Lightning Strikes! Any Suggestions?

[RichardS]

OK.....in a recent thread I discussed a problem with my boat's failure to start (nothing from the starter at all) and the "Lost Engine Com" message my Smartcraft guage was giving me.

As I disclosed there, the tech who came out to my boat diagnosed it to be an ECM failure, a result of a nearby lightning strike last week, while my boat was plugged into shore power. (Our house also had a power failure that evening.)

The insurance company wants the boat pulled and the hull inspected and all electronics bench-tested. (It already appears my transducer is malfunctioning. And my Northstar 550 is working but some functions appear to be lost......those connected to engine monitoring in particular....some are working and some aren't.)

I understand some effects from a lightning strike, especially when it wasn't a "direct hit", may not immediately demonstrate themselves.

SO.....I ask that you guys please give me some suggestions on what to look for and what to expect.

What I do NOT want to happen is have something overlooked that subsequently fails later this season or next season, because it will be very hard to go back to the well at a later time, if everything isn't discovered NOW.

While I am confident in the shop's tech's, I would very much appreciate any advice you may have, especially if you have had an experience like this, but even if you haven't!

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

 

[hottoddie]

Sounds like time for a professional surveyor may be in order.

 

[tdschafer]

My boat took an indirect lightening strike a few years ago while docked in front of the restaurant in Watch Hill, Fire Island. As best as could be detected, the surge found its way into the boat via the water discharge on my A/C unit. My damage was immediately evident. The A/C electronics were melted. The A/C side of my AC panel sustained damage. In addition, several DC devices were destroyed by current into the ground side that melted internal components. Those devices were my GPS & Stereo. I don't recall any other damage. My insurance company (the good hands people) Sent a marine surveyor to oversee the troubleshooting & recommended repairs. The boat was hauled & the hull inspected for crazing but none was found. I hope these tidbits help a little. Best of luck with the repairs.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Gofirstclass]

Here's a link to a thread I started 3 years ago when we got a near miss lightening strike. If you read through it and have any specific questions about how to proceed just PM me or post them on here.

Good luck.

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/62165-What-a-storm-we-hit!?highlight=lightening

 

[RichardS]

Mike, thanks for the link...read your thread and it was very interesting to say the least! And oh by the way I agree you made all the right calls that day!

As for my boat, it got towed from my house to the dealer yesterday, so it's in their hands now and next step is to deal with the insurance company and hope we get everything that was affected done.

They're going to pull the boat and inspect the hull, although I don't expect any issues there. I think basically I need an ECM and a chartplotter and a transducer.

My mood about the whole thing brightened considerably when an ECM they carry for test purposes allowed the boat to fire right up! I was afraid it was much worse!

Hopefully they will find anything I am missing and get me back on the water as quickly as possible! Looking out at my empty slip is VERY disheartening!!!

 

[Bob & Sue]

Mike is on another forum I followed his ordeal on here & iboatnw from the first post till all the problems were resolved he's a wealth of information on dealing with your insurance & mechanic to get it resolved. DON'T hesitate to PM him with anything that may come up.

Edit; We've been caught out in thunder storms several times, time seems to stop while trying to get off the water to shelter.