Tacoma boat owners claim bridge work damaged their boats
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TACOMA, Wash. -- Frustrated boaters at one Tacoma marina claim construction work has severely damaged their boats.
The owners say the damage is coming from above, where Tacoma is just weeks away from finishing renovation of the Murray Morgan Bridge.
A construction mistake caused thousands of little metal slivers to land on some of the boats below, which has caused rust to develop.
Jason Brinar lives full-time on his boat with his wife and two kids.
"I was thoroughly disgusted," Brinar said. "This is our home."
He is one of at least two dozen boat owners at the marina who claim the bridge work as caused serious damage. Brinar said he shot cell phone video of bridge workers using pressure washers that showered metal pieces onto boats.
"They got these little curly cues and those were flying from up there and coming down and landing on our boats," he said.
Brinar said he's got an insurance estimate of nearly $40,000 to get rid of the rust spots and repaint the boat, but he said it's been a nightmare getting the bridge contractor -- PCL -- to pay up.
"It has been very difficult to get claims processed," he said.
Tacoma's interim Public Works Director Kurtis Kingsolver said the city has the ultimate responsibility to protect its citizens. He said a pair of PCL subcontractors were battling over who's responsible for the unauthorized power washing until the city stepped in and told them to get the problem worked out.
"PCL, per our request, stepped up as the prime contractor to resolve this, and they'll deal with those subcontractors at a later date. And that's why it's now being resolved and paid for," Kingsolver said.
Brinar is still waiting for his check.
"They need to mitigate our issues so we can move on with our lives," he said.
A representative from PCL Construction, said the claims will be resolved and checks will be issued within two weeks.
The owners say the damage is coming from above, where Tacoma is just weeks away from finishing renovation of the Murray Morgan Bridge.
A construction mistake caused thousands of little metal slivers to land on some of the boats below, which has caused rust to develop.
Jason Brinar lives full-time on his boat with his wife and two kids.
"I was thoroughly disgusted," Brinar said. "This is our home."
He is one of at least two dozen boat owners at the marina who claim the bridge work as caused serious damage. Brinar said he shot cell phone video of bridge workers using pressure washers that showered metal pieces onto boats.
"They got these little curly cues and those were flying from up there and coming down and landing on our boats," he said.
Brinar said he's got an insurance estimate of nearly $40,000 to get rid of the rust spots and repaint the boat, but he said it's been a nightmare getting the bridge contractor -- PCL -- to pay up.
"It has been very difficult to get claims processed," he said.
Tacoma's interim Public Works Director Kurtis Kingsolver said the city has the ultimate responsibility to protect its citizens. He said a pair of PCL subcontractors were battling over who's responsible for the unauthorized power washing until the city stepped in and told them to get the problem worked out.
"PCL, per our request, stepped up as the prime contractor to resolve this, and they'll deal with those subcontractors at a later date. And that's why it's now being resolved and paid for," Kingsolver said.
Brinar is still waiting for his check.
"They need to mitigate our issues so we can move on with our lives," he said.
A representative from PCL Construction, said the claims will be resolved and checks will be issued within two weeks.
I am surprised none of those persons commenting on the cost of damages to the boat aren't up in arms about the $70,000,000 price tag to repair a bridge when there is a perfectly fine bridge a half a mile down the road to handle the same traffic. Those of you who don't own a boat really have no idea of the pride of ownership that goes along with it. Although Jason's family seems overly emotional about this issue, it is their pride in their ship and the their disgust in the cavalier treatment from those responsible that has them on the defensive with the obvious lack of understanding from those who don't know the joy of boat life. Foss Harbor Marina, by the way... the best damn place on the water.
I live at Foss Harbor Marina and have for the last 6 years. Maybe Jason's example caused a bit more of a ripple than some of you like. But this issue is but one of many that have occured in the last several years of this bridge renewal project. First it was lead paint and blasting media raining down on people's boats. The mess and clean up from just that alone was an undertaking. Then it was huge rivets, debris from the bridge itself and from the workers that was damaging personal property. Then there were the spills of oil, hydraulic fluids, and the like that came down the waterway in both directions with the tide.  Then there was the constant halting of traffic and the road closures. This has been in our collective faces for the entire time of this renovation.Â
While reading these posts, I do agree this is a public forum and everyone is entitled to an opinion. From an outsider looking in, it is a simplistic, marred perception based on a news story. Unfortunately, a lot of the adults on this forum feel the need to spew the negativity that they must be feeling in their everyday lives onto a 14 year old young lady who is standing up for her home and family. Last I checked this is not an English class, because if it was 95% of the adults on this forum would have failed with your own spelling errors and lack of punctuation; I'm sure myself included. When it does count I can guarantee that she is on it! News stories never tell the full story, we all know that. They give a glimpse to fuel the fire of emotion for sensationalism. This is my 14 year old daughter that you are so quick to judge and spite down with your judgment calls. It is a young lady who defends what she believes in with passion and sincerity, and yet you, the 'adults', in this scenario condemn because she isn't writing an essay. She is full of fire and drive and writes what is on her mind. Is she correct on her verbiage? No...she is a young lady who is expressing herself, and so what if the grammar isn't on par for what you, the connoisseur of verbal usage, is expecting from a young lady. The real issue here is the damage caused by PCL and it's subcontractors. It isn't just our boat that is the issue. It is dozens that have this issue, and NO, buffing it out doesn't take it off. Wouldn't a reasonable individual try that already? It has pitted the paint and as much as we have buffed it, washed it, compounded it, unfortunately the rust continues to bleed through and come back. Is there work that needs to be done on the boat? Of course! We aren't asking for the sides of the boat to be done as we just got the boat in the middle of last summer, and for this summer our plan is to get the sides done ourselves as part of the many maintenance jobs that are required of having a boat. The issue is with the top of the salon and the fly bridge. We didn't contact the media, they contacted us, and my husband chose to speak for those in the marina that were unable to speak for themselves. The quotes that we received are from two reputable marina repair places, as well as PCL's own adjusters. When the word 'marine' is in front of anything, anyone knows to add some zeros....it's part of the fun of ownership! We won't defend ourselves again because the reality of it is we shouldn't have to. We choose a lifestyle that others don't, but we don't cast stones in their direction asking why they choose a brick and mortar home on land. We choose simplicity and peace in our lives, among the insanity of everyone else's bias's and opinions. It is a news story people; designed to provide sensationalism, but my issue on here is the adults who are on this line who continue to debate and berate a child for improper grammar, capitalized words, and poor punctuation. She is frustrated and writing with charged emotion and energy as one would expect from a 14 year old, and instead of standing back and saying, "WOW! Here is a young lady who believes in something important!", and looking at the reason behind the posts, you continue the debate....with a child.... Please, stop for a moment and think about that the next time you verbally attack.
I am amazed at the amount of dumbasz people that have commented about the damaged boats and exposing their subnormal intellect... Are you guys Nobama voters??? Because you sound as dumb as them... You are also arguing with a teenager who loves her home and is appalled that a so called professional company power washed off a bridge after repairs were made without any care as to where the debris land... This is in direct violation of the law, OSHA and all environmental laws in the State of Washington.... I know a little about contracting as I did that for 40 years...
There are about 40 different boats that were damaged by the negligence actions of the bridge contractors and sub-contractors and rust will start very quickly especially if the material is rusty to begin with and moisture is added.... Is there any moisture in the atmosphere in Washington??? All you Einstiens should know the answers.... and these firms have insurance for any professional negligence that occurs on their watch.... What they should have done was have a large tarp out to collect any debris that drops from the bridge but they didn't do that....
The boat owners have been paitent and have discussed this issue with the contractors and insurance adjusters of the contractor havebeen out and have assesed their estimated and I don't think they will be overly generous.... It has been benificial for Channel 4 News to publicize this story because until now the Contractor and the Sub-contractors have been in a pissing contest as to who will pay the bill in this matter....
This issue is born from professional negligence and that is the crux of the matter..... But you food stamp reapers that have nothing to do can always try to belittle someone for standing up for their rights...
The person that gave this interview is my son and I am proud of him for standing up for his and the rights of others that are too timid to stand up for theirs.... Or maybe they didn't want to hear people like you debase then because they have to bring attention to this issue.... At least no lawyers were brought in... YET... I thank those that have shown support...
Now all you nay Sayers... go get a life.....
Wow, there a lot of grammar snobs on here. Who really cares if she types like a text? In all actuality, that is how most young people communicate. Ya'll sound like my great grandparents trying to stress the value of cursive. You fogeys should concentrate on listening and reading instead of critiquing minute details. This is not an english paper graded on proper capitilization. Take the keyboard out of your ass, it's making you uptight.
Wait. They live on the boat full time, but let the metal sit on the boats to rust? Â I think the taxpayers would be happy to chip in for a BROOM to clean up the shavings. Â seriously folks... you can see the pieces of metal on the boat, sweep them off. Â
what a scam by that boat owner, my god about a hundred dollars and some elbow grease and you would never know there was a problem. Just someone thinking, Hey this is the cities project, ill see if i can get some free money . I wouldnt give him any money either, His "family" can all get on their hands and knees and scrub the decks , use a litte naval jelly, takes rust right off. oh and why didnt you immediatly hose the boat off as soon as you noticed the "metal shavings" on your boat. what'd you do let them sit on there for a week or two till they made a nice mess ? you live under a bridge, stuff falls down.   Â
"A representative from PCL Construction, said the claims will be resolved and checks will be issued within two weeks."
Aaaah, the old 'the check's in the mail' routine...
It's a bit early for April Fool's. I was expecting an outrageous amount of damage caused by falling debris. But the "severely damaged" boats have only a bit of rust? Nice reporting, KOMO. Perhaps the owners should be introduced to the wonders of CLR, rubbing compound, Finesse, and Marine Polish. A few hours of maintenance should have solved this issue. And you're a liveaboard? You mean you let this crap stay on your boat for days? Why? So someone could foot the bill for a new paint job for your yacht? Good God man. As a sailor, you know that a boat requires constant maintenance. And Capitalizing All Of The Words In Your Sentences Does Not Make You Right. It only makes you sound like a loudmouth. As a former naval officer, and a nuclear power officer on an aircraft carrier, and a sailing enthusiast, the comment about zinc strips is comical. Right, every civilian knows about sacrificial zinc anodes - not. But galvanic corrosion takes time...and it sounds like owners must have left these shavings sitting on their boats for a long period of time. Regardless, asking for $40K for a new paint job is outrageous. I could get a $40K quote for a paint job for my house, from a crooked contractor.  Oh, and you say the evil contractors are in your "backyard"? Dude, you live in a marina. You don't have a backyard, frontyard, or sideyard. You live under a freakin' bridge. Did you notice that there are no houses directly under the bridge? If they had dropped a steel beam on your deck, well okay, you're entitled to whatever you can get. But we're talking about surface rust here, and on fiberglass, which comes off easily. Severe damage? Take off that tacky outfit, bust out the cleaning supplies, and clean your "home".Â
@deckofficer That made me smile. Thank you . Facebook has jaded me to the human race and you have reestablished some faith that people out there have some common sense. Coming from someone who knows what its like living on boat , thanks you for your straightforwardness and humor. Youre Right This Does Not Make Me Right. Â
@stillsmokin @deckofficer Then You Should Know That If Someone Damages Your Boat Your Gonna Want Them To Fix It .Â
@deckofficer I'd like to see what they're gonna do with that $40k.  My guess would be $100 on cleaning supplies from Home Depot, the rest on a downpayment on a real freakin house.  Two birds with one stone.
@narnia6005 @deckofficer We Did Have A Home But Just In case You Didnt Notice , Since Your Probably A DEMOCRAT You Havent. Owning A Home In The Country And Payin $6000 A Month Aint Easy Anymore . Sometimes You Have To Sell Your Home For A New One .Â
It would be nice if Komo would have shown the damage done by the contractor instead of the damage done by lack of maintenance.
@FBrumfield Those Are The Pictures
People Who Do Not Own A Boat At Foss Harbor Marina On Gate 6 Have No Business Saying Anything Negative . You Do Not Have Any Idea What This Is Like . They Are Destroying Our Homes . Their Are 4 Live Aboard's There . They Are In OUR Backyard Destroying Our Home . They Should Pay Up . Just Imagine You In Our Places . Its Like Taking A Huge Hole Of Your Side Wall Out Then Some Appliances . It Isn't Something You Can Just "Buff Off "
@Hailey Brinar LOL Hailey. like OmG!  Ur pOsting oN a CommENT boArd. Not A Text MessAge. For reaLz!!   Try sweeping off the boat when It first happened, instead of letting it sit. It's not our fault you have to live on a boat.Â
@Hailey BrinarÂ
This is where you are wrong. It is a PUBLIC FORUM - anypone & everyone can make comments here, about the story or their opinions about the story. You have come on here trying to labaste everyone who does not agree with your point of view - that is your right to do so. However, THEY all also have the right to post whatever they want. THAT's why it is a PUBLIC forum.
bustedupredneck then you should know that the rust is on the gel-coat not the fiberglass and can be buffed off.
@MKCJÂ Its Wood Not Fiberglass . Only Some Boats Are Fiberglass
Wah wah wah, someone wants a free paint job worth more than the cost of the boat. Â Please..
@narnia6005 Noo This A $40,000 Job . You Have To Sand It Down Till The Rust Is Gone Then Put What Ever Is Necessary In That Spot . You Obviously Know CRAP About Boats And What Is Going On .Â
@Hailey Brinar @narnia6005  Curious If Your Post Is The Title For A Movie Or Book.  Then WHY Are You Capitalizing Every Word?  Â
PCL stand your ground on this! that guy is full of it his boat is in bad need of repair because of his lack of up keep. You can see rust coming from under the wood trim that is bolted down! Not from shavings, anyone that owns a boat can see that and thereâs a lot of us around here.
@MKCJÂ Okkay . Then Take A Walk Down Gate 6 And Go From K Dock To To M Dock . Examine Every Boat . You Will See This . Ohh Wait .. You Can't Cause You Aint Here And Obviously Can't See or Experience It .Â
@Hailey Brinar Please, your high school called, they want their diploma back.Â
@Hailey Brinar Or perhaps you didn't notice the rust until something happened that caused you to look and thus you blame PCL when clearly the issue is on your end. There are a lot of people on here that have boats and you just poo-poo them like they have no clue. Clearly it is YOU that has no clue.Â
I worked on wooden boats for several years so I'm calling BS on Brinar and the rust on his classic Chris-Craft. Even from the quickie views on the typical ADD news story video you can see that the rust is from fasteners under the paint, not from an external deposit. In the video you can see streaking down the sides of the bow under the flare, a vertical and near vertical surface to which the steel curlicues would not stick. Looks to me like somebody who won't do the required maintenance and wants somebody else to pay. Wooden boats are great but they require a serious commitment to maintenance, he'd probably be lucky to get 40 grand for the boat as it sits.
@jbronze When you get dissimilar metals in contact with an electrolytic solution (water) and each other, you will get galvanic corrosion. Which means all the "existing" metal of a different type than that of the bridge, in contact with water will cause ALL touching metal to corrode. Why do you think that boats have ZINC strips along the hulls of ships? To MINIMIZE galvanic corrosion because ZINC will corrode somewhat faster than most other metals (but it doesn't stop the damage, it only minimizes it).
Plus if you didn't get ALL of the metal flakes off BEFORE corrosion started, you can't even stop it.
BTW: I am a retired nuclear reactor operator from the US Navy, galvanic corrosion is a very well understood process in my field and must be managed on ALL types of water craft. Not just metal hulled vessels.
@RTNavy I Think This Isn't Hating Against My Dad Nor My Home So I Like Wheat You Said Sir. (:
@jbronze Actually Sir or Ma'am No Disrespects To Your Experience But If You Came To The Boats And Look This Is On All The Boats On Gate 6 . Literary 97% Of The Boats Have This . And I Find That Very Disrespectful . We Have Improved This Boat VERY Much Since We Got Her 10 Months Ago . She Is One the Best Conditions She's Been In For A While . We Just Want PCL To Pay For What They Did To Our HOME . Its Like A Construction Site Workin Next To Your House In Your Backyard And Putting Many Big Holes In Your Home . It's The Same Thing .Â
Negligence. Therefore - responsibility. They tried to get away with something with an unauthorized and unconfined pressure wash - and failed. EIther stupidity or shadiness ruled the day - perhaps a little of both.Â
Any judge in a civil case would probably tell them to shut up and pay - as it is more likely then not that their actions caused the damage.
Done.
@Audio Cat I Agree Sir Or Ma'am . Its Like The Sayin " You Brake It You Pay It . " They Made My Home Look Bad .Â
For those that do not know about fiberglass surfaceâs is that if metal gets on them and rusts, the rust stain will soak in to it and stain the fiberglass. This is not a simple wash it off problem. Being that most boats are white the stains will show even worse than any other color. I had an old fiberglass body car that got grinding dust on it while working on a different project and it needed a new paint job because of the stains....
@bustedupredneck Plus, even a fiberglass boat will have metal fasteners and mount points for deck equipment, tie downs, pulleys etc.
@bustedupredneck Exactly . It Aint A Cheap Fix . Plus , Since We Are Live A Boards And I Go To The Near By High School .. It Really Isnt Gonna Be Cheap Because They Have To Pay For Living expensises . Not Like Ima Go To The Nearest Relative For A Month And Drive An Hour To School EveryDay For That Time . I Have To Be Close Thats Why We Moved To The City . And The Bridge Doin What Their doin Is Our Non Stop For 10 Months Welcome Party .Â
Most boats nowdays are made out of fiberglass which doesn't rust. So even IF the claims are true, at most there is going to be some rusty metal shavings on the boat. There won't be any damage.Â
These owners had to know the construction was ongoing, they chose not to move their boats. This is no different than any other construction project.
So as has already been said, why is this news?
@seattleemtÂ
So you think that somehow the boat owners "should have known" that a subcontractor would perform unauthorized work? How would they be able to know that? The poewr washing was in violation of the contractor's work contract - so how would a boat owner know that this would happen? I'll await your response.
@seattleemt Ignorant comment - not worthy of further response.
'A representative from PCL Construction, said the claims will be resolved and checks will be issued within two weeks'.
Soooo...
Why is this newsworthy?
@bobalouie To Show The Public Of How Careless They Are Treating Us And We Just Got The Call About The Two Weeks Thing Today . When My Dad Has Been Callin Them At Least 5 Times A Week For About 4 Weeks At The Least .Â
@Hailey Brinar
Please do not takew offense, but you comments, while very well informed, are VERY difficult to read when you start every word with a capital letter. Please, I hope you are taking an English class por two in HS so that you could learn how to create a sentence without making them painful to read.
@stillsmokin @LocalLady @Hailey Brinar SERIOUSLY!  Do teens have a clue that the world is not a text message?  I Mean SrsLY!! OmG!Â
@LocalLady @Hailey Brinar AMEN. Please let us know what school you attend so we can make a large donation to the english program. You Are Right That Was Painful.
@bobalouie No idea. Slow news day?
"Brinar said he's got an insurance estimate of nearly $40,000 to get rid of the rust spots and repaint the boat, but he said it's been a nightmare getting the bridge contractor -- PCL -- to pay up."
40K to buff out some rust stains? Â I would tell you to shove off too...
@unobtanium If you don't get 100% of the corrosion from ALL surfaces, it keeps going until parts break off. Plus you have to take the boat out of the water to do alot of the work, otherwise you'll just keep the "buffed" metal uncovered for corrosion to start again before you can even paint and seal.
@RTNavy @unobtanium Its Just Easier In The Long Run To Just Get The Shavings Off The Side By Pulling It Off . Thank You For Pointin That Out RTNavy
@unobtanium Its Expensive To Fix What They Caused . Plus They Gotta Pay For Living Expenises . I Go To The Nearby High School So I Have To Stay Close . The Nearest Relative Is 1 hr Away . And I Cant Ask My Friends If I Can Stay There For A Month . I Just Moved To This Place 10 Months Ago . People Who DOnt Own A Boat On Gate 6 WILL NOT UNDERSTAND . Especially Is They Aint A Live Aboard . This Is My Home . Not Yours . You Would Want Who Ever To Fix Your Home If They Damaged It .Â
@Hailey Brinar @unobtanium for the love of all things holy.  Please learn to write without capitalizing everything. Makes it impossible and embarrassing to read.  We are not 14.Â
@unobtanium It costs what it costs. They damaged private property - they should pay for repairs. If they did not want the bill - perhaps they should not have damaged it.
@Audio Cat @unobtanium Can't be made better that it was at the time of damage. 90% of the boats at a marina are in some state of oxidation from the elements. Yes these metal chips can leave a rust mark but from my experience, put some CLR on it which disolves the rust stain and then buff out the decks. It will be in better condition than it was. $40k? Maybe better to pay for diminished value.
Your right Fiberglass doesn't oxidize but the Gel-coat covering the fiberglass does!
@Audio Cat @NWlife @unobtanium Goodness...the boats are already oxidized to some degree, some more than others. No one has a bare fiberglass boat, there is a gel coat over it. Unless you want to see delamination real quick. Gel coats can get stained yes, from the metal shavings, yes. Put CLR on it and watch it disappear. To be extra kind, buff the gel coat out to look like new. Everyone is happy.
@NWlife @Audio Cat @unobtanium Fiberglass doesn't oxidize.
And it wasn't the elements that caused the shavings to fall - it was a negligent work crew.
Huge diff.