Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Just trying to get a sense of the urgency involved in a Thunder storm with active lightning coming in while out on the lake. My boat is pretty big , 30 feet with an aluminum structure over the cabin. I love being in the rain and out -and-about in stormy weather. But for safety reasons want to know the level of concern I should have and the proper actions to take when Mother Nature bears down on us,,, thanks for the help

I don't think there can be a good reason to stay out and risk your life and others because you enjoy it. Just being gentle

I'm really glad that when I'm in my slip, that there are a lot of sailboats (aka lightning rods) at the end of the dock. Don't see getting hit in my slip!

So in a nuttshell,,, get the F**k out of the middle of the lake in a thunderstorm,,,puttin it bluntly LOL
is this what I'm hearing you say ????

Yes. I have been forced to sit out a storm(s) on an island. Not fun.

Thanks,,, sometimes I even need to see pictures to fully understand !!!

Googled and found this.

Back when I was a Fireman, I rolled on a barn fire from a lightning strike and have forever since had a great respect for lightning.

Look at this pic, imagine it's your boat and it should tell you what you need to know...

We had two F-111F-s take a lightning strike back in 79, over Norfolk England. We lost two crew members, and one plane. The one that made it back was truly a miracle. The bolt entered at the top of the tail, traveled the entire length of the aircraft, and exited through the Nose Radome - a big spun fiberglass nosecone that covers the radar antennas. There was just a burn mark on the outside of the radome, but the entire inside was filled with shredded fiberglass. Amazingly, the avionics on the bird were still fully functional, with the exception of the InfraRed sensor on the top of the tail - the grounding strap for that, which was basically 1/2 diameter finely braided copper wire, was exploded into a pile of copper filings.

grouser wrote:So in a nuttshell,,, get the F**k out of the middle of the lake in a thunderstorm,,,puttin it bluntly LOL
is this what I'm hearing you say ????

Well yes but Betty says I need to practice not being so blunt

Well you better listen to Betty then,,,, for all the right reasons,,, as for me,,, I have thick skin and can take a strait punch,,, thanks everyone for all the advice !!! Happy Tooning