Back in Canada for a visit home Toronto, Canada Jan. 20, 2002 Hi Folks, We're back from Panama City, went to the Toronto Boat Show, and have had a couple of slide presentations of our trip so far. We have enjoyed meeting old friends and acquaintances, and seeing how things have changed or not changed in Toronto. Judy and I have been getting caught up on medical, dental, and eye checkups. So far everything is OK, but this week is not one I am looking forward to as I have a root canal and a biopsy of my prostate arranged. Lots of fun! At the Boat Show, we bought ourselves a new inflatable dinghy to replace Sprite, our damaged Quicksilver 270 dinghy. As reported in a previous log, it was damaged in a storm at Adhamus on Milos. I got an estimate for repairs after we arrived in Kemer, and an estimate for a used replacement dinghy as I was informed the repairs might not last very well due to the wear and age of the fabric. The repairs, in US dollars, came to about $450, and the used replacement dinghy at $600. I then got a quote for a new Quicksilver at about $1650, and a new locally manufacture rib JOKER boat inflatable at $2100. Together with the invoice from the engine repair ($450) done in Milos, I faxed these to Pantaenius in London. In that storm, we also had some damage done to our bow pulpit, but it came to only $250. If I had included it in my claim, the claim would then go into a different category for hull damage, and would result in a higher deductible of about $500, and would also be registered as a full insurance claim. Whereas the dinghy and outboard are in a separate category with a deductible of only about $200 US, and do not adversely affect my claims free record. I didn't know if the company would accept my claim for a new dinghy but sent in the estimates for the two prices of new dinghies anyway. After a short phone conversation, they accepted the claim for the engine repairs, and the cost of the new Quicksilver dinghy. No depreciation on my 8 year old Quicksilver was included, and I received a cheque (in equivalent British pounds) for $1650 for the dinghy plus $450 for the engine repairs, less $200 deductible for a total of about $1900 US final settlement, mailed directly to my bank account here in Toronto. I am very pleased with their service and settlement, in contrast to my former Canadian insurance company.  I'm not sure if I described that problem with the genoa and roller furling that were destroyed in a storm on my way to Mallorca last February. In that attempted claim I had over $6000 (Canadian) expenses for a new roller furler and genoa, and by the time the $1000 Cdn deductible and over 60% depreciation on the equipment was included, the company sent me a cheque for only $850 Cdn which I refused to cash as my claims free status was worth more than that pittance. Incidentally, I was paying $3000 Cdn annually for that Canadian insurance ($1000 Cdn deductible), whereas my Pantaenius insurance costs only $950 Cdn ($850 deductible, except for the tender which was only $300 deductible) for coverage of all European coastal and inland waters (including the Mediterranean) up to 200 nautical miles off shore. Thank you Pantaenius! Thus we needed a new dinghy, and we planned to order one when we got back to Turkey. However at the Boat Show we decided to look at what was available over here. The prices in Canada were considerably cheaper. We looked at Avon, Mercury (Quicksilver), and Zodiac, between $1800 and $2100 Canadian. Then the thought hit us that perhaps we could buy it here and take it over with our luggage on the plane. They weighed only about 75 pounds. We settled on the Zodiac Cadet C285S at the Boat Show price of $1900 Canadian with Offshore Inflatable Boats here in Toronto. In addition, we made an arrangement, that as we are a yacht in transit, we would not be charged any tax, and would provide the company with copies of our documents returning to Turkey. This is far preferable than having to pay the tax, then trying to reclaim it later. In addition, the company, located not too far from the Toronto International Airport (Pearson), will transport it to the airport for us. Because of security concerns, one of the questions asked at the airport is "Did you pack your own bags?" We have arranged to go up to the plant where they will unpack the dinghy for us, then help us repack it so we can be honest in saying "Yes, we packed our own bags." We did not want to be faced with possibly having to open the dinghy bag at the airport. So now we have a new Sprite to take back with us. Enjoy this next log #23k, back in Greece, which takes us to Rhodes.
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