Lightening strike on a 330 DA

tdschafer

tdschafer

Well-Known Member
Aug 24, 2009
6,154
Long island , NY
Boat Info
1997 330 sundancer
Engines
twin 454's, Carb, V-Drives
I was over at Watch Hill, Fire Island this past Thursday thru Sunday (Today). We had a little T-storm front move through on Thursday night. I was watching the light show out over the bay with friends (while safely tied to the dock) until it started to rain over head. I could see it moving toward us but it was mostly high cloud lightening over us with the strikes out on the bay.

Once safely inside, the kids sat down to watch a dvd as the rain had messed up my Satellite reception. Suddenly the boat gets as bright as I can ever remember seeing it and the thunder crashed almost simultaneously. With that I hear a buzz- POP come from my electrical panel a foot or so from my head. My friend who stayed outside under an umbrella said the lightening strike and thunder were so powerful that it physically knocked him to the ground!

I immediately screamed "What the F%*K?" as I crouched down. I then noticed I had lost my air conditioning. I opened the panel to see the breaker popped to panel #2. I reset it and find it only reads 60 vac. I am perplexed. I started the generator and switched over. It still only reads 60vac. I now muttered "WTF?" to myself again. After much diagnosing the next day, it turns out that the panel is in fact receiving 122 vac from the shore. The panel meter is toast. The A/C unit didn't work for a couple days but will come on now intermittently for 20-30 minutes then blow the breaker. After consulting with the marina electrician, he surmised that the current travelled up the out-streaming water from the A/C unit and basically reverse energized it damaging the compressor. He also advised me to check my electronics as well. Doing this I discovered that my GPS/Chartplotter is down also!!:smt089

The funny thing is that my VHF & Auto-pilot seem to be working fully. My question is what do I do now? I contacted my insurance guy who said I am covered. I have a $1000.00 deductable. If the A/C & GPS are shot, I will obviously put in a claim. What I am concerned about is how do I find any possible hidden damage (ie: burnt wires, other system damage) that may pop up down the road? I also wonder if the A/C wires or something got damaged and the unit is actually ok. Are there marine electrical experts that could go through this thing and shake out all of the issues? My insurance guy said to get estimates but not to do any work until their guy comes by. Any help would be appreciated!
 
Sorry to hear of your troubles.

Ask your insurance company what time frame is available where you can add other newly discovered items to the claim. Most allow a certain time, but it must be documented by a professional that the damage is a direct result of the lightning strike. As much as you try to find anything amiss, there is still the potential of new issues AND it might not show until next boating season.
 
I had a lightning strike at the house that fried my well pump and hot water heater and anything electronic that wasn't plugged into a surge protector. I would turn on everything and test it out and then re test it to be sure. Sometimes things might work but come to find out they are not functioning properly.
 
I think most insurance companys will give you up till a year after the actual incident. That WAS the case with me when I bought my boat and sailed her home from Destin, FL. I ran over a thick ass line under water that damaged my shafts, props, and struts. It was literally about 3 days before the year was up before I contacted my insurance company. The damage didn't show up until then, that's why I decided to call.

Don't hesitate to call, cause that's what we pay the premiums for, just in case sh!t happens!!!

Best of luck:thumbsup:
 
"he surmised that the current traveled up the out-streaming water from the A/C unit and basically reverse energized it damaging the compressor":smt101

I don't think so....

I don't doubt it was a lightning strike, but the lightning surge got into your electrical system through your metal running gear or even your zinc or possibly the 110 volt circuit itself from shore power. It's not so much were the strike came into the boat that you need to be concerned, but were it exited. All of the electrical systems (110v, 12v, and bonding/grounding system) should be operationally and visually inspected.
Sorry you have to deal with this, but on the bright side you do have insurance! Call me to discuss further.
 
Todd, Scary stuff. I'm glad no one was hurt. All things considered you were all pretty lucky. The other stuff insurance can handle. Sincerely, Brian
 
Todd,

Sorry to hear, and I am glad no one got hurt... I wonder since the 330 has an Aluminum arch if it hit the arch. If so, I would check your radar and KVH. I would check and see if you can find the path that the lightening took. You may have some new welds through out the boat. I would check the top the arch for paint delamination Possibly near your GPS antenna... Not sure about the insurance, but you want to make sure you don't miss anything that may cause the boat to be unsafe... It would great seeing you a Montauk, and Go Eagles!!!
 
I think the insurance will pay for a surveyor to examine the boat once you file a claim, yes? Shouldn't he pull the boat and do a complete damage assessment?
 
Jack nailed it. Have an accredited surveyor who is familiar with your style of boat come down and do a complete electrical inspection. He likely will need to check every wire, every connection, every appliance and electronic item to make sure it's in working order now. Even if things appear to be working now, use them extensively for the next several times you're out in case they crap out in a short period of time. You may be able to then add them to your insurance claim.

Good Luck
 
Like most have said, check out everything, but to be more specific, as stated by Larry, where the lightning exited is imporant to find and check for physical damage to hull/gear. You should have the boat hauled out to do this. Here's a link on lightning protection for boats, it explains what happens when you get struck and what the issues are.

http://nasdonline.org/document/209/d000007/boating-lightning-protection.html

Good luck.
 
As ChuckW said... check the hull!

A friend at the marina was hit several years ago and along with the damaged electronics, they found hundreds of pin holes in the fiberglass.
 
ChuckW said:
Like most have said, check out everything, but to be more specific, as stated by Larry, where the lightning exited is imporant to find and check for physical damage to hull/gear. You should have the boat hauled out to do this. Here's a link on lightning protection for boats, it explains what happens when you get struck and what the issues are.

http://nasdonline.org/document/209/d000007/boating-lightning-protection.html

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Very good article! Thanks for sharing.
 
Wow Todd, sorry to hear about the trouble. The main thing, as Ric pointed out, is that no one got hurt. I guess, SR built good binding system. It might not be good enough to save all the equipment, but good enough to keep you safe.

I totally agree with suggestions above regarding the complete survey. The main thing here is to follow proper protocol that will be satisfactory to your insurance. An official survey report might be the primary document they will use, so you'd need it one way or the other. I really hope that ins. will cover the survey expense.

Let us know how things work out for you.

Good luck my friend.
 
Make sure to check the hull at the waterline We have a friend who's sailboat was hit last year and it created 100's of pinhole leaks at the waterline.
 
rcknecht said:
Todd,

Sorry to hear, and I am glad no one got hurt... ....... and Go Eagles!!!
Click to expand...

Rod,
Thanks for the thoughts. It was great meeting you too but, that last staement? I think not!! That's adding insult to injury!! LOL. I still could use that shirt in the restroom!

AKBASSKING said:
Lesson Learned? Unplug shore power and turn off and unplug all electric items during a t-storm??

Good luck with your repairs.
Click to expand...

That's a negative. I've sat through dozens of these storms in the past in the same condition without incident. That's not including the hundreds of times the boat was set-up identically as it was this last time without me on it and still had no problem. My buddy in his Bayliner 275 Cierra was docked right next to me and had absolutely no problems! I believe It's just luck, or lack of it, with crap like this. So after 30+ years I don't think I'll be changing my ways.

JimG said:
As ChuckW said... check the hull!

A friend at the marina was hit several years ago and along with the damaged electronics, they found hundreds of pin holes in the fiberglass.
Click to expand...

Theresamarie11 said:
Make sure to check the hull at the waterline We have a friend who's sailboat was hit last year and it created 100's of pinhole leaks at the waterline.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys, I wouldn't even have thought of this! Will do.

So after speaking with my insurance agent today we decided to open a claim. He said that it was better to get the process started now. If the ultimate damage is minimal he can always rescind the claim if the need be. So I start the arduous task of ascertaining the total damage suffered by this strike/surge. My main concern now, aside from the AC, is all of the electronics associated with the non-functional chart plotter. The chartplotter is networked with my radar, VHF & Autopilot. I'm wondering if these could have been damaged through the network wiring. There is really no way to test them without a functional plotter. I also am concerned with compatability issues too. My Garmin is the 3206 unit from 2008. I think the radome is the GMR 18HD and don't know if it will match up with current plotter configurations.

I just want to thank everyone for the well wishes and helpful info you have provided here. I will keep you posted on the progress.
 
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