Strike One

I know that I said I was only going to post once a week....but we had to share.

At 6:15 this morning, we were struck by lightning in the slip here in Sarasota. It was a HUGE scary bang that startled me awake (Bill was already awake in bed). Bill noticed that the AC in our cabin was off -- and then quickly that EVERYTHING was off. No lights, no bilge, no head, no AC, no nothing. Then we smelled THE smell; something electrical. We immediately turned everything off (both AC and DC power) but we still weren't 100% sure what happened until we went topside and saw the windex shattered and lying on the dock. There is nothing left at the top of the mast at all!!! No anchor light, no VHF antenna, no stereo antenna, no windex. At least we won't have to sweat as much when we go under the fixed bridges..... 

Bill and I immediately began assessing the damage. And it is extensive. 

There is no rhyme or reason to what the lightning fried. The engine will start but there are no gauges (and the generator won't start at all.) The TV works but the DVD player doesn't. The freezer yes, refrigerator no.  The radar/GPS unit works topside but not down below (which is bad since the 'brains' are down below.) The windlass works but the bow thruster doesn't (the windlass and the bow thruster share a battery and breaker.) The lightning also fried the circuit board on the water maker, the single side band radio, the satellite phone, the tank indicator, and the alternator.

It could have been worse. First and foremost, both of us are OK and there was no fire. We did have a lightning rod at the top of the mast which saved a few systems. The AC is working, which we are thankful for since it is 90 degrees today. And the computer thankfully isn't toast (it was charging overnight). 

We had someone come and do a full evaluation / survey this morning and a claim is already in with the insurance company. We are very lucky that someone so capable and experienced was able to come out right away. He said that he handles about 6 boats a year that have been struck by lightning and he has seen worse. Oh, and did you know that Tampa Bay is the lightning capital of the world? 

We will have to get the boat hauled next week at Snead Island (about 2 1/2 hours away via the ICW) since we don't know where the lightning actually exited the boat. It could have been through the prop shaft or a thru hull so we have to have the boat pulled to make sure. Bill will also go up the mast to inspect the shrouds and the spreaders in case the bolt exited somewhere up the mast. 

So we'll keep you posted.