[Public-list] Re:lightning strike

[ellen landrum]

Gordon-

Just a bit of sympathy for the strike. We took an indirect hit
recently here in Florida and lost our autopilot, solar charge
controller, and CD player. It's never fun-
good luck with the repairs and keep us posted as to any hull damage/rig repairs.

Be well-

Ellen and John Landrum
Hull #72, Rubicon
http://www.ellenjohnandrubicon.blogspot.com

On 8/4/05, Gordon White <gewhite at crosslink.net> wrote:
>  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
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