[Public-list] Re:lightning strike

[Gordon White]

 A follow-up on the lightning strike our boat (Brigadoon II, # 275) 
received July 2nd (keeping us from joining the Maxi-Cruise that weekend.)

    We saw the flash, though not actually where it hit the boat, as 
Brigadoon was at our pier behind the house here in Deltaville. The 
strike damaged one of our portable phones, acting like a phone off the 
hook, which took a little time to track down. It also blew the computer 
to printer cable, though both were turned off and connected to a 
commercial-grade surge protector at the time.

    Later children across the creek told me : "Mister, lightning hit 
your boat. We saw it hit the mast."

    The vhf antenna on the top of the mast was a little wiggly and part 
of the Windex wind indicator was gone. The masthead anchor light, the 
steaming light at the spreaders and the stern light were blown out. 
Possibly only the bulbs - we're still finding out.  The 110 volt 
automatic bilge pump and the battery charger were destroyed, as was the 
vhf, the depth sounder and the speed log, as well as the autopilot, the 
most expensive item lost.

    Our insurance sent an adjuster down to look at it and (we were away 
at the time he came) later had me have it hauled to be sure there was no 
underwater damage.

    The damage, including the original  haulout and another haulout to 
replace the depth and speed pickups, was estimated as $3,878. The 
insurance sent me a check for  $2,995.09. Of the difference, $500 was 
the deductible and the other  $333 was depreciation on the instruments 
and autopilot. A replacement wheelpilot is now $999 compared to the $600 
I paid for it  three years ago. The other instruments were also about 
50% more expensive, due, possibly, to the fact that Boat U/S and West 
Marine (who both have stores in Deltaville) have merged and no longer 
compete on prices.

    While I am going to have professionals go up the mast and do that 
work, I will probably  reinstall the other items myself except the 
autopilot, in an attempt to come out somewhere near even.

    It's odd, but the bow light did not blow out, neither did my GPS .  
I plan in the future to leave the vhf antenna disconnected when I am not 
using the boat.

    In sum - it could have been a great deal worse. But it did spoil 
what was the nicest July 4th weekend I can remember on the Bay in the 47 
years I have been sailing here and out of Annapolis. It was, after the 
storm, clear and in the low 80s - unusually mild for the Bay in July.

- Gordon White