Just to clarify, the part of the bracket that broke was a piece of two inch thick mahogony
bolted to an aluminum frame. This was a newly installed item, which had only been used
once before for a two week cruise.

The damage inside the boat was minor, like hanging nets torn loose. Outside, the mast had
shifted forward over a foot, bending the bow pulpit to which it was lashed, and of course,
the broken bracket. I'm not concerned about the money or labor to replace the bracket,
but the driver lied to me at delivery about how the mast shifted forward, telling me he
just noticed it while driving down the road, as if nothing had preceeded that to cause the
problem. Also, American Boat Transport assured me that if I missed anything on the
delivery inspection, they would honor any damages, which they now claim, did not occur.

I had no other choices to stow this 100 pound long shaft engine other than on the stern.
I flew down to Florida especially to
pack up the boat, so I couldn't take the engine back as extra luggage. There was no
room inside the boat for this engine, crammed full with dinghy engine, collapsed dinghy,
boom, etc. Had the engine been inside or in the cockpit, I'm afraid even worse damage would have
been incurred. It's easy to blame the owner for improper packing of the boat, but there is no
excuse for bad driving. I have made the trip to Florida dozens of time by auto, and never had to
make any kind of panic stop because
I kept a safe distance from other vehicles. I would expect professional truck drivers
to do the same. This driver was either half asleep after making the trip in under 2 days, or he was
spaced out on something.
My boat was together with another boat, and there was no accompanying vehicles. The other boat
did not have visible damage, but it was cocooned in plastic, so who knows what it looked like
inside.

Sherwin D.



bb wrote:

On Wed, 04 May 2005 15:06:17 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote:

It's funny - I see boats traveling down 395 all the time - there is
usually a gap between the front "WIDE LOAD" guide car and the truck
carrying the boat.

Considering this boat was ob powered, therefore probably a smaller
boat, I wouldn't assume it required a guide car.

bb