Warning - Standard AA Membership doesn't cover a towed boat

[Iain H]

A wheel bearing failed on our clubs boat trailer at the weekend. We couldn't get a replacement because it's a special order bearing and the spare drum and bearing that was supplied with our trailer didn't fit!!!. I was towing the boat and have AA recovery membership so didn't think it would be a problem.

To cut a long story short, the AA refused to recover the Rib and trailer because it was longer that 18 foot. They kindly sent a patrol man out with a tape to measure it!! and even offered to arrange recovery for ?350 + Vat.

After the event I rang the AA to complain and they said
If your car breaks down they will recover the car and tow the boat trailer(I think if it's up to 26 feet in length) but if a component of the trailer fails you aren't covered. (This contradicted the reason why they refused to take the boat home??.)

The result of this is that the boat is still at the Campsite in Wales and we have a 300 mile round trip to recover it once we get a new set of bearings.

I thought I would point this problem out to fellow members because the BSAC actively promotes AA membership and I wonder how many people like me, thought the towed boat was covered but didn't read the small print.

I would be interested to hear if anyone has had similar problems with the AA or if anyone has managed to get a 21 foot boat and trailer recovered.

Regards ..... Iain

[Vic]

> I would be interested to hear if anyone has had similar problems
> with the AA

Not quite the same scenario, but I've had all sorts of problems with getting the AA to recover motorcycles. My advice - steer *well* clear of the AA. When challenged over their refusal, they often come up with the line "we do that because that's what the RAC do" - a quick call to the RAC usually shows this up as a bare-faced lie.

I use Green Flag, who have never let me down.

HTH

Vic.

[Mike Halligan]

A salutary tale, indeed.

For what it's worth, my Britannia Breakdown (personal) cover carried our club RHIB from Lochgoilhead, Argyll to Burscough, Lancs. The contractor, who turned out at night in pouring rain from Alexandria, carefully prevented it sinking yet lower onto its broken trailer and thus piercing its hull. And I, the insured, wasn't owner of or even driving the towing vehicle.

It is always worth checking what you're buying with these indemnity schemes. And, after what NatWest Insurance did to me on "All risks" cover, I always check each of them at every renewal.

Sorry you had to learn the hard way to be a case-hardened cynic when dealing with insurers.

Mike

[Paul Oliver]

Hi Iain

Sorry to hear your tale. I did get our Rhib recovered by the AA when the wheel fell off last year. Our 'New' bearings gave out and the wheel feel off as i came off a roundabout. Luckily i was driving a borrowed clapped out old landrover that did not go very fast.

I called them out on my roadside relay (i think) membership. I do not know the overall length of our trailer but the Rhib is 6m, so poss another 1-2m overall with the engine length and bow to hook bit so at least 21' i'd say. No one measured it at all and i cannot remember being asked for a length.

It was low loaded back to our boat sheds, no problem although it was only a local move (Deal to Herne Bay). I would add that it was a sub contracted recovery, and they did not have a good enough jack on board, so i had to wait for a desent jack to be bought out so they could get it onto the skate and on the flatbed.

We got free replacement bearings from Kent Bearings as well as they should not have failed.

Big down side though was that i was on the way to the dive, not coming back so i missed out on that one, and spent most of that night preperaing our second boat for the Sunday dive.

Hope you get sorted out soon, sounds like BS to me, is there a max length in the policy?

Regards

Paul

[Lynn Jackson]

Yep, Iain - this happened to us returning from Scotland last month.. :-(

AA gave us *exactly* the same reason they gave you - the trailer isb't covered. We sorted it by calling out a commercial (lorry) garage I think (I wasn't on the trip so I don't know the details).

Our equipment officer has been running around like a blue bottomed fly trying to find someone else to cover us, so many thanks to those who have offered alternative - I'll pass them on.

[mike halligan]

Our equipment officer has been running around like a blue bottomed fly trying to find someone else to cover us, so many thanks to those who have offered alternative - I'll pass them on.

Lynn,

There is a scheme like AA/RAC/GF/BR etc. for boats. I think it's run in conjunction with Offshore membership of RNLI (something we've got for both of our boats). If your EO want's to e-mail me, I will look further into this.

Mike

[Rob Elliott]

We had the same problem coming on a Plymouth trip last July, except it was with the RAC. They only cover it under 18 foot long and suggested we contact the commercial part of RAC, who we estimated, from their charge scale, would have possibly have hit us with anything up to ?600 from Plymouth to Somerset! Luckily we had a spare set .......... back in the boat shed, so one of our members was good enough to get them and drive down to fit them. We have now decided that this is potentially too much of a risk to have happen again, and have taken the decision to put our towing vehicle on AA (rather than rely on personal membership) and also the trailer. The Truck is covered by AA Fleet Wide Level 3, which offers roadside assistance, relay with trailer and boat to any UK destination (any driver is covered). The Trailer is covered by Sea Start (also part of the AA).Their number is 0800 - 885500. Incidentally, Sea Start are doing this in conjunction with BSAC, otherwise they expect you to be amember of the RYA.

[vice-chairman]

Hi,

Although we offer AA affinity scheme with membership discount BSAC do recognise the limitations of this scheme with respect to trailers which is why, earlier this year we entered into a similar agreement with Sea Start and their Trailer Rescue Policy. The special BSAC members? price is ?59 and this covers you for any boat or trailer, over 5.5 meters, 24/7. Application forms are available from HQ

Cheers???Allan

[Paul Oliver]

Hi Allan,

I seem to remember getting one of those leaflets at some stage.

Is it an indeviduals cover or can a Branch take it out to cover its boats?

Regards

Paul

[Lindsey Doyle]

Although we offer AA affinity scheme with membership discount BSAC do recognise the limitations of this scheme with respect to trailers which is why, earlier this year we entered into a similar agreement with Sea Start and their Trailer Rescue Policy. The special BSAC members? price is ?59 and this covers you for any boat or trailer, over 5.5 meters, 24/7. Application forms are available from HQ

Hi, when our trailer wheel bearing went a few weeks ago we rang the Seastart (part of AA) but the operator could not find our details under either membership name (our club) or number!! I spent 10 full minutes on that initial call, which was not free (although 0800) as was from my mobile.
To cut a long story short, it took over 8 hours to get home (110 miles). In the end they contracted out to a commercial company as the trailer turned out to be "too long" (5.8m RIB) when the first guy measured it....despite me giving the length as part of all the details requested on the initial call. (I was later told they "hadn't got used" to dealing with trailers yet and there would have been no "space" on the system to enter details such as length, make etc (surely rather crucial?).
It was a frustrating time, particularly constantly having to chase them up (when hadn't shown up 15 mins after promised time etc)and re-explain the whole story to a series of confused operators!
However, they DID get us home & we haven't heard anything about the possible charge (were told would have to pay any cost in excess of ?400 as round journey was more than 200 miles).
Just check the small print carefully!

[vice-chairman]

Hi Allan,

I seem to remember getting one of those leaflets at some stage.

Is it an indeviduals cover or can a Branch take it out to cover its boats?

Regards

Paul

Hi Paul,

Either can apply.

Allan