Lightning Storms

[edsr]

Lightning - Need To Know - After reading Sea Jypzee's account of several days ago about the lightning storm while fishing, I have a few questions I hope someone can answer

So, what do you do when you get caught in a lightning storm? Try to out-run it? Lay on the floor and pray? Kiss you a$$ good-bye, what?

It would seem that a small boat with an antenna sticking up is a sitting duck for a strike.

Any thoughts?

edsr

[Sea Jypzee]

Actually it was yesterday. :grin:

In a small boat, your best bet would be to not go out when it's in the area..or if it starts moving in on you, try to head for shore.

Thankfully my boat being fiberglass, about the worst that would have happened would be to have the electronics fried had it taken a hit..but you need to be very cautious to not touch anything metallic as well.

Best to not be out there if it's moving in on you, or try to head towards shore and away from it. Our original plan was to head out offshore to a deep water bottom fishing hole. That plan was changed, as I didn't want to get caught in a squall offshore even further. :shocked:

[WildHawg]

Having been hit by lightning Ed, it's not necessarily a "kiss you butt goodbye" moment, but ya sure don't know that at the time :whazzup: :shocked:
Seriously, I would echo Sea Jypzees advice, and would also call out for the echo alert, and suggest that my friend take her OWN advice as well. I don't care what they say--size doesn't matter when it comes to lightning!!!!!
Just remember Sea Jypzee--I wouldn't say anything if I didn't care [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]
By the way--you owe me a hug--why do you thing they call those things you were wearing scrubs? It's so you can hug tuna slimy men of course!!!! :tongue:

[ 08-06-2003, 10:38 PM: Message edited by: WildHawg ]

[Sea Jypzee]

Wildhawg - Actually part of the reason I moved out offshore when I did was seeing that thunderhead moving in nearshore and in the area of the puker boats. It moved on top of us real fast, we got the fish we had on into the boat and pulled out. Believe me, I wasn't sticking around for long to see what it would produce.

In all honesty, I was more concerned about a water spout popping on top of us than I was about being hit by lightning. With the down-drafts and high winds from multiple directions, it looked just like tornadoe weather I used to see when I lived in Denver and Baton Rouge.

Auntie Em', Auntie Em!! We're not in Kansas anymore Toto

[BUGLEMAN]

A thunder storm is no place for a pleasure craft to be. I would call the coast guard with your location and ask them to advise you what to do. I am sure they have access to doppler radar shots and current weather reports/predictions.

[ 08-07-2003, 11:14 AM: Message edited by: BUGLEMAN ]

[Sea Foam]

That morning I was walking off the dock to go to work and I kept noticing flashes out of the corner of my eye. When I drove up onto the Yaquina Bay bridge that was when I realized what it was. There were lightning strikes like right outside the jaws about every 15 seconds and yet here was this steady stream of boats headed out right into the middle of it. Had me asking the same question about whether it was safe or not. Don't think I'd try that myself.