Struck by lightening

[geronimo]

My Bavaria 44 (1994) was struck by lightening yesterday. No harm done to five people who were motorsailing in gusts of 46 knots of wind and rain, and no harm done to the boat, but the VHF aerial on top of the mast was atomised and no electronics works. The electrical distribution panel also seems to have been affected (switching on one light turns on several lights).

Anybody with experience or knowledge where else to look for possible damage and what is a clever thing to do to repair the damage?

 

[graham]

Glad noone was hurt.I had a near miss last year and was extremely frightened. In your position I would contact your insurers about lifting ashore for a complete survey/inspection of rigging chainplates etc

even the keel boats can suffer in a direct hit sounds as if you may have escaped lightly.

 

[Appleyard]

Sounds like £££££££'s Tell your insurance Co ..A.S.A.P !!

 

[Oldhand]

...and a complete re-wire from what you advise. Bad luck but you are fortunate a through hull transducer wasn't destroyed, things would have been a whole order worse.

 

[Alrob]

DOES INSURANCE PAY OUT FOR LIGHTNING "ACT OF GOD" AND ALL THAT

 

[BruceDanforth]

The compass may also have been affected.

 

[nordic_ranger]

Yes. I know of two boats who have had this misfortune this year and only this afternoon was talks to a surveyor who was assessing the damnage to one of them.

 

[Appleyard]

"Act of God " is a load of bollocks if there was such a thing as an A.O.G.,then insurance would no pay out for strong winds,freezing pipes,floods,earthquakes or anything not man made!!

 

[bbg]

A friend's boat was hit a couple of years ago. Something major in the engine (crankshaft? piston rod? - can't remember) was broken. Insurance co said it couldn't possibly have been caused by a lightning strike - but eventually there was no other explanation, so I believe ins co eventually paid.

My advice - tell ins co, get it lifted and thoroughly surveyed including electrics, rigging and engine / prop.

 

[William_H]

Look for high current overheat damagee to prop shaft and couplings and keel bolts. I( would suggest also that stay wires may have been overheated if they carried current. The mast itself may have also overheated but being low resistance aluminium it may have not overheated. Check also through hull fittings. good luck (hopefully it can't get any worse) olewill

 

[chrisc]

The bavarias are usualy earthed to one of the keel bolts with a strap.Was this affected?

 

[kengill]

Basically everything electrical will be damaged including the alternator, and need replaced . You should also have the top of the mast inspected as there could be damage to the top plate where the aerial mounted masthead lights, radar , radar reflector etc etc.

Expect a bill for many thousands

 

[hightech]

Half way through refitting a boat here in pompey that was struck by lightning and the bill grows daily. All the electronics trashed, many bulbs blown, switch panels wrecked, but alternator and pumps not affected (yet).

Geoff.

 

[LizzyD]

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gifMate, I was struck a few years ago. Cost me about £500 in repairs and marina fees, plus dropping the mast to re-wire. Had to replace all of the electronics too. It gets worse. My insurance had run out so couldn't claim. Hopefully your experience shouldn't be as traumatic. The electricity went down the backstay, through me and out of my right leg. Still have the scars - but what a story to tell. Take care, Lizzy /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif