Struck by Lightning - we'll see how good USAA/Progressive is

[smokey73]

Well, Last night we had a fierce thunderstorm move through.

I got a call from the boatyard where my boat was getting a bottom paint and was told that it looked like my boat got hit by lightning. Odd thing is that it was in the slings waiting for launch the next morning, with big rubber tires on the lift. I would have thought the tires would have limited the potential for a strike.

Odder still is that while it does look like I got hit, I can't find anywhere where it exited the boat? The VHF antenna, windex, Raymarine sender were blown off the top of the mast and laying all around in pieces. I fired up the electronics and the VHF radio won't power up and the Raymarine log (speed instrument) doesn't give any indication. Also GPS doesn't give any position information to my Raymarine MFC (the MFC was not installed at the time of the strike). We'll have to see what else is damaged.

The yard is sending someone up the mast tomorrow to inspect and take pictures for the insurance rep and we'll go through everything we can to see what is working and what is not. Doesn't seem to be as bad as I expected.

Does anyone have any suggestions for places to look for "hidden" damage. I plan on opening the electrical panel and looking for fried wires, etc.

We'll see how good USAA/Progressive insurance is. I have a low deductible policy for comprehensive coverage, so we'll see what they cover.

I'll keep those of you insured with USAA/Progressive to see how the handle the claim. I have not had a claim with them since I've had the boat (about 2 1/2 years now).

 

[justsomeguy]

Re: Struck by Lightning - we'll see how good USAA/Progressiv

The one that goes up the mast should do the top part of a continuity check of your mast wiring, I think.

 

[shemandr]

Re: Struck by Lightning - we'll see how good USAA/Progressiv

I can only cite a case in a yard I used to be in. A boat on the hard got hit, but the strike jumped laterally to a boat in the water, and did a lot of damage to it. The boat on the hard didn't get the worst of it.
Another case where I used to keep my boat: The strike occurred some distance from the boats but apparently travelled in the neutral AC supply or otherwise to several boats causing havoc with instruments in three or four boats.
My point is that there is only a illusion of protection. Millions of volts will have their way. The tires may have caused the strike to jump to another outlet. That's speculation.

 

[bawlmer]

Re: Struck by Lightning - we'll see how good USAA/Progressiv

If you have LED bulbs check every single one of them as they all have electronics in them. I know they are the least expensive of the electronics but they are still electronic nevertheless.

 

[Benny17441]

Re: Struck by Lightning - we'll see how good USAA/Progressiv

I think the thought that tires protect a vehicle against lightning strikes is a myth. Incidences of lightning strikes to moving vehicles have been documented. It seems that strikes come in different intensities and the very powerful ones will strike where the may.

 

[reworb]

Make sure someone checks the alternator; when my boat was hit that was damaged.

 

[kloudie1]

Re: Struck by Lightning - we'll see how good USAA/Progressiv

I was hit several years ago while in the water. The strike killed the VHF, blew up the VHF antenna, and the air conditioner fan speed controller. It blew internal fuses in the LORAN unit but when the fuses were replaced, the unit worked fine again. At that time, I had incandescent nav lights. The stern light bulb blew up inside the housing.. Strangely, the anchor, steaming, and bi-color nav bulbs were OK. On the breaker panel, the reverse polarity bulb blew up and shot across the cabin. The nav light breaker/switch case popped open but the breaker still worked; there was carbon arc tracking on the backside of the panel from that case to the green wire.. no damage to the shore cord ... I had converted to LED indicator lamps on the DC panel and none of them were damaged. I was fortunate that the alternator was not damaged. We inspected the shrouds and stays very carefully but found no damage. I was with Safeco Insurance at the time and they were quick to send out an adjuster and send a check to cover everything that had been damaged.

 

[KD3PC]

Re: Struck by Lightning - we'll see how good USAA/Progressiv

Progressive claim = good luck. Will stand by to see how this plays out.

Anything electrical, bonded, grounded or .....is likely damaged. Check the hull and keel carefully for jump burns or very dry fiberglass spots.

 

[smokey73]

Re: Struck by Lightning - we'll see how good USAA/Progressiv

Off to the boat this morning to check the damage. Thanks for the tips on what to check. I checked all the LED lights that I have installed and all but one seems to work. Haven't ahd a chance to check the Air Conditioner or Generator yet but will do that this morning as well as the AC battery charger, the solar charge, refrigerator and inspect the panel. I hope the damage is limited but the mast work will probably be the most difficult. The adjuster is supposed to come down from Charleston this coming week to go over all we have found to confirm.

 

[Rick I]

Check everything electrical including the led's in the breaker panel. Fans, pumps, inverter, charger etc.
Check batteries.
Check nav lights and all mast wiring
Check magnetic compass
Check headsail for burns and foil for fusing
Check bottom paint for treeing at through hulls
Check rigging
Check alternator and regulator
Check engine panel, lights, hour meter, tach, etc.
Check all instruments
Check fridge

 

[kjretlaw]

Re: Struck by Lightning - we'll see how good USAA/Progressiv

It will be very interesting to see how your case is handled by Progressive. I also have Progressive through USAA. When I took out the policy I asked the USAA rep if I had issues with Progressive processing a claim would USAA arbitrate, and was told yes. Do you have a stated value policy with replacement.
I'm sure for quite a few of us on the form we'll be waiting on the outcome of your claim.
Anyone else file a USAA/Progressive claim that might have some insight?

 

[kito]

Re: Struck by Lightning - we'll see how good USAA/Progressiv

I am sure Flo will do her best to make you happy

 

[McIntoshUSA]

Re: Struck by Lightning - we'll see how good USAA/Progressiv

I know it is years later now, but how was the support/payout by USAA/Progressive insurance? We currently have the same insurance.

 

[Ken Cross]

Things people miss

All your switches are suspect to have burned contacts even if they were off at the time.
Don't be in a giant rush to settle. It's easy for electronics to be damaged and fail soon afterward even if it sppeared Okay right after the strike.

As others have said, careful inspection. And I wouldn't settle until it's in the water and had a sea trial.

Ken

 

[HernandoBeacher]

Re: Struck by Lightning - we'll see how good USAA/Progressiv

Had a mast strike a few years ago that exited through the keel. Fried virtually all electronics - Raymarine course computer and autopilot, VHF, air conditioner, TV, stereo, all mast wiring and much more.

Progressive could not have been more cooperative and never balked at any of the repairs.

 

[Doug4bass]

Flo is HOT!

 

[McIntoshUSA]

Had a mast strike a few years ago that exited through the keel. Fried virtually all electronics - Raymarine course computer and autopilot, VHF, air conditioner, TV, stereo, all mast wiring and much more.

Progressive could not have been more cooperative and never balked at any of the repairs.

Cool, That is good to know.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Doc_holiday]

Don't ignore the wiring. The insulation could very well be partially melted.

 

[VF84Sluggo]

Flo is HOT!

Really?! You gotta be yankin' us...You CAN'T be serious

 

[Benny17441]

I was hit several years ago while in the water.

Kloudie when you say "in the water", was it in open water or on shore? I have been following lighting strikes on sailboats to find out if there is any truth to the idea that most lightning strikes occur to docked boats or to those near shore. I'm curious if those observations relate to the greater number of boat's ashore at any given time or if there is some other logical explanation. Have heard from many people being caught in storms offshore but not hit while the majority of strikes seem to happen at boats docked in marinas. I have actually pulled out to sea to gain sea room in an approaching storm rather than stay in an anchorage but have not yet figured out if there is any advantage as far as lightning is concerned.