shocking.experience
sorry.for.the.periods.again.no.spacebar.
yes.I.was.struck.by.lightning.off.of.chicago.about.2.years.ago.
we.came.through.a.squall.trying.to.get.in.and.were.faced.with.a.horizon.that.was.black.as.coal.
I.sent.everyone.down.below.and.put.on.my.foul.weather.gear.
I.think.we.were.lucky.that.the.boat.was.wet.as.it.spread.the.hit.over.a.larger.space.
It.basically.blasted.my.hands.off.the.wheel.
and.when.I.could.hear.again.I.was.so.glad.to.hear.my.atomic.4.engine.still.running.
We.lost.all.the.electronics.and.anything.plugged.into.the.shore.power.110.system.
At.first.I.thought.it.was.a.near.miss.as.I.saw.the.flash.about.20.yards.off.the.starboard.beam.
I.later.learned.that.the.masthead.was.struck.and.the.bolt.travelled.down.the.starboard.topshroud.and.when.it.got.to.the.imbedded.
chainplate.spat.out.the.hull.leaving.about.a.5.inch.circle.of.delamination.and.a.pellet.sized.hole.out.the.hull.of.the.boat.
Since.then.I.have.read.up.some.and.asked.some.questions.
1...you.need.a.good.ground.from.your.standing.rigging.and.your.mast.and.the.water.whether.it.is.a.plate.on.the.hull.a.direct.connection.
to.an.external.keel.or.(in.my.case).4.10.foot.lengths.of.1/4.inch.chain.and.a.quicklink.which.I.hang.off.of.the.shrouds.on.both.sides.so.if.I.am.
under.sail.I.have.4.points.of.ground.into.the.water.on.both.tacks.
it.deploys.quickly.you.can.have.it.set.up.within.5.minutes.of.spotting.foul.weather.
2...as.for.the.electronics.good.luck.I.have.installed.inline.fuses.on.a.lot.of.stuff.and.set.up.two.separate.fuse.blocks.for.everything.but.
as.I.understand.it.with.lightning.it.can.jump.right.across.the.fuse.block.without.even.noticing.it.has.blown.the.fuse.
I.know.in.my.case.the.old.style.socket.fuseholders.on.my.boat.were.blown.into.the.engine.compartment.like.little.22.bullet.
I.highly.recommend.a.hand.held.vhf.on.board.as.it.may.be.the.only.communication.you.have.after.a.strike.
""lightning.never.strikes.the.same.place.twice....too.bad.I.moved.my.boat""
Eric.Branson
"Zarathustra"
Islander.37
Chicago.Il.