A Princess V65 brought back from Hurricane Ian
Hurricane Ian tore open the swim platform on this Princess V65, crushed her rubrail, scraped her hull and wrecked the tender lift mechanism. We went to the yacht, guided the owner through the insurance claim, brought her to Lauderdale Marine Center and returned her to the water looking better than before the storm.
- Client
- Private owner
- Vessel
- Princess V65
- Cause
- Hurricane Ian storm damage
- Time in yard
- 3 to 4 months
- Scope
- Insurance support, composite rebuild, hull and superstructure paint, teak, Opacmare hydraulics
Major storm damage, an insurance claim to manage and an owner who wanted his boat back
When Hurricane Ian made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast, this V65 took a beating. The aft edge of the swim platform was torn away, exposing the core. The stainless rubrail was crushed, the hull was scraped along her side, and the corroded tender lift mechanism under the platform was beyond saving.
The owner needed more than a repair yard. He needed someone to assess the boat where she lay, define the scope, deal with the insurance claim and see the whole job through.
The same stern, before and after
Drag the handle to compare the stern on arrival at LMC with the rebuilt platform, new paint and the new Opacmare mechanism installed.
BeforeAfter
One team from first inspection to relaunch
On-site assessment
We travelled to Sarasota to inspect the yacht where she lay. We photographed every area of damage so the owner and the insurer were working from the same evidence from day one.
Insurance support and delivery to LMC
We guided the owner through the claim, providing the photo documentation and the detailed repair estimate the adjuster needed. Once the claim was agreed, we coordinated delivery of the yacht to Lauderdale Marine Center in Fort Lauderdale, where she was hauled and set up under cover.
Rebuilding the platform from nothing
The platform came off the boat and into our composite enclosure. Whole sections were gone, with no mould to work from, so our composite team rebuilt the missing structure by hand off the surviving laminate.
They cut back to sound material, laminated new structure in place and faired it back to Princess's original lines. The platform was then filled, faired and primed in high-build primer, ready for paint and new teak.
Cut back to sound laminateHand-laid new structureFaired to OEM linesHigh-build primer
Fiberglass rebuild complete 
New laminate laid up by hand 
Filling and fairing prior to high-build primer 
Primed, ready for paint Hull repair and paint, with the superstructure added
Our team repaired the storm scrapes along the hull before painting it in Awlcraft 3000 Snow White. With the yacht already in the yard and under scaffold, the owner chose to have us paint the superstructure at the same time. That saved a second haul-out and gave the whole boat one consistent finish.
Superstructure paint in progress 
Hull and superstructure finished, under cover at LMC New teak where it was lost, restored where it survived
The platform, transom and steps got new teak, fitted to the rebuilt structure and caulked. The cockpit teak was still sound, so we restored it rather than replacing it, which kept original material on the boat where it made sense.
Platform: newTransom and steps: newCockpit: restored
New teak on the rebuilt platform 
New teak on the transom steps 
Cockpit teak restored OEM Opacmare tender lift, specified to commissioned
The original platform mechanism was corroded beyond repair. We specified and supplied a new OEM Opacmare tender lift mechanism, then installed it, plumbed new hydraulic glands through the transom and commissioned the system through its full range of travel.
OEM OpacmareNew transom glandsCommissioned and tested
Original damaged mechanism removed 
New hydraulic glands through the transom 
New Opacmare mechanism installed under the rebuilt platform Relaunch
With the platform back on, the paint finished, the teak laid and the lift commissioned, she went back in the water.
Ready for owner's acceptance
One accountable partner, from storm damage to relaunch
- Insurance claim supported from first inspection with full photo documentation and a detailed repair estimate
- Swim platform rebuilt by hand where no mould existed, faired to OEM lines
- Hull scrapes repaired and the full hull and superstructure painted in one yard period
- New teak on the platform, transom and steps, with the cockpit teak restored
- OEM Opacmare tender lift mechanism specified, supplied, installed and commissioned
Dealing with storm or insurance damage?
Tell us about the vessel and what happened. We will review the damage, set out a defined scope and help you through the claim.