Lightnening: I got side flashed or power surged

db27513 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-16-2008

Im in new Bern NC, own a Catalina 30, keep her in a slip, and just discovered that my charger, autohelm, inboard A/C, external navigation lights, engine tach and knotmeter all have stopped working. I was connected to shore power during some particularly fierce electrical storms. Ive filed a claim with BoatUS, and am now lining up a short haul to have the bottom inspected by a surveyor.

2 questions:

1) do insurance companies pay damages based upon depreciated electronics costs, or to just replace with functional units?

2) Ive heard that once you file a claim for lightening, you become black listed (for obtaining future insurance), because the damage can never be fully ascertained and nobody wants to take the risk. Any truth to that?

Thanks in advance

Dave in NC

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 07-16-2008

It really depends on your insurance policy. Some will pay for replacement of electronics, others will pay ACV of the equipment, which is usually far short of what they will cost to repair or replace.

I don't believe so about the blacklisting. Getting hit by lightning is a relatively rare occurrence and is more an act of God than anything else. If you had a propane explosion or fire on your boat, I'd think that is more likely to get you blacklisted, since that is more likely due to human error or intentional human cause.

NauticalFishwife · #3 (**permalink**) 07-16-2008

Dave-we must have gotten the same storm in MD. We too got a "surge" and the only damage I have found was it has caused the chartplotter to fritz. On another post I explained how our plotter has us in the Sea of Japan and we are really on the Chesapeake Bay. The way I understand it is they require you to have the boat hauled to check bottom, thru hulls and if the the damaged goods can be repaired, then they get repaired. If they are deemed unrepairable, then they pay for replacement costs. But the Boat US rep will go through all of that with you. We have a fairly high deductable, so we are discussing whether we are even going to file a claim. I'm not sure I would ever really trust electronics that had been repaired after being sizzled by lightening. If I'm in Japan I want to be able to sightsee and shop!

db27513 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-16-2008

Well so far so good. Im hauling out this weekend, and the surveyor is going over the the electronics shortly there after. I think he will call in a certified engineer to go over all the wiring. Only good thing so far is that the haul out and inspection is at BoatUS's expense.

Sure did set me back some though.. workin on fixing things faster than they were breaking, then this happens.. such is life!

Dave in NC