A claim was filed through my homeowner's insurance.


This is the number one reason not to insure your vessel with through your
homeowners. You may save money, but you won't get the claim representation.
In fact I knew a person whose boat sunk during a storm and he was denied
coverage because it was "an act of God"

I had a similar situation in which another boat broke loose in a storm and
caused a lot of damage to our boat. Even though it was clearly the other guy's
fault, each insurance company called the storm an "act of God" and paid for the
damage to their owner's boat only. Nobody was sued, and everything was handled
by the insurance company.

Not only that, but the insurance company sent out a surveyor to make sure the
repairs were done correctly. His job was not to find the cheapest way, in fact
the job cost several thousand more after he got done, but to make certain the
boat was seaworthy and a good risk for the insurance company.

You will not get this kind of service through a homeowners policy.

PS If all the damage was is $5,000, let him sue. Let him hire an admiralty
lawyer, etc. When you get summoned, demand arbitration. He won't get much.