Lightning Strikes

rpludwig · May 30, 2017

Milton...sorry for your hit/loss...I asked that question a while back...here's the thread, may help you going forward, maybe not...

https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/newbie-lightning-protection.179404/

Jacktar · May 30, 2017

Nothing really effective, good news is multi hulls get hit more than monohulls, mother nature bites back for digging up the rare earths for electronics. well its a theory

Jacomo Sailor · May 30, 2017

Consider yourself lucky. Our mooring field covers the majority of a long cove with steep ridges on each side. It sits on the east side of the lake and runs in an east, west direction. Since our severe weather generally comes from the west, you can imagine what happens when a gust front sweeps unobstructed across the lake and bottlenecks in the cove. We've seen hurricane force winds in the cove several times over the years. Basically when a big blow rolls through, you don't want to ride it out aboard.

Anyway, several of us got caught in a big storm one Sunday evening at the dock while waiting our turns to use the courtesy dinghys to put our boats away. This was back in the 90's before everyone had instant access to weather and radar in the palm of their hand like we do today. The storm was completely unexpected and rolled in so fast all we could do was take cover under a picnic shelter. It got pretty violent for a while and with every flash of lightning we could see keels coming out of the water and boats dragging their moorings.

One particular strike hit at the mouth of the cove that we thought hit the water because we could see it spread in all directions on the surface. Turned out that it hit a boat. It was a deck stepped mast like our C22's, and was hit right on the top. Not being grounded in any way, it traveled down the mast and blew several small holes in the hull right at the waterline. Someone noticed it listing severely the next day but before the owner could be looked up and contacted, it sank in 30' of water.

Luckily my boats have never taken a damaging hit but I lost two Pioneer stereos and a boom box on my last boat to lightning.

Henry Scurlock · May 30, 2017

Sorry for the losses on your boat Milton. You should probably pull the boat out so you can inspect the entire hull.

My Hunter 19 took a lighting hit which blew out the electronics and started a cabin fire which burned and smoldered to the point of covering almost everything exposed with a thick coating of soot. Most of the acrylic ports were warped from the heat.

After pulling the boat we discovered a spot just above the waterline of the starboard hull which was later determined to be the lightning exit point. It was no bigger than the ball of my thumb on the outside but I have no doubt it would have sunk the boat given time.

For the record, my insurance totaled the boat and settled for an agreeable amount leaving me to dispose of it. I was able to sell the boat and trailer AS-IS/DAMAGED to someone interested in rebuilding it.

Gene Neill · May 30, 2017

rpludwig said:
I asked that question a while back...here's the thread, may help you going forward, maybe not...

https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/newbie-lightning-protection.179404/

I still stand by my comment in that thread.

Sorry for your misfortune, Milton. That really sucks.

Leeward Rail · May 30, 2017

Well that sucks Milton !

This does bring up the thought, of removing some electronics when not aboard.
It's not like a C22 needs a bunch of hard wired electronics.
In fact, I'm looking into a depth finder solution, and am considering both a tablet + Transducer + GPS antenna or something like a single lowrance fishfinder+GPS.
With a tablet, I'd take it off the boat, plus it's more versatile.

FWIW: I've always wondered about the advantage of mooring beside a boat with a taller mast.
Just like.... not having to outrun the bear... just outrun one other person.

Like anything else like this, you do what you can to mitigate the risk, and if you get hit, "C'est la vie".

Benny17441 · Jun 1, 2017

Some disconnect their electronics when not in use and store them inside the oven. Short of that there is not much you can do. Take pictures, gather your receipts and paperwork, do not remove anything and get the insurance adjuster to look at the damage and get a statement from Marina Guy. Lightning strikes at random where it may. There is indeed a statistical propensity for lightning to strike boats close to shore or at docks rather than boats in open waters. Is it due to more boats in than out? Perhaps, no concrete evidence either way. Bonding, diffusers and mast cone of protection are different theories of protection but no concrete evidence that any works. Lightning can be so powerful that it will strike where it may and there is nothing to prevent it. One statistical factor brings some relief and that is that there are hardly if any deaths aboard sailboats directly related to a lightning strike. I have not heard of a single incident since I have been sailing. In powerboats, yes but in sailboats perhaps there is something to that mast cone of protection.

JamesG161 · Jun 2, 2017

Gene Neill said:
I still stand by my comment in that thread.

My comments in that link also.

In fact @Gene Neill had part #3 of my post #5 of that link down pat.

https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/newbie-lightning-protection.179404/

Jim...

Benny17441 · Jun 3, 2017

By bonding the mast to keel or dropping wires into the water the mast is turned into a lightning rod. A lightning rod provides a much more efficient path to ground and thus attracts strikes. Lightning rods are usually installed in the exterior of buildings where a surge or power can travel and leave the structure untouched. In a sailboat the mast is right square in the middle of the vessel and it usually has wiring running inside it for lights and instruments. It does not seem like a good idea to draw more strikes than chance alone would be responsible for. On the other hand it has been said that bonding may help to diminish the damage in case of a strike but none of these theories have been proven. At this point in time it all boils down into what it is agreeable with your ideas and what would offer you the best comfort. I personally elect not to bond the mast, to trust the well being of my instruments and electronics to Insurance and when caught in an electrical storm to head out to sea and away from land. Have been as close to lightning as seeing the blinding flash and hearing the deafening thunder simultaneously. Cannot remember if the hairs in my arms stood up or if I smelled ozone but it happened so fast that did not provide a chance to get scared. The first time it happened I was in a golf cart and the second on the sailboat. Twice in the last 50 years, not bad.

Eagle22 · Jun 3, 2017

I too had my '22 struck by lightning, at 2 AM in the morning, but I lost much more than electronics. See the included picture. The boat burned to the waterline and sank. The powerboat in the next slip was also destroyed. Luckily those were the only two boats destroyed. But my wife and I rebounded quickly and had another Catalina 22 within 3 weeks, that picture is also included.

Leeward Rail · Jun 5, 2017

Wow ! Did the insurance work out well ?

Eagle22 · Jun 6, 2017

Yes - Insurance covered everything. Also learned how important it was to have coverage for the environmental clean up aspects which ran into a lot of money since they had to bring in a barge, divers etc... even the EPA was onsite to ensure any contamination was contained.

Gene Neill · Jun 6, 2017

Man. Nothing left but the pulpits and the keel. My wife would have been cryiiiing ... I probably would have been crying! That's a "new design" boat, too, kinda hits closer to home!

On an unrelated note, @Eagle22, does that jib bag allow breeze to get past it and into the forward hatch?? I might have to get one of those. We are always amazed at how completely our jib blocks the breeze when tied to the lifeline at night.

Leeward Rail · Jun 6, 2017

Eagle22 said:
learned how important it was to have coverage for the environmental clean up aspects

Thanks for the reminder. My renewal is up, and I was meaning to double check my coverage.
How much did the clean up cost ?

Eagle22 · Jun 6, 2017

I pull the bag to one side when sleeping on board so the airflow isn't blocked. I also use screen in the entry way so that keeps a nice airflow as well.

Eagle22 · Jun 6, 2017

The clean up cost around $10,000 - all covered by my insurance. It was a wake up call for the marina which then required proof of insurance from all boat owners including environmental cleanup coverage.

Jacktar · Jun 10, 2017

Well on the good note it looks like your outboard survived except for immersion damage eh?

pclarksurf · Jun 14, 2017

Simply amazing photo-- but all the horrific fire damage aside, that bloody keel is still attached!

Lightning Strikes

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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