Insurance / lightning strike

Agreed hull value?
As to surveyor, I would be tempted to find an independent survey just in case things don't go as they should. $12K deductible may be enough to justify the price of a survey anyway.

Roger that. I was under the impression that hull value and agreed hull value can be different animals, hence the question about Agreed.

The huge question isn't just on whether hull value is agreed or market but whether parts are depreciated or not. You better know your policy details. Plus was the value updated for the newer electronics and is there a limit on electronics. This is a very complicated case.

Yes, you need your own surveyor on a claim this large.

Also, in settlement, you must be sure the final amount is left open for other damage to be found in the process of repairs. There is no way to know all the damage up front and additional damage will nearly always be found in a lightning strike as large as yours.

What isn't broken now and electronic, will be within a year. Plan on replacing all electrical devices and checking the wiring really well throughout the entire boat. I would see what the insurance surveyor comes up with, see where they stand. Then if it sounds unreasonable, hire your own surveyor (although this would still be a very good idea).

My 53c was hit by an indirect lightening strike many years ago. I did not hire a surveyor. The insurance company sent someone aboard, and I took the boat to the yard and just kept updating the adjuster with invoices of work performed, updated her with new diagnoses as they were determined. Had to replace the Cobalt control system, Cat ECM's, every sensor on each engine, every injector (each has a microchip), the Cat displays, all electronics, all TV equipment, hauled her for inspection of any underwater damages, scarring, etc. Wards came aboard and renovated the distribution system. It was a 6 figure claim, and many items such as the LED lighting did not fail until shortly after the work was completed. I submitted a supplemental package of invoices late in the process.

This. Times two. Pantropic determined they only needed to replace one of the injectors as the rest tested fine on the Cats. After the claim I ran the boat from Ft Lauderdale to Canaveral, and upon arrival I had no displays and no power. Ring came to the boat and replaced the remaining injectors and the displays. Mine was not a direct strike, but rather residual charge through the water from a tree that was struck 100 yards away. That voltage does terrible things to electronics.

Know your insurance policy detail as if everything depends on it, because it does. Electronics may be limited in terms of "updating", but your policy should at least replace in kind up to a certain dollar amount. You can make your own decision as to your choice of upgrades, but the in kind replacement should still be funded as if you did replace in kind. You won't receive push back on that in the end, but you may have to spell it out for your adjuster.

Stick with the insurance surveyor. Point out everything that has electrical components. As has been said here by others, and in the post I quoted here, just because it's working today doesn't mean it will tomorrow. In the case of, say, a water heater that uses heavy electronic components, there's a reasonable chance that will be fine (mine was), but anything with small or micro components is going to fail. Miracle if it doesn't. But it will fail when you need it most. Murphy.

If your strike was a direct hit you should be on dry dock already. Every hull penetration needs to be reviewed thoroughly as do the cutlass bearings, shaft seals, rudder boxes.........