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 Electrical shock thunderstorm		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Tahoe Cruiser
1st Mate

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USA
72 Posts
Initially Posted - 08/10/2014 :  18:16:40  Show Profile
So I was out on Lake Tahoe today and a huge nasty thunderstorm developed. I headed back to my mooring and starting closing up shop. As I was about to leave the boat I heard a ticking sound coming from the mast. I looked up and saw an arc where the front deck light is. It was a constant intermittent arc. I unplugged the mast power and got shocked while putting the cap back on the deck socket. I then heard arc snaps coming from all over the boat. There were numerous lightning strikes hitting the water about 5 miles away. I was getting nervous as the huge cell was heading my way. I climbed to the back and disconnected the battery and was shocked over and over again. After the battery was disconnected all of the wires were snapping with electricity. I was expecting a bolt of lightening to hit me at any second. When I got back into the galley I saw multiple acrs between the facet and the sink. It was really wild. I closed up the boat and hopped on my dinghy. I untied from the buoy and then was shocked a few more times as I grabbed the rub rail of the boat to guide me to the aft of the boat where my gear was sitting. I thought for sure my boat was getting ready to connect with the dark clouds above via a lightening bolt.

Any of you ever have something like this happen?
Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts
Response Posted - 08/10/2014 :  19:02:11  Show Profile
HOLY CRAP!! I suspect you were, multiple times, part of a "leader" that develops from the ground up to meet a strike from above. If the latter had happened, we wouldn't have been reading this!

Glad you're here!!
Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/10/2014 19:05:04
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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts
Response Posted - 08/10/2014 :  19:31:33  Show Profile
WOW, could you smell hair burning?
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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts
Response Posted - 08/11/2014 :  03:51:41  Show Profile  Visit britinusa's Homepage
Wow! Nearest I've ever been to a bolt was 13 running home from my store job in heavy rain. Ran past a bomb site (wwii) and a bolt hit the ground where I could see it. Did not stop running!

Sounds like you did the right thing. Sorry you didn't get any pics

Paul
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts
Response Posted - 08/11/2014 :  05:58:13  Show Profile
Oh, ya... Next time stop and take some pix!
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Tahoe Cruiser
1st Mate

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USA
72 Posts
Response Posted - 08/11/2014 :  08:10:59  Show Profile
quote:
Originally posted by Stinkpotter

Oh, ya... Next time stop and take some pix!


I really wish I had taken some video of the sink arcs, that was really wild looking. I was so freaked out that something bad was going to happen at any second I just wanted out of there. I need to work on some kind of grounding set up to get rid of that charge should it happen again. I am thankful my 3 year old daughter wasn't with me. Those shocks felt like 110v, bone jarring.
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5377 Posts
Response Posted - 08/11/2014 :  12:25:08  Show Profile
I'll ask the $60,000 question: is your mast electrically grounded (ahem - electrically connected by at least #4 AWG cable) to the keel? I suspect that the leaders did not complete the circuit preventing a strike, HOWEVER, if your mast were grounded, the arcing would probably not have taken place. It would have been a full-on strike.
That's gotta be one of the scariest experiences of your life!
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.