beware of the DANGER of aluminum hulls and lightning

[Catcher's Mitt]

I think we have become complacent in our respect for lightning. when we used to have a camp on Iatt lake. all we had were aluminum boats. Both of my Grandfathers were sticklers for getting off the water at the slightest hint of lightning.

For heaven's sake be careful out there.

RIP Joe.





LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) - A lightning strike on a fishing boat killed one man
and injured another. State wildlife agents say Saturday's strike on Old
Black Bayou near Lake Charles killed 44-year-old Joe Landry. He was
pronounced dead at the scene. His fishing partner - Richard Bergeron of Lake
Charles- was treated and released later Saturday from a hospital.
Investigators say the two were attempting to pick up anchor and retreat from
a small storm when lightning hit.

[Custom Canvas]

WOW AMAZING PHOTOS SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT MR. JOE.

MOTHER NAUTURE IS A POWERFUL POWERFUL THING...

R.I.P.

I HAVE BEEN WAY TOO CLOSE TO THE STUFF BEFORE AND I WILL BE STAYING CLEAR

[crappiekrazy]

Damn that thing looks like it was bombed. thanks for the post and the warning.

[Catcher's Mitt]

question for the old salts out there. the fact that they were in fairly shallow water and had the anchor out....do you think that contributed to them being struck? i would think the anchor line would contribute to making the ion path.

[weekender]

I am a firm believer that when your time comes, you will leave here, rich or poor, good or bad. You can speed that time up by doing something irrational but you can't postpone it.

[Robja]

Originally Posted by Catcher's Mitt

question for the old salts out there. the fact that they were in fairly shallow water and had the anchor out....do you think that contributed to them being struck? i would think the anchor line would contribute to making the ion path.

From the looks of the pictures the lightning exited at 2 points on the side. I wouldn't think that having the anchor out would have any bearing as to increasing the chances of them being hit since lightning deals with positive and negative. Negative charges built up in the clouds while positive charges build up at the ground. the unstable atmosphere causes negative charges to stepladder towards the ground and when the positive and negative get close it offers a channel for the lightning. If anything the battery to the motor may have caused the boat to be more positively charged thus allowing the lightning to hit. I would think if the anchor had been on a chain instead of a rope that the charge from the bolt would have gone to the anchor line and into the water since it seeks the path of least resistance.

The other guy in the boat was lucky to be alive. With the size of the holes in the side of the boat you can imagine what it could do the occupants.

In my business I deal with a lot of lightning claims and it is amazing what destructive power it has. I remember having an insured who thought his house took a direct hit but once I looked at it I found where it had struck a small tree in the woods 50 ft from the house and followed a root to his deck. And the old wise tale that lightning doesnt strike twice in the same place is a myth as I had a guy that had his house hit in the exact same spot twice in 3 years.