You can still have a valid claim, and pursuing it does not have to mean going after your friend personally. In most boating cases, it is the operator's or the vessel owner's insurance — a watercraft policy, or sometimes a homeowner's policy — that responds to the claim, not the person out of their own pocket.
That coverage exists for exactly this situation. Making a claim is about accessing it to cover your medical bills, lost income, and other losses, so you are not left carrying the cost of an injury you did not cause. Many people hesitate over the relationship, but the claim and the friendship are separate things.
We handle the claim and deal with the insurer for you, which keeps the personal relationship out of it as much as possible. A free, confidential review can walk you through how the coverage works in your situation.