The planned cruise ended with a big bang! We were anchored In Zach’s Bay off Jones Beach, Long Island, NY. Our cruising club had a great rendezvous Saturday Night. On Sunday morning a thick fog had settled in and we could hear thunder off in the distance and knew we were in for a storm. As I cooked our morning pancakes I could hear the storm approaching, The winds picked up, the rain came down in buckets and we danced on the anchor line. I flip my pancake and admire the nice golden brown. As I looked out the port, to check our position, my hair stood up on end. A load boom, the boat shutters, I am on the cabin floor, the boat is full of smoke, and the fuse box is on fire. The fire quickly put out. But in the confusion my pancake is burnt. No breakfast, no lights, no GPS or chartplotter, no radar, no nothing. I have a hand held VHF for backup and call BoatUS. They have a boat on the way ETA 45 minutes. I have time to inspect my vessel and am able to run a direct line to the battery for the bilge pump. All my electronics are fried as bad as my pancake. The tow to my port goes well. But now comes the insurance claim.
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Bad luck
But you did what you could, and quickly. Too bad about the pancakes, but a good analogy.
But you did what you could, and quickly. Too bad about the pancakes, but a good analogy.
Ed,
Were going thru this here also this week. FIRST THING, get a good surveyer involved!!! The boat will need a haulout to check thruhulls, shaft, etc... All of the wiring needs to be inspected, posibly replaced. The engine needs to be inspected, DON'T TRY TO START IT! lightning can leave deposits on the crank and score bearings in the engine. The cathodic bonding wires need inspection. Do you have a galvonic isolator? The good news in this story id the lightning protection system DID it's job, your ok. I'm sure I'm forgeting systems and places to look for damage. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, GA imd_ga@hotmail.com
Were going thru this here also this week. FIRST THING, get a good surveyer involved!!! The boat will need a haulout to check thruhulls, shaft, etc... All of the wiring needs to be inspected, posibly replaced. The engine needs to be inspected, DON'T TRY TO START IT! lightning can leave deposits on the crank and score bearings in the engine. The cathodic bonding wires need inspection. Do you have a galvonic isolator? The good news in this story id the lightning protection system DID it's job, your ok. I'm sure I'm forgeting systems and places to look for damage. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, GA imd_ga@hotmail.com
Pat, Great Advice
...and great comments re: internal issues with the engine. Would never have considered that. Ed: good luck on this. Assume you have seen the thread re: insurance check payees. Also, timely for you, see the home page regarding the guest expert forum next week with a Surveyor. Rick D.
...and great comments re: internal issues with the engine. Would never have considered that. Ed: good luck on this. Assume you have seen the thread re: insurance check payees. Also, timely for you, see the home page regarding the guest expert forum next week with a Surveyor. Rick D.
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