Conference vicki::boats

Lou,
This doesn't directly answer your question about the stainless, but
since the people who hit your boat are in the next slip I assume you
know who they are?  

This is why people have insurance, and there's no reason you should 
have to live with damage to your boat caused by someone else's 
mistake.  Sure, replacing 40' of rail and repairing the gelcoat is 
expensive, but it should be of no cost to you if their insurance
covers it.  Otherwise, it'll cost you later when you go to sell the
boat and get less for it due to the damage from this accident.

It may not work out, but I'd at least pursue it.

Rick W.

    I agree with Rick, you should not be responsible. I'm a little
    p?ssed they did not stop to understand what they had done...
    
    i would not tolerate this totally impolite way of handling this..
    
    To the question:
    
    We need to talk about how severe a scratch...
    
    Given its not a disaster, try this:  
    
    Using a felt pad, (the kind you find on a bench grinder)
    attached to a drill.  Using the polishing compunds
    (the same that would be used with the bench grinder, buffing
    wheel) they are differnt sticks (usually 4) abuff out the
    scratch, and then polish it. I've done this with some
    30+ yr. old stainless that was a rub rail on an old boat.
    
    Came out real nice...
    
    JIm.

    re: .1
    
    	I hear ya & Agree this is why folks have insurance --
    	The problem is - I was in Portsmouth at Prescott Park not my
    	own slip,  the folks did not stop & the docks do not collect
    	info like Owners name, address, etc... simply the boat name.
    
    	I do know the boat's name was "Denise" and out of Salem - not
    	sure if it was MA or NH.  The person who made the reservation
        was Sandra Levesque.   I don't know if the boat was documented
    	or had MS or NH numbers.  It was a Sail Boat in the 34-38' range.
    
    	I called the Coast Guard to see if it was Documented; but, they
    	need a request in writing & make no promises as the file under
    	the Documentation # only - so the cross ref. problem is huge.
    
    	I called information for Salem NH to see if they had a Levesque
    	listed & found it is a very common name they have a lot of them
    	none being a Sandra - probably under her Husbands name - I guess
    	I could call them all; but, hate to bother a ton of folks.
    
    ====
    	re: .2
    	Hmmmmm maybe I could buff it up - I'll look into it -
    	I'm not sure that would put any protection on it though & am
    	concerned about rust taking over.
    
    ====
    	Thanks for the replies - I will continue my search for the owner.
    
                                          Take care,
                                                     Lou

    A call to the Salem MA (I believe Salem NH is landlocked) Police would
    get you the number of the Salem Harbormaster or other appropriate
    official.  Next call there and pursue the matter.  If the boat is
    "moored" in Salem NH the NH boat registry or Salem town tax collector
    should be able to put you in touch with skipper Lavesque.  Don't
    boating accidents have to be reported, even if hit and run?

    Lou, if you do have true stainless steel and not chrome plated
    something or other, you should not have to worry about rusting
    once you are done grinding out the scratch.  If I'm correct,
    the steel is made "stainless" during the manufacturing process
    so it should be "rust proof" all the way thru.  The stainless steel
    hardware on my 25 year old boat cleaned up nice with just steel
    wool.  The harder I buffed, the more it would shine.  I have a feeling
    from your original note that you in fact have something that is
    chrome plated, not stainless.  If you can see another color of
    metal inside the scratch, then that is probably the base metal
    which has been chrome plated.  The only way I know of to repair
    a scratch in chrome plating is to grind out the scratch and have
    the whole thing re-chromed which is probably not possible in your
    case.                                              
    Good luck on whatever you try.  I would contact the Salem, Ma. 
    Harbor master and find the boat that did the damage.
    Wayne

Thanks for all the quick replies & suggestions -- I think I'll try to
buff it as Jim Suggests.
    
    	I want to be sure this is not mis-construed by anyone as one
    	of those 'stink pot - windbag' things.
    
	This is one of those crazy - not severe - things in life:

	I agree most folks would stop & indeed don't think these
	folks had any malice at all in mind ---

    	I suspect they were up early -tired & rushing.
	There was a fog coming in and I think they had been trapped 
	in the harbor the day before so they were rushing a bit & 
	perhaps a bit nervous over their trip.  When I ran out after
	the crunch the guy said "I'll pullover there" & pointed to the head 
        dock. The woman who appeared a bit shaken said " we're sorry - we 
	only hit your rails" - I believe she thought there was no damage & 
	I believe they decided to keep going - not really thinking right due 
	to fear of a trip in a fog, perhaps being a day late in their travels,
	& now the embarassment & nervousness associated with a mistake.

	Indeed I want to believe this - that there was no bad intent in leaving.

	The only reason I want to contact them is if I can get it fixed
	without a hassel to anyone it's worthwhile. I don't want to cause
	anyone any pain - afterall it's an accident.
 
	In reality it's not that bad - just that we all work hard to keep
	our boats 'Bristol' & it's an annoyance (worse because it's on the
	side I board on & see all the time)

	In reality it's funny that we take dings on our boats in a sort of
	stride - where if the same happened to our cars you'd want to kill 
	something fast.

	My only concern is with the potential for it getting worse due
	to rust etc..; but, it is decent stainless & I'll try to buff it
	out - I called the builder & he doesn't believe it'll get any
	worse.

	Again thanks for the replies & suggestions - you guys work fast.

                         Take care,
                                    Lou

    re: .5  The rail to which Lou is referring is truly "Stainless Steel"
    
    
    For general info:  "Steel Wool" under no circumstances ever use
                        steel wool on your boat. As you rub and scrub
                        tiny particles of the pad blow all over the
                        place, and settle wherever. They tend to cling
                        and eventually will rust. Makes a nice mess
                        on your Gel coat, or pristine paint job.
    
                        You'll have a blast getting the rust off...
    
    
    
                        If you need to use an abrasive pad, either use
                        Bronze Wool  (very expensive) orrrrrr
    
                                                     
                        3M abrasive pads, they're synthetic, last a long
                        time, come in different abrasive textures,
                        and do not make dust from wearing.
                      
    
    JIm.

    Thanks for the advise, Jim.  I had removed all the stainless items
    while restoring the boat and cleaned them in the cellar so I never
    considered the mess one could create when the steel wool dust rusted.
    The dust does go everywhere.
    Wayne

    Thanks Jim -- It worked fairly well ---
    
    
    	I took my Dremmel tool (High Speed Rotary hand tool) with a
    felt pad on it and some polishing compound and it looks fairly good.
    
    I first lightly filed the rough edges, then buffed.
    It's not perfect; but, far more than acceptable.
    I think I need one more step with a finer polish; but, am goinng
    to wait til it's on land and not bouncing around.
    
    I must admit - I was really suprised at how well it buffed up --
    I was at a point of questioning how good the stainless really was
    as it seemed I could see a 'base' metal  -- seems it was just because
    the polished finish was marred up.
    
    I learned something for the future ---
    
    Thanks for the assistance folks,
                                    Lou

    The dremmel tool with it's high speed is great. But, the wheels
    are small.  I have a couple of buffing wheels, one that goes on
    my radial arm saw and the other for the high speed 1/4" drill
    and some "moco stone". It's a stick of rouge that's pretty fine.
    Can make S.S. look like a quality chrome plating job.  My mirrors
    on the K20 are brilliant!  Also, from a reasonably shiny surface
    you can use toothpaste with the std. wool pad that comes with
    most drills.
    
    Fred