Buy a boat struck by lightning?

[a64pilot]

It can't be all that rare, I have heard people say they have been hit more than once, and if it were that rare, that is very unlikely.
I believe just this week we had a posting where someone was hit.
I guess the insurance people know the likelihood?

I have known cave divers that were 100 ft underground and the ground above them got hid, it gave them a headache and a few other symptoms, obviously they survived, but 100 ft?

[a64pilot]

It's kind of like aircraft, people will stay away from an airplane that has damage history, but I tell them and I believe it, if it is in the books and has been correctly repaired, it's not an issue.
It is the damage that was incurred, that did not get into the books and wasn't correctly repaired is what you need to worry about, and look for.

So if looking at used boats, how do you know if it was struck as opposed to someone just buying a bunch of new electrical gear, or is a bunch of newish electrical gear a flag?

On edit, when I was looking I found a boat that had damage consistent with having been sunk, when I asked when was it sunk, the Broker looked at me in surprise and admitted it had been sunk before, but he sure wasn't going to volunteer that info, and I think the hesitation was him trying to decide if he could get away with a lie or not.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Its meant to be a yacht strike.
If its true its the luckiest shot in the world.
A friend sent it to me the other day and doesn't know the origin or veracity.

If its true its a great photo and ought to settle an argument or 2


Mark

It was in a 1993 National Geographic article on lightning. Isn't Google great?

. Considered by experts one of the best pictures ever made of a lightning strike, the image was taken in 1984 by Johnny Autery of Dixons Mills, Alabama.

https://teslauniverse.com/nikola-tes...tage-spectacle

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Paul L

It was in a 1993 National Geographic article on lightning. Isn't Google great?

L]

Yikes! Before Photoshopping! It must be the real deal.

[reed1v]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Yikes! Before Photoshopping! It must be the real deal.

At the bottom of the lightning strike seems to be a fuzzy image of a person in the middle of that bolt. The ultimate Strike, you are out!

[did-g]

Originally Posted by Paul L

It was in a 1993 National Geographic article on lightning. Isn't Google great?

https://teslauniverse.com/nikola-tes...tage-spectacle

Good catch but from the pdf I'd say it's not a boat but a rocket:

Summoned by scientists who launched a three-foot-high rocket toward the belly of a passing thundercloud, a bolt of lightning crashes into Mosquito Lagoon near Florida’s Kennedy Space Center (opposite). From the rocket’s tail a spool of copper wire unwound, triggering the strike and creating an artificial path for the cloud’s electric charge.

[kish]

Originally Posted by reed1v

Its still quite rare for a sailboat to get struck by lightning, even if you are the only boat for miles around in an electric storm. Its not the boat, its the earth; and if you are not over that unlucky spot, get a strong drink.
.
.

Nothing, no yacht, will survive a direct strike, which will cause total annihilation. Think of the energy being dissipated in the strike.

Any reported "strikes" by yachts are not really direct strikes, but are are "induced lightening strokes".
Think of hair standing on end in an electrically charged environment.

The consequences of an induced stroke:
Complete annihilation of all wired devices on board, possible fire and in extremis the failure of some bronze through hull fittings and probable sinking.

Some years ago, I met a yacht skipper in Azores who had an incident previously, that destroyed all electrical, electronic and engine controls, resulting in a three month $30,000 dollar repair bill.!

There is no escape, except being elsewhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4sETQhGFRg

[Doublewammy]

In the words of Lou Reed, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN.hati-hati.

[Kreef]

Originally Posted by jimp1234

Recently say a boat on YW that I was interested in, and when I spoke with the broker he said it was struck by lightning about a month ago. The owner is apparently replacing most of the electronics and still "negotiating" with the insurance company. I asked if there was a report from an insurance adjuster and he kind of tap danced around it and said there wasn't one yet. I'm no expert but I understand that lightning strikes can cause pretty extensive damage even affecting rigging,chainplates, in addition to any and all electrical equipment including ac/dc motors, alternators, etc. I'm inclined to walk away from this boat but in general I'd be curious to know what folks think is needed to verify that all lightning damage (and potential damage) is identified and fixed. TIA

If I could find a boat that I liked that was not a lightning victim I would definitely not buy the one that was struck.The old story of lightning not hitting the same object twice might be considered a bonus though as that risk is behind you of it happening again.
That's if you are superstitious and I am not .
I say don't buy it as a precaution .You can't make a terrible mistake unless you do buy it .

[lifeofreilly57]

I've seen yachts hit by lightning that received little or no damage other than electrical and electronics damage, then again I've seen yachts that pretty much compromised the entire hull and every point touched by anything metal, I'd pass on that one, too many variables to consider unless you were well versed in marine surveying skills.
All boat purchases are a roll of the dice, some odds are better than others.

[JPA Cate]

[QUOTE]Nothing, no yacht, will survive a direct strike, which will cause total annihilation. Think of the energy being dissipated in the strike.[QUOTE]--"kish"

Yes, a lot of damage, but friends of ours were struck at the dock in Mooloolaba, and the boat survived, although all the electronics were toast. Insurance covered their damages.

Generally lightning is capricious in what it kills, but we know a number of yachts that have been hit, one unlucky steelie in Southport was struck 4 times in 4 years. Struck, but not destroyed, not "total annihilation."

Ann