think this incident will be handled?

A good friend of mine took his boat to a very reputable boat shop to have a lower unit replaced. Owner struck an object and tore up the unit and insurance approved a claim. The dealer replaced the LU and one of the mechanics took it out on the water for a test run. The owner arrived at the dealership and was told his boat was being tested and would be back shortly. He then noticed an employee get a call and he sounded like it had hit the fan somewhere . The employee was seen loading a bunch of straps and lines into his truck and he took off in a hurry. The owner became suspicious that something had happened to his boat so he drove to the ramp only to discover his boat upside down being towed towards the ramp. The boat sustained extensive damage and will probably end up being a total loss. This boat is one of those really, really ,fast ones. Owner recently traded in his optimax 250 2 stroke and replaced it with a new 300 4 stroke

Do you think the dealer is obligated to replace the customers boat?
Anyone with any experience with this kind of situation?
Or will the owner have to rely on his own insurance?

It will likely take both parties to cover the total replacement.

owner should have insurance

So it’s a really, really fast one, guess it’s a Ranger?

Depends on insurance company, it they know someone other than owner was driving may not be covered. This may be a lawyer up situation.

The boat shop’s insurance should cover the loss.
The boat owner should get a check.

I want to see the video. This day and age, someone had bound to have caught it on their phone.

Holy chit!!!!

Should be akin to garage keepers liability. The shops insurance should cover it.

We would cover it out of pocket or insurance at work. But I really wanna know what kind of boat this is more then anything

Not an insurance expert but sounds like another claim on his insurance to me. While it’s an odd story for sure this is the reason we pay for and carry insurance in the 1st place. It is for the “unexpected”. If the insurance company wants to recoup/share/defer expenses(and they will) they can go after the dealer and his insurance company.

The shops insurance is primary and the owners insurance is secondary. If the shops insurance does not step up then the owner needs to file a claim with his company. They will then take care of the insured and subrograte the shops company to recover the amount that they pay out and the owners deductible.
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