Having a friend pay for damages.

[gn85]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

Split it, and get him to buy the beer when you are swapping it out. Share the pain, it makes it easier on everyone.

I think I probably agree with this the most out of everyone in this thread. Usually when I do friends favors (haul things with my truck, fix whatever they broke, etc) I tell them that I won't take money and I only accept beer as currency.

With this situation, if he's a good friend and you don't want it to come between you (and if you can take the high road), then just propose a compromise. He pays for the next outing on the boat (gas and beer). You'll feel better about it.. he won't feel as guilty about screwing up. It may not come out perfectly 50/50, but who cares. It's a fender.

I did this with a friend who backed into one of my cars. The car really wasn't worth fixing or the hassle. She was a bartender, so I just told her to make it up to me the next time I come to the bar.

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

If he pays his way when you guys are boating then I would split the cost. If he doesn't ever pay for anything maybe he feels like he owes you anyway and wants to chip in. Some people realize that the owner of the boat has the lions share of the cost of everything and are real happy to have a friend that invites them along.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

I might be inclined to say forget about it since it was an accident.

If I were driving my friends truck and did the damage, I would feel responsible and insist on paying for it. No sense letting money issues come between friends.

I agree with both of these So let us know what you decide.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

Your truck, your boat, and your trailer... and your fault for letting him drive it. You shouldn't take his money.

No one drives my truck or operates my boat for this very reason, if anything happens I want it to be because of me and not someone else.

got to agree with jig...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

Sounds like a good friend. I'd tell him I really appreciate it and offer to meet in the middle. If I knew they were in a tight spot and we were good friends, I'd tell him not to think about it again. Good friends are worth the occasional $250 to me.

Exactly what I was gonna say. Sounds like your friend is a real stand up guy.

 

[laserbrn]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

Yuuuup. I agree...your boat, your truck, your trailer. If you invite someone out to go do something with you and then you give them the responsibility of helping out, you shouldn't let them pay for a little mishap.

If you take your hombre out on the boat with you and he's working the anchor, but doesn't tie it to the cleat and you lose it, do you make him pay? Nah...it's better not to be a d-bag than to save the $250 for a little boo-boo. It makes you a stand up guy. Just be glad your friend sounds like a stand up guy for offering.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

http://www.boattrailerpartssuperstore.com/product_p/44355.htm

Just sayin'

Damn, that's a good price. Way better than what the Boat Wheels dealer wanted. Think I'm gonna call them and find out what gauge aluminum that is. If it's the same part, I think I found my compromise.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

Damn, that's a good price. Way better than what the Boat Wheels dealer wanted. Think I'm gonna call them and find out what gauge aluminum that is. If it's the same part, I think I found my compromise.

Unfortunately it's not the same part. Cheaper version, dang.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

If the fender wasn't messed up bad enough to take out the tire, why not just pound it back into shape?

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

If the fender wasn't messed up bad enough to take out the tire, why not just pound it back into shape?

It's kinked in several spots and split open around the rolled edge. Plus it's only a year old.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

I would NOT take his money as he had your permission to park your trailer and it was just an accident. I also agree with those that say you learned just how good a friend and stand up guy he is though. Now, on the the other hand, I know for damn sure that if I damaged my friends trailer in a similar situation and he refused my money, I would be picking up the "tab" the next time we went out for a nice dinner with the wives! So, if you refuse his money and he were to offer to pay for dinner next time, let him do it..... to make HIM feel better. Just my two cents.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

$250.00 is not worth loosing a good friendship over either way you decide. Just be thankful that the other parties trailer/truck was not damaged or you be deciding over that repair figure also.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

I would NOT take his money as he had your permission to park your trailer and it was just an accident. I also agree with those that say you learned just how good a friend and stand up guy he is though. Now, on the the other hand, I know for damn sure that if I damaged my friends trailer in a similar situation and he refused my money, I would be picking up the "tab" the next time we went out for a nice dinner with the wives! So, if you refuse his money and he were to offer to pay for dinner next time, let him do it..... to make HIM feel better. Just my two cents.

This would be my position as well. If he had asked to borrow my stuff and then damaged it, he pays. If he's doing it to help me out and it gets accidentally damaged in a way that is not the result of gross negligence or goofing around, then I would suck it up. Heck, for most of my friends, I would purposely keep the damaged fender, pound it out and then give them a jab now and again about it. The ribbing would be received in the way it was intended. At some point later, after it had been long enough to forego any talk of reimbursement, I would quietly replace it and not say anything. If asked, hey, I found one super cheap and so went ahead and replaced it.

 

[ewenm]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

yep i like your style Mr Big Stuff

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

Heck, for most of my friends, I would purposely keep the damaged fender, pound it out and then give them a jab now and again about it. The ribbing would be received in the way it was intended.

Fenders are $250... trash talk and ribbing are priceless!!!

"Y'all see how ol' Bubba treats me? I ain't nothin' but nice to him and he just squats all over me. Had I known he couldn't even drive a nail, I sure as heck wouldn't have let him drive my truck! He offered to buy me a new one, but I like it better this way 'cause I get to talk sh*t!"

 

[shrew]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

Our standard procedure for launching is that I back the boat in, jump into the boat and start it, then a friend operates the winch and once the boat is free, pulls the truck out. This saves time and doesn't tie up the launch. What would you do?

This about sums it up for me. Your friend is a very good one if he offered to pay. IMHO, you would not be if you took his money. If you were worried about liability, you would have taken extra time and done it yourself. He could have easily pulled forward and out of the way and waited for you to tie up the boat, then swap spots so he sat on the boat or readied gear while you parked.

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: Having a friend pay for damages.

Fenders are $250... trash talk and ribbing are priceless!!!

"Y'all see how ol' Bubba treats me? I ain't nothin' but nice to him and he just squats all over me. Had I known he couldn't even drive a nail, I sure as heck wouldn't have let him drive my truck! He offered to buy me a new one, but I like it better this way 'cause I get to talk sh*t!"

Heck, you could also turn it into a endless supply of "hey don't you owe me the first round of beer? " LOL