It Can Happen To You

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Sailgunner

Sailgunner

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Jun 4, 2004
1,087
Mainship Piliot 34 Punta Gorda
For the second time this year the boat I was on was hit by lightening. In May it was my boat outside Miami. I lost most electronics. Last week is was in Biscayne Bay on a friends Manta 40. He lost everything. With the chart plotter gone I was able to fire up NaxX on my I-phone so we had navigation. We could have sailed back to Miami with my phone app but my friend decided to have us towed all the way back. Oh, we also had a hand held radio for back up, an absolute must have!

So before you head out in unfamiliar waters, it is necessary to have back up systems. Don't get the mindset that it won't happen to you.
 
Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

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Jan 4, 2006
7,308
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
Maybe Somebody Up There ....................

Sailgunner said:
For the second time this year the boat I was on was hit by lightening.
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.......................... is trying to tell you something :eek:. Hope your life insurance is paid up.

Canadian maritime law requires that we have paper charts for any waters in which we are traveling for exactly this reason. Mind you, we don't enforce our maritime laws but it's still a good idea.
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Navionics

I like navionics on my Iphone and was only about $9.99 and it does everything a chartplotter can do for navigating and I even have it on my notebook and labtop.
I will look at yours on my Iphone to compare.
Nick
 
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Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,190
CC 30 South Florida
For years we sailed in Biscayne Bay with nothing more than Marine charts, some parallel rulers and the compass. Could do it again if I had to as we carry the charts aboard but we also have an old handheld GPS unit which could be pressed into service.
 
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rfrye1

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Jun 15, 2004
589
Hunter H376 San Diego
Many years ago I was taking a USCG navigation class for a certification. All of the route planning, set and drift, etc was always done with paper charts and rule. The question was asked "why do we need this with GPS?" Of course the instructor mentioned GPS failure, government/satellite failure,etc. What I find even more fascinating in this world of Google Maps/car GPS/iPhone Maps, is that a lot of young folks don't have a clue how to read a map! They just follow the voice. I truly think if some of these kids lost their GPS/IPhone, they couldn't get home from where they went!
 
Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

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Jan 4, 2006
7,308
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
At the Very Least .......................

rfrye1 said:
I truly think if some of these kids lost their GPS/IPhone, they couldn't get home from where they went!
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....................... they could always ask a cop how to get home :redface:.

Not so on the water. Not knowing hot to navigate with paper charts and compass is a recipe for disaster on the water.
 
Sailgunner

Sailgunner

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Jun 4, 2004
1,087
Mainship Piliot 34 Punta Gorda
Electronics and electrical. On the one last week we think the lightening came through the water. On mine we think it hit the antenna. No hull damage on either.
 
robertsapp

robertsapp

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May 28, 2009
764
Hunter 376 Pensacola, FL
I've heard of boats taking direct hits which take out not only all the connected electronic devices, but also any portable devices such as handheld VHFs and GPSs due to the strong electromagnetic pulse created. That's why some really cautious sailors keep a spare GPS and radio in a metal box (Faraday cage) and/or put them in the oven when lightning is around. It would be interesting to see if there are any reported cases of lightning strikes taking out onboard iPhones or iPads.

Were you aware of lightning in the area or was it just out of the blue?
 
Sailgunner

Sailgunner

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Jun 4, 2004
1,087
Mainship Piliot 34 Punta Gorda
Minor rain shower, no lightening or thunder anywhere. Then bam! No lightening or thunder after the strike as well.

On my boat I keep a spare chart plotter and hand held VHF & GPS in the oven.

We of course had charts so we knew where we were.
 
C

Caribbeanknight1

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Mar 24, 2013
59
Hunter 1990 Hunter 30 Kentucky Lake
Very interesting thread. I have always feared taking a direct hit even though I am continually told I should be safe if I am in the cabin. Since this was just a minor shower with any noticeably lightning was anybody in the cockpit when you got hit?
 
Sailgunner

Sailgunner

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Jun 4, 2004
1,087
Mainship Piliot 34 Punta Gorda
The captain last week. I was in the cockpit last spring. In both cases no one was affected other than my friends ears from the noise.
 
py26129

py26129

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Oct 25, 2011
576
Island Packet IP31 Lake St. Louis, Montreal
Ralph Johnstone said:
.......................... is trying to tell you something :eek:. Hope your life insurance is paid up.

Canadian maritime law requires that we have paper charts for any waters in which we are traveling for exactly this reason. Mind you, we don't enforce our maritime laws but it's still a good idea.
Click to expand

Funny you should say that. I had my Courtesy Inspection done by our friendly Coasties on Tuesday this week. I asked specifically whether paper versions of the charts are required and the answer was an unequivocal NO.

Matt
 
R

rfrye1

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Jun 15, 2004
589
Hunter H376 San Diego
Re: DougMc post.

Would grounding the Neg DC to a thru-hull or keel help in a lightning strike?
 
D

DougMc

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Jan 22, 2008
57
Hunter 36 Erieau Ontario
rfrye1 said:
Re: DougMc post.

Would grounding the Neg DC to a thru-hull or keel help in a lightning strike?
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Two schools of thought.

1-is to ground all through hulls, mast and all metal To keel.
2-is not to ground anything to one another.

I was hopping we had a realtime report.
 
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