Lighting strike

[Doug Dannen]

Went to my Oday 27 on Saturday and found it was struck by Lighting and substained extensive damage to the enterior and hull. It hit the radio antenna wire on top of the mast and came down to the radio in the cabin which started a fire. I have two holes through the hull and extensive heat and smoke damage. All my electronics were fried. The boat was in the marina next to other sail boats and was just the unlucky boat. I did have my antenna wire hooked at the base of my mast. In the furture I will unhook it each time I leave the boat. I just hope the insurance will cover what it take to repair the boat.

 

[Mike Whalen]

That sucks!

Doug that sucks! There have been lots of discussion on this site about lighting strikes and protection. I have none (protection) on my 25. I do have an antena and wonder if unhooking the connection at the base of the mast would help other than save the radio? Would that have saved the other electronics? Would it mean that the charge didn't get to the fuse panel? Where did you get wholed? I'm sure this is a sad topic for you at present but maybe the rest of us could learn something.Sorry to hear aboput your bad luck. Hope the insurance company comes through.Good luck,Mike

 

[Steve Growcock]

Not much you can do...

Depending on the size, a lightening bolt will contain 10 - 120 MV (that is, million volts) of electricity. That is a lot of electrical pressure. Connect or disconnect the cabling, I suspect, will not make much difference.Even if a grounding strap is attached, I believe, there will be some damage to the boat. The best we can do is minimize the affect, not prevent it.In Florida, I know some sailboat owners that deliberately dock their boat next to craft with slightly taller masts, just for this reason. I doubt if it helps, but I suppose there is some comfort.Hope your insurance covers this misfortune.Regards,Steve!

 

[J.B. Dyer]

Bad Luck

Your neighbors may not be as lucky as you think.We had a strike at my marina about a month ago which struck a sailboat at the end of the dock. I went to look at it this weekend and was suprised that it didn't sink, there were about 50 identifiable areas on the hull where the charge came through, one of which was about a 6 inch split and they are still working on the hull trying to find the rest of them.Even though this boat took the main lick, there were 6 other boats in it's vicinity, including mine, that received damage also. The charge either came in through the shorepower or up the through hulls before that charge finally grounded out. I lost my battery charger, batteries, and some electronics. It seems that we were all effected in some different way.I'm not sure that there is really anything that can be done to prevent damage in the event of a strike.Good Luck with it!!

 

[Mike]

Rotton Luck

Doug-I think that your lightning strike is every sailboaters nightmare. Not a thing anyone can do about it and the damage can run from huge to downright deadly to the boat's occupants.I have seen those lightening defusers attached to the top of masts. But I have seen only a few boats with one.Probably the best defense is an excellent grounding system. My OD 28 has heavy ground wires running from all standing rigging, the engine and all major metal structures to the keel which is lead. It has been recommended that I install a ground "shoe" to dissipate current into the water to lessen potential lightning damage.Your uncertainty about the insurance coverage rings an alarm with me and I intend to contact my insurer this very day to affirm my coverages or lack of coverages.Good luck,Mike

 

[MArk of OSMS]

Saw Pics on Fox News today

Check the article linked below.The Fox News footage showed the boat still burning with only the below water line part left. I was surprised it hadn't sunk. Hope the skipper recovers.This reaffirms my opinion that the key to surviving most marine disasters is a properly worn PFD.MArk