River Boating Forum

We had two boats up untill a couple of months ago, we own a seamaster 30 and we had for sale a bounty 27, Which was sunken by someone or something.

She had to be raised and then put on hard standing untill the insurance was sorted out, the broker we had it with had her untill the july floods but then asked if we could have her on our moorings untill he got himself sorted post floods, this was when she sank.

Anyway when she was raised we had to pay 800 quid upfront for the crane hire, as we were watching the boat being floated by the divers we notice the crane was lifting in a couple of other boats..which we didnt know was going to happen. we informed the insurance company and no-one knows any thing and no one is admitting to knowing anything - the crane according to the insururer was hired for our boat only.

The insurance eventually deemed the boat a write off and paid us £9500 and left us with the boat, the broker then sold he boat as a project to someone for £1500.

yesterday we received a bill from the broker - wanting 6% of the final price almost £680 - he stated the final price as being £11000 but he only sold it for £1500. We have been told he is trying it on and should only be asking for 6% of 1500 as the insurance pay out is nothing to do with him, unfortunatley he was responsible for lifting the boat and storing it post sinking. So it looks like we will be falling out with some one who we deemed to be a 'friend'

Why does money cause so much trouble.

It would be wise to check the contract of sale with the broker. If it states the charge is 6% of the selling price then yes, he is trying it on and you have grounds for litigation.
However, a lot of brokers employ a sliding scale when selling boats. For a boat priced between £1k-£5k, you may find a commission of 15%. From £5001-£10000 it may be 10%, and from £10001 upwards its 6%. This info will be on the sales contract.

Who did you pay the £800 to for the crane hire, and were you reimbursed by the insurance company for that?

Who authorised the lifting of the other 2 boats? Sounds as if he was making a bit on the side at your expense. Along with the pics you took of your boat being lifted, did you by any chance take any of the other 2 being lifted also? If so these could be used against the broker.

It would be wise to check the contract of sale with the broker. If it states the charge is 6% of the selling price then yes, he is trying it on and you have grounds for litigation.
However, a lot of brokers employ a sliding scale when selling boats. For a boat priced between £1k-£5k, you may find a commission of 15%. From £5001-£10000 it may be 10%, and from £10001 upwards its 6%. This info will be on the sales contract.

Who did you pay the £800 to for the crane hire, and were you reimbursed by the insurance company for that?

Who authorised the lifting of the other 2 boats? Sounds as if he was making a bit on the side at your expense. Along with the pics you took of your boat being lifted, did you by any chance take any of the other 2 being lifted also? If so these could be used against the broker.

we took pictures of the cranings.

and according to the contract it is 6% of the sale value. now new contract had been given after the sinking of Soul Muzik.

we have sent him a cheque back for 6% of £1500, dont think that will go down well.

Insurance cleared money for us to pay the crane peope - so something underhand has been going on.

If it does get heated i will delete this thread - just in case of legal action.

You have done exactly the right thing, giving him 6% of your £1500 sale of Soul Muzik. That's what it said in the contract, that's what you have done.

Giving the broker the benefit of the doubt, is it possible a clerical error has occured in the office and a bill has been sent for the original asking price instead of the selling price? Or have you spoken to him and he's asked for £680?

Could be a simple mistake. I sincerely hope it is!!

the letter was sent from the owner so idoubt any mistake has been made.
The letter was very clinical

stating total cost to marina - £1400.
Final sale price of Soul Muzik £11000 @ 6% - £680

Some you win some you lose.

Very odd letter, so we have just sent a cheque for the 6% of 1500.

Oh saih he wont phone as he may say something he regrets, so we will just have to wait and see.