Gulfcoast John
Active member
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2012
- Messages
- 1,150
- Reaction score
- 6
- C Dory Year
- 2010
- C Dory Model
- 255 Tomcat
- Vessel Name
- CAT 'O MINE
It was a great Segment at 1,750 water miles over 47 days until our crash towing Cat O’ Mine in Nashville where I-65 merges with I-24. Our only injuries were trivial seatbelt bruises and airbag cuts and burns, although at the time they didn’t feel very trivial. After the initial impact the boat broke the transom straps (rated at 5,000 pounds each) and slid forward over six feet to crash into the truck tailgate, mowing down all the front restraining structures en route, which were all mangled and broke off at the welds. The truck was totaled but it called 911 automatically and the dispatcher knew exactly where we were. We didn’t know it at the time, but that area is locally known as ‘Crash Alley.’ On the same day in that same area on I-65 there were two other crashes, each with two couples who were all killed, so we feel very blessed. Including ambulances the medical center ER billed $107,000 and USAA paid out the maximum $20,000 PIP with Medicare/Tricare taking over.
USAA paid a very generous $62,000 for the totaled 2019 F250 truck. Back home in PNS we replaced it with a 2024 F350 diesel with three miles on it that was discounted over $10,000 because new 2026 trucks were rolling in (vehicle model years change in August, not January). It has a 20,000# conventional tow rating and twice the torque with a 10-speed trans, but none of the luxe features on the 2019 Lariat. All those extras push them into the over $80,000 stratosphere and add lots of complexity. Yes, the diesel EPA rules require lots of complexity but I like the torque. We can debate that over some wine some day. Eileen loved that crew cab truck, but we think we can adjust to this 2 seat ‘farm truck’.
The USAA desk at Progressive was also very generous on the boat and trailer repairs. I bought the Bob Austin Clone Float-On new in 2015 for $12,000 and Progressive paid over $13,000 in 2025 to fix it, including straightening the frame and fabricating all the frontal restraint structures that were mowed down and new EOH brakes. We could have elected to have a new replacement trailer built for $18,000, but that would have required yet another additional month. Progressive paid us $12,500 for estimated boat repairs. If those repairs were done at a medical center, it would have been $950,000 not including labor. Bob Austin sent us to ‘the best fiberglass guy on the Gulf Coast’ and Jason (Gambill Marine) did an outstanding job with the cosmetic fiberglass repairs for under $2,000 grand total. The new outboard lower legs were gouged at the pitot tubes during the Great Slide Forward, but our 5 star Yamaha tech carefully checked them out and declared it cosmetic only. We don’t need no water pitot tube input for our boat speed with two MFD’s, two smartphones, a laptop, a 10 inch tablet and five different navigation apps all showing our exact GPS speed. Not replacing those gear covers saved over $4,000 alone (unless you do it at a medical center). Back in 2012 when we flew up to NC to look at the boat for sale with our surveyor, he was tapping around on the hull with his Magic Surveyor Hammer. He paused to look up at us and said, “You know, this boat is going to be around a hell of a lot longer than you two.”
We weren’t sure back then, but we are now.
We didn’t want to have to deal long distance with Knoxville repair shops rather than our Pensacola trusted experts, so we paid $4,500 out of pocket to have the Nashville tow yard manager tow the (non road-worthy) bent trailer and boat to us. He left at 0400 so we could have time to get it into the yard. (Don’t ask how much a medical center salvage yard manager would have charged). He trailers a 31 foot boat and said we made the right decision…he brings his boat to PNS for anything other than routine maintenance.
We’re wondering if this was the worst road wreck in C-Dory history. Anyways, thanks to all for the thoughts, prayers and well-wishers out there. We hope to see you at Hontoon! If Dan and Jennie end up hating their new 2026 TC255, it might be blamed on us. Until then we’ll be back at the Pink Shell Resort & Marina again this year at Ft Myers Beach. One of the very few things that Bob and I disagree on is that Pensacola is too darn cold in January and February.
Cheers!
John
USAA paid a very generous $62,000 for the totaled 2019 F250 truck. Back home in PNS we replaced it with a 2024 F350 diesel with three miles on it that was discounted over $10,000 because new 2026 trucks were rolling in (vehicle model years change in August, not January). It has a 20,000# conventional tow rating and twice the torque with a 10-speed trans, but none of the luxe features on the 2019 Lariat. All those extras push them into the over $80,000 stratosphere and add lots of complexity. Yes, the diesel EPA rules require lots of complexity but I like the torque. We can debate that over some wine some day. Eileen loved that crew cab truck, but we think we can adjust to this 2 seat ‘farm truck’.
The USAA desk at Progressive was also very generous on the boat and trailer repairs. I bought the Bob Austin Clone Float-On new in 2015 for $12,000 and Progressive paid over $13,000 in 2025 to fix it, including straightening the frame and fabricating all the frontal restraint structures that were mowed down and new EOH brakes. We could have elected to have a new replacement trailer built for $18,000, but that would have required yet another additional month. Progressive paid us $12,500 for estimated boat repairs. If those repairs were done at a medical center, it would have been $950,000 not including labor. Bob Austin sent us to ‘the best fiberglass guy on the Gulf Coast’ and Jason (Gambill Marine) did an outstanding job with the cosmetic fiberglass repairs for under $2,000 grand total. The new outboard lower legs were gouged at the pitot tubes during the Great Slide Forward, but our 5 star Yamaha tech carefully checked them out and declared it cosmetic only. We don’t need no water pitot tube input for our boat speed with two MFD’s, two smartphones, a laptop, a 10 inch tablet and five different navigation apps all showing our exact GPS speed. Not replacing those gear covers saved over $4,000 alone (unless you do it at a medical center). Back in 2012 when we flew up to NC to look at the boat for sale with our surveyor, he was tapping around on the hull with his Magic Surveyor Hammer. He paused to look up at us and said, “You know, this boat is going to be around a hell of a lot longer than you two.”
We weren’t sure back then, but we are now.
We didn’t want to have to deal long distance with Knoxville repair shops rather than our Pensacola trusted experts, so we paid $4,500 out of pocket to have the Nashville tow yard manager tow the (non road-worthy) bent trailer and boat to us. He left at 0400 so we could have time to get it into the yard. (Don’t ask how much a medical center salvage yard manager would have charged). He trailers a 31 foot boat and said we made the right decision…he brings his boat to PNS for anything other than routine maintenance.
We’re wondering if this was the worst road wreck in C-Dory history. Anyways, thanks to all for the thoughts, prayers and well-wishers out there. We hope to see you at Hontoon! If Dan and Jennie end up hating their new 2026 TC255, it might be blamed on us. Until then we’ll be back at the Pink Shell Resort & Marina again this year at Ft Myers Beach. One of the very few things that Bob and I disagree on is that Pensacola is too darn cold in January and February.
Cheers!
John
