Friend breaks board - who pays?

[bdwb]

I have a newer surf board - purchased in June. My friend has his own board but uses mine because he likes it better. He has surfed it as much as me - maybe more. It broke while he was on it today - should he replace the board? Again this is not a old board that has been ridden by everyone..... not a big deal but curious what people think.

[MC25]

How did it break?

[bdwb]

He was surfing and it cracked up where his front foot was located. Bent over.

[Hjwallin]

If he was being careless/reckless on it, I’d want him to pay for it. Real accident I’d hope he’d still offer to pay (half maybe?)

Always find it funny taking people out on my boat with my boards, jackets, ropes, gear, etc and it being “not a big deal when they break something”. [emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MC25]

He was surfing and it cracked up where his front foot was located. Bent over.

How would that be his fault? Would’ve happened to you if it wasn’t him. Just my .02.


But, since he uses it so much, maybe he will split a new one.

[CantRepeat]

How would that be his fault? Would’ve happened to you if it wasn’t him. Just my .02.

Yup, it happens.

OP, clearly you want him to pay for it. So you have two choices. Live with it and be ok. Don't live with it and ask him to pay.

If it was me and my friend, hey, it was a good time and you ate **** when it broke.

If the board is new why not try and work a warranty?

[gweaver]

^^^ Yup. I'd start with the manufacturer and see if they'll do something as a warranty deal. If they don't immediately step up, maybe ask if they're willing to sell you a replacement at cost or cost+10% or something. Offer to send them photos of the broken board. I've always had decent luck just being nice on the phone.

Based on how the conversation with the warranty folks goes, I'd probably ask my buddy to 'chip in' for a replacement. Put the ball in his court, see if he's willing to toss in a few $$. If not, write it off as part of the cost of having fun on the water. Depending on how he was riding the board (spins and tricks, or just cruising), I'd probably think twice about letting him ride the new one.

FWIW, and I know it's a long shot, but if there are any surf shops around (the Great Lakes has a bit of a surf scene), they might be able to fix it. I've seen boards broken in half get repaired. It can be ugly, but it can be done.

G

[bdwb]

Ya good points - I think he should offer to pay. He rides with me 2-3 times per week, I never ask for gas money and we use all my stuff and now I will want to replace the board. If it were me I would go buy a new board and offer to pay for half the gas.... but I should likely just chalk it up to the price of having fun..... I will check into the warranty though.

[JP-OH]

If I was using a friends board and it broke while I was riding it I would offer to replace it. If a friend was using my board and it broke I would not expect them to replace it but most of my friends would.

[ttu]

my question is what did he do to cause the board to break?? If it just broke I would think since you just bought it in June if not abused it should be covered under warranty11

[Hjwallin]

If I was using a friends board and it broke while I was riding it I would offer to replace it. If a friend was using my board and it broke I would not expect them to replace it but most of my friends would.

^^^^


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mtnmax]

There are lots of 'friendship factors' that go into the decision of 'who pays'. But given the information you provided, if it were my board/boat and it happened to me, I would feel the same way as you (the OP). I would expect my friend to pay for the board as well. Unless there was some sort of defect in the board (as mentioned above), which would make it a warranty claim. But a 'true friend' would at least offer something in return for breaking your board while burning your gas behind your boat, whether it was their fault or not. You don't have to accept their offer, but it's nice when they make an effort. My gut feeling is that the board company should/will step-up and replace it.

Just my opinion. Good luck.

[McFire]

I have had friends and family use my stuff and have it break. If they were using it properly, they are off the hook. If they are abusing it, I expect some or total replacement. If it broke on them while using it properly, it could have happened to me too, so I don't expect replacement. That said, they have always offered to pay at least half.

[Yeaitsslo]

My sister has a stupid expensive stand up paddle board. I borrowed it for a few days and ended up having a careless second where i was carrying the board and swung it around and bam. Ran the tip right into a boulder. Cracked it all the way through the tip. Completely opened it up. Needless to say i told her i was going to be using her board for another week or so. And then when the new one showed up in the store i delivered it too her. 1500$ later I’ll never have to borrow her paddle board again, cause now she has a brand new one and i have one with a repaired (by myself) tip haha.


I was always taught to return things back the way i got them. But in your case seems like it wasn’t a careless person. Just a board at the end of its life.

[hondaprlud]

A friend bought a new to him motorcycle years ago. We were still in school and broke. I took it for a 3-4 mile spin. Ended up dumping it. I offered to replace everything (parts if possible but the whole bike if needed) he helped fix what he could and I paid the rest. It’s what you do. He should know the potential price. If not, only use your own toys. But that is how all my friends are, it may be different for you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk