Question

Joel borrows his brother's boat for the month of June, as he has done for the past few years. In the past, Joel has fixed anything on the boat that he notices needs to be repaired while he is using the boat, and his brother has paid him for any improvements he made, grateful not to have to take the boat in for regular maintenance. This year Joel sees that the boat's steering wheel is broken and puts in a new one. When he returns the boat, Joel's brother says he thinks the new steering wheel is ugly and will not pay for it. Assuming that it cannot be removed without damaging the boat, does Joel's brother need to pay Joel?
a. Yes, if the new steering wheel improves the value of the boat.
b. No, because Joel's brother did not agree to pay for improvements in advance.
c. No, because the steering wheel is a gift.
d. Yes, if the old steering wheel would have damaged the boat.

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is the option D: Yes, if the old steering wheel would have damaged the boat.

Explanation:

To begin with, in the case presented Joel's brother seems to be quite pleasent with the fact that Joel is repairing the boat once year so that means that he does not need to take the boat in for regular maintenance so therefore that he saves money due to the work done by Joel. That is the reason why if the steering wheel would have damaged the boat if it was not replaced then the cost that Joel's brother would have paid in order to repair all the damaged done by the wheel would have been much greater than just the cost of the steering wheel itself. Moreover, it is quite understood that they both had a tacit agreement that has been there for many years so therefore that Joel's brother must pay him otherwise, plus if the new wheel improves the value of the boat as well.