Lightning

[SolentPhill]

No ive not been boating as log as some on here, and I seek your wisdom.

On Thursday last week we were heading along the Solent from the east, the visibility wasn't good but I could see enough I put my lights on along with the radar, as I got near the forts it started to rain and then there was a belt of lightning which came with a hell of a flash followed very quickly but the thunder, I had checked the forecast the day before it was not due, so it was a surprise to me but not wanting to be out in it I turned sharp right and headed into Porstmouth and hung around the light ship for 15 mins to let it pass. There was several lightning bolts behind me and the sound of very close thunder was a concern as I made my way in.

What surprised me as I was in the entrance to the harbour was the amount of boats I had passed on the way in who were either fishing or just going about their boating and but even more concerning was the steady flow of departing yachts, a couple of fishing boats and a dive boat. Now I know the ferries must have protection, but does it matter if a small boat gets hit, I always thought if lightning was in the area, it will aim for a boat rather than the sea and would fry the electronics if hit, or am I being a bit cautious and its nothing to worry about.

 

[oceanfroggie]

There is little one can do about it really if out on the water. Statistically it is highly unlikely a grp boat would be struck. If worried about electronics, just put your HH VHF and HH GPS or smartphone in the boats microwave. Its a faraday cage. However in the highly unlikely event of a lightening strike to a grp boat, electronics would be the least on the crews concerns. Composites and lightening don't get on. We've never really bothered either way, boats are far too slow to move away from under a CB.

 

[spannerman]

It will generally go for the highest object in the area, so If the lightship was taller than your mast you should be OK, but there are no hard and fast rules with lightning.
We had a Hallberg Rassey on land over winter along With several other sailboats, but his was plugged into the shorepower giving the lightning the earth path it needed, so his mast acted as a lightning conducter, it took out everything in the boat that had a circuit board in it, I used 70 hrs replacing all Nav equipment, auto pilot, heater components,battery chargers, VHF and all instruments, electronics on the engine, radio/cd, LED nav lights, you name it and it was toast. Also melted the safety wires along the stanchions!
A tip I heard for sailboats is to have a good quality heavy duty jump lead onboard and clip it to the mast and hang the other end in the sea, to lead lightning away from the boat.

 

[alant]

No ive not been boating as log as some on here, and I seek your wisdom.

On Thursday last week we were heading along the Solent from the east, the visibility wasn't good but I could see enough I put my lights on along with the radar, as I got near the forts it started to rain and then there was a belt of lightning which came with a hell of a flash followed very quickly but the thunder, I had checked the forecast the day before it was not due, so it was a surprise to me but not wanting to be out in it I turned sharp right and headed into Porstmouth and hung around the light ship for 15 mins to let it pass. There was several lightning bolts behind me and the sound of very close thunder was a concern as I made my way in.

What surprised me as I was in the entrance to the harbour was the amount of boats I had passed on the way in who were either fishing or just going about their boating and but even more concerning was the steady flow of departing yachts, a couple of fishing boats and a dive boat. Now I know the ferries must have protection, but does it matter if a small boat gets hit, I always thought if lightning was in the area, it will aim for a boat rather than the sea and would fry the electronics if hit, or am I being a bit cautious and its nothing to worry about.

I was passing portsmouth, on way up from Nab, on a large ketch when that happened.
Lightning strikes all around & torrential 'tropical' rain. Very disturbing, particularly when advised by the owner, that there was no earth protection onboard, having been forgotten by the yard after taking rig out.

 

[U4]

No ive not been boating as log as some on here, and I seek your wisdom.

On Thursday last week we were heading along the Solent from the east, the visibility wasn't good but I could see enough I put my lights on along with the radar, as I got near the forts it started to rain and then there was a belt of lightning which came with a hell of a flash followed very quickly but the thunder, I had checked the forecast the day before it was not due, so it was a surprise to me but not wanting to be out in it I turned sharp right and headed into Porstmouth and hung around the light ship for 15 mins to let it pass. There was several lightning bolts behind me and the sound of very close thunder was a concern as I made my way in.

What surprised me as I was in the entrance to the harbour was the amount of boats I had passed on the way in who were either fishing or just going about their boating and but even more concerning was the steady flow of departing yachts, a couple of fishing boats and a dive boat. Now I know the ferries must have protection, but does it matter if a small boat gets hit, I always thought if lightning was in the area, it will aim for a boat rather than the sea and would fry the electronics if hit, or am I being a bit cautious and its nothing to worry about.

Personally I think you did the right thing, I would have done the same.