If a thunderstorm is headed your direction, get off the water early. Even veteran Bay boaters have been surprised by how quickly a storm can befall them. In the event that it’s impossible to reach safe harbor, the cabin is the safest place on a boat. Even inside, care should be taken to avoid standing near any large metal object, such as a refrigerator, or on a sailboat, the mast. If you must remain topside, don’t touch metal objects and stay as low as possible.
If lightning does strike, BoatU.S. suggests doing a safety check, in this order: first make sure all people are okay; then check the bilge for water (which could indicate damage to through-hull fittings or punch holes); next check electronics and the compass; and finally, check the hull, since a lightning strike can damage fiberglass. If the boat is trailerable, inspect the bottom when you get home. If it’s not trailerable, consider hauling the boat to get a good look.
A 2013 NOAA study found that during the prior seven years, 64 percent of lightning strike deaths (which, of course are rare) occurred during leisure activities, with fishing at the top of the list. Anglers with tall fishing towers should take extra caution because tall boats are more at risk. And all boaters should use common sense. Although electronics are fantastic tools for watching the weather, they do not replace looking up and monitoring the sky.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017 - 17:24
Most boaters on the Chesapeake Bay will experience a late afternoon or evening thunderstorm at some point during the summer months. From June through September, it seems they occur at least once a week and sometimes more frequently. While only a small percentage of lightning strikes actually reach the ground (the rest are cloud to cloud), statistics don’t mean much if it’s your boat that lightning strikes.
If a thunderstorm is headed your direction, get off the water early. Even veteran Bay boaters have been surprised by how quickly a storm can befall them. In the event that it’s impossible to reach safe harbor, the cabin is the safest place on a boat. Even inside, care should be taken to avoid standing near any large metal object, such as a refrigerator, or on a sailboat, the mast. If you must remain topside, don’t touch metal objects and stay as low as possible.
If lightning does strike, BoatU.S. suggests doing a safety check, in this order: first make sure all people are okay; then check the bilge for water (which could indicate damage to through-hull fittings or punch holes); next check electronics and the compass; and finally, check the hull, since a lightning strike can damage fiberglass. If the boat is trailerable, inspect the bottom when you get home. If it’s not trailerable, consider hauling the boat to get a good look.
A 2013 NOAA study found that during the prior seven years, 64 percent of lightning strike deaths (which, of course are rare) occurred during leisure activities, with fishing at the top of the list. Anglers with tall fishing towers should take extra caution because tall boats are more at risk. And all boaters should use common sense. Although electronics are fantastic tools for watching the weather, they do not replace looking up and monitoring the sky.
If a thunderstorm is headed your direction, get off the water early. Even veteran Bay boaters have been surprised by how quickly a storm can befall them. In the event that it’s impossible to reach safe harbor, the cabin is the safest place on a boat. Even inside, care should be taken to avoid standing near any large metal object, such as a refrigerator, or on a sailboat, the mast. If you must remain topside, don’t touch metal objects and stay as low as possible.
If lightning does strike, BoatU.S. suggests doing a safety check, in this order: first make sure all people are okay; then check the bilge for water (which could indicate damage to through-hull fittings or punch holes); next check electronics and the compass; and finally, check the hull, since a lightning strike can damage fiberglass. If the boat is trailerable, inspect the bottom when you get home. If it’s not trailerable, consider hauling the boat to get a good look.
A 2013 NOAA study found that during the prior seven years, 64 percent of lightning strike deaths (which, of course are rare) occurred during leisure activities, with fishing at the top of the list. Anglers with tall fishing towers should take extra caution because tall boats are more at risk. And all boaters should use common sense. Although electronics are fantastic tools for watching the weather, they do not replace looking up and monitoring the sky.