The Cobalt is a total loss.

[v8power]

We had a great day yesterday, went to Indian lake and watched the fireworks on the boat, the kids and everyone had a great time until we were on our way home, We made it about 15 miles into our 60 mile ride home, When outta nowhere, the biggest deer I have ever seen was standing right in front of my car.. And like a dumbass I swerved. Well, the trailer started jerking violently across 2 lanes until the boat decided to jump off the trailer, which was probably a good thing cuz I was about to lose all control of the rig, The boat stayed hooked to the winch stand but the boat was completely off the trailer. Now i know if I had stern straps on it this probably would not have happened but If the boat wouldnt have come off I think I would have crashed the car, Since the car stopped skidding sideways from one side to the other when the boat came off. So, I called the wrecker service that I work for and had them send me a big wrecker, While waiting for the wrecker, someone who was pulling over to see if we were all ok got rear ended by a rubber necker. So, I started looking over the boat and inspecting the damage, and it didnt look to bad until I oped the engine hatch, the bell housing is broken and from what i could see the engine mounts are ripped from the floor, the engine is starboard about 3 inches from where it is supposed to be, So im assuming that its junk. So, Needless to say I am heart broken, this was a beautiful 30 year old cobalt that was near mint condition. I know some of you are gonna give me crap about the stern straps and thats ok, Ive learned the hard way, This is devastating for me, It could have been alot worse, I had my wife, my 3 daughters and my niece in the car.. No one was hurt, and the people in the cars that crashed were all ok.

So happy boating to all, And safe trailering as well.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: The Cobalt is a total loss.

Wow! Glad no one was hurt. The boat can be replaced.

 

[funk6294]

Re: The Cobalt is a total loss.

Glad to hear you are OK, and sorry to hear about the boat. Depending on the damage it maby be able to be repaired, and depending on how handy you are you could do it yourself. You may have to rip out and reglass the motor box in the boat and obviously buy a new bellhousing, but start looking it over. How bad did the outside of the hull take it? Take some pics and post over on the restore portion of the site and see what those guys think. It may not be cost effective comapatively, but weigh that against what the insurance company gives you and go from there.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: The Cobalt is a total loss.

Sorry about your mishap. But you learned two very valuable lessons. Living up in the tunddra (Minnesota) deer are all over the place and vehicle deer collisions are common. What we've learned over the years is to never swerve in attempt to miss a wild animal regardless what it is. At highway speeds that almost always will result in loss of control. Go ahead and hit the critter - with a glancing blow if possible but otherwise just it head on. The vehicle can take a beating but it is better than getting upside down or going off the road and hitting a tree or rock where occupant injury is highly likely. Now a horse, cow, moose, elk are a lot taller, one must really be careful in those situations. While some folks laugh at the $5.00 Walmart Deer Whistles, they do appear to work. I've not had a deer come even close to me since my last run-in with one about 10 years ago. You learned about the value of stern tie-downs so we'll let that go.

 

[v8power]

Re: The Cobalt is a total loss.

Ordinarily I would hit the animal, but this time i dont know what happened, I saw it and it scared me and I panicked. Ive been driving wreckers for almost 10 years and I know better than this but what can I say, knowing better and doing better are 2 different things. Im just glad everyone is ok and my precious cargo was uninjured. Still though, Im pretty depressed about the boat. And the stern straps! I dont know if we would have been any better off with them or without them. Its kinda the logic of wearing seatbelts, I dont wear one because Ive worked accident seens wear the people would have died had they been wearing one , and seen wear they have saved a life. I wasnt able to get the car under control until the boat came off. we were in a very dark stretch of highway in the middle of nowhere with a steep embankment to the right and a steep ditch of a median to the left, all I was trying to do was stay on the pavement, and get stopped, So, I think its a toss up with the stern straps, but you can bet on the fact that if I get another boat it will definately have stern straps.......

 

[v8power]

Re: The Cobalt is a total loss.

Once I finally get the strength to go out side and look at my boat I will take some pics and post them. I just cant seem to get myself to go outside and look at it right now...