If this has not happened to you I hope it does not ever.

Going from one place to another, Cruising around is the fun stuff. Going into and out of new marinas can be a challenge for some. Having good docking skills is not universal and docking with good experienced dock hands is not always common. If you are new to power boats I would advise training with an experienced boater like we did. Our surveyor is one of the most patient boat handlers I have ever known. It may help that Capt. Frank's other profession is airline pilot. See http://www.bluewatermarinesurveys.com/

We were docked at Banana Bay Marina in Marathon Florida for the winter. The dock master Larry had helped us out with a slip near the office. To enter the small marina and get to our slip it was a straight shot from the entrance channel.

The two boats in the center of the picture were out of their slips on the day of the wreck.

The new to us slip had a sailboat to our port. The slip to our starboard was used by small fishing boats until the Day.

Our 40 ft trawler "The Office" in the transient dock in ft of the office. This slip was open that day. Capt. Larry used this slip for transients most of the time.



We  were happy to move over the a corner slip in the marina. After some of the snowbirds left for the summer we were moved to a coveted corner slip. A open slip was next to us as the small marina regulars left. On the May the 12th, day of the Accident Capt. Paul the assistant dockmaster tried to help a 34 ft single engine trawler into the slip beside us. We were docked and not even on the boat. The wind was blowing 25-30 and we later learned that the new trawler owner had no experience docking having just bought the single engine vessel . The Florida Wildlife Police were the responding  LEOs, I had assumed the Coast Guard but no it happened in a marina so they would not check on it. The FWC wrote up the owner of the offending trawler for operator inexperience and excessive speed. The trawler's owner was very sorry and confessed that he panicked as this was his first try at docking. I questioned why he was not placed in the straight in transient slip instead of the corner slip against the wind and never got an answer. Here is the damage to our boat.

The starboard windows, parts of the inside wall and teak trim. The bath is inside this. Jean was very upset.

Next was the problem with his insurance. Some off shore insurance with a broker in Big Pine Key and an adjuster in Panama City. The owner wanted the marina to pay the deductible and the insurance company would not settle until the deductible was paid. Our insurance will cover it but it will mean a mark on our policy. Our insurance agent was wonderful with advisement. The owner wanted  to place the blame on the marina, but I blame the owner for not telling them he was not comfortable with the docking and the operation of his boat. Another big hassle was getting an estimate. First All the fiberglass, woodworking and repair techs are busy working on big nice boats for rich owners.None wanted to estimate the entire job. Finally we found a major yard that will estimate but we have to pay them $285. up front for the time spent writing the job up. 

We left end of May for Jekyll because I needed another back repair. Our friend, Andy a master shipwright, builder and life long sailor said he would fix it upon our return. Here are the pictures of the repair.

Now we will repaint this side of the boat and Jean is happy again. The inside and out side is like new. Andy has done a fine job. And he did not have to take the boat apart to fix it. 

We will paint the side of the boat when we have the time later.

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