Not Champion related but need some help.

[east texas]

Hey Y'all,
My Dad lives on the south shore of Lake O the Pines. He had unloaded the pontoon barge and his hydrosport Saturday morning. He had a small medical emergency Saturday Afternoon: "Hey chopped his arm with a machete." Anyway Saturday night he left the boats nosed up to the bank. Saturday night we had a very server freak thunderstorm hit with 60 MPH North winds. It sunk the Hydrosport and turned the Pontoon boat sideways and beat it up on some concrete steps and ripped the driver side pontoon. The insurance man is coming down tomorrow and I was checking to see if y'all had any Tips or things to watch out for in dealing with the insurance people. Also if anyone has had experience with fixing a busted pontoon. He has Progressive insurance and It was like a 2000 model Tracker Party Hut. The Z boat just got full of mud we got it bailed out and pumped the water down. It g really got silted over. It had a full tank of gas. I drove back to the ramp and it seemed OK. Anyways I appreciate it and watch out for these isolated t storms in the south. Sherman

[FlukenLizard]

we had a pontoon when I was a kid, some how got a gash about a foot long in one of the toons , insurance company had it picked up and taken to somewhere in central texas and had it welded up....was so young I cant remember who and where though

[Tx Champ]

Man!! Sorry to hear about your Dad's accident!! hope he's OK!!

I wouldn't let them repair the pontoon. Hold out for a new one or a good used replacement. Any other sheet metal needs to be new. On the Hydrosport, if the batteries got submerged, they need to be replaced as well as the on-board charger. Be sure and check all the pumps too. Pull the cowling and if there is any sand around the air box pull it and see if it got to the intake. If so, the motor may need to be inspected for damage. Running it prior to inspection may not have been the thing to do. I'd also ger the carpet professionally cleaned.

Good Luck!

[JohnM]

If it's an insurance job I'd push for a new log. That being said I've watched Todd Morgan weld up a few that never leaked again. I don't know chit about welding other than it makes a bright light , so you would have to drop him a line to see what he does to find someone local if they demand it be patched.

Swamped the 181SX Champion from the rear while taking some women folks to the bank one time on G'ville (LONG STORY). As mentioned if the batteries, gas, oil tank were under water replace the batteries, oil etc... I pressure washed the carpet and took a shop vac after it while it was still wet. That boat is still going strong today.

[sker13]

I deal with insurance companies every day...I can tell you they want to save money not repair your boat properly...You need to find a qualified and trust worthy repair shop to deal with the insurance company for you...Your particular company is not one of my favorites...The adjusters are usually not very experienced or knowledgeable and get their info from their superiors who aren't much better...They typically low ball and hope you take the money and run. Good luck ask alot of questions and stand firm but don't get belligerent when things don't go your way at first.