MacGregorSailors.com

The Mac bug bit me in 2006 (lurking and listing through Craigs//Classifieds the whole time), but due to budget and timing it took a little longer than I had planned to jump in. With that out of the way I was looking for the forum’s answer to a question that I never see mentioned but has always caused me great concern. I live in South Texas and we get some crazy and quickly shifting weather. Question is this: How is it possible to sit out on a lake/body of water in a giant lightning rod? Is it just an odds game or is there some piece of tech or device that I have never heard of in my endless lurking? I await your responses and hope to find some solace in your answers as this one seemingly trivial sticking point causes me more consternation than the “boatloads” of money that will no doubt be “bailed” from my bank account in the very near future.

Sorry for the puns, I could knot stop myself.

Welcome jjdlg

Now before we can get to any business there is the question of pizza that needs to be supplied to the members of the forum, its sort of like a donation to odin, to bring you good luck and wise answers.

If the question is how do I stop myself from being hit by lightning the answer is you can't, we did go through this a thread a little while ago, in short it works like this, you have more chance of being killed in a car accident everyday on the road than being hit by lightning by around 300 times, yet we don't worry about going out and jumping in your car, you also have a far higher chance of being shot (especially in Texas) and a myriad of other ways of dying than your boat being hit by lightning (I think the total deaths by lightning strike in the USA a couple of years ago was only 30 in total) , so don't worry about it, when you number is up, well thats it.

I know not great comfort but we are intrepid sailors, we laugh at danger, hardship is our soul mate, well unless the Air Con in the boat gives out, thats way too much hardship

OR You just make sure your very close to a boat with a higher mast than yours, let them have to worry about it

sailboatmike wrote:Welcome jjdlg

Now before we can get to any business there is the question of pizza that needs to be supplied to the members of the forum, its sort of like a donation to odin, to bring you good luck and wise answers.

There have been several threads on lightning. BOATUS even published an article on this awhile back. Lightning happens, and other than keeping your boat inside a building, there are no guaranties to not being hit.

A wise sailor does not go out without checking the weather. Even then you can get caught in a storm. I would not let the fear of lightning prevent you from pursuing owning a Mac, or any other sailboat.

Be wise, take a sailing course, learn how to read the clouds, enjoy the lifestyle, and remember Dirty Harry’s big line; “Are you feeling lucky ...”

Ray
~~_/)~~

P.S. I’ve been caught twice in a lightning storm while sailing on lakes in upstate New York. Once in a sailing dinghy, and once in my . Those storms came from behind the mountains, and could not be seen until it was too late to run. Both times scary, but in the , after dropping anchor and letting out the proper length of rode, my wife and I were able to go below, close the hatch, and sit it out comfortably playing scrabble. All the while, hoping for the best.

Lightning scares the heck out of me too.

We were caught in a totally unpredicted thunderstorm last year, in the middle of the night. I didn't even have the cockpit side enclosures up because the forecast was for total calm all night. I was woken up by the boat suddenly violently rocking, and my face was getting wet in the AFT berth, that's how much rain was coming in the open companionway. Sheets of lightning everywhere. But we were fine and in fact I was somehow the only one who woke up to witness the event. I think that if the boat was sinking during the night, my sons would just sleepwalk to a higher location, and go back to sleep until the water followed them up there.

When I think about it, we leave the boat in a marina 24/7 through most of the summer, along with 100 other "lightning rods", and none of them have ever been hit in the 5 years that we have been docking there. Like sharks and vending machines and other things that can kill you, you have to treat lightning with respect and minimize your exposure, which is usually easy to do with a little planning.

NiceAft wrote: P.S. I’ve been caught twice in a lightning storm while sailing on lakes in upstate New York. Once in a sailing dinghy, and once in my . Those storms came from behind the mountains, and could not be seen until it was too late to run. Both times scary, but in the , after dropping anchor and letting out the proper length of rode, my wife and I were able to go below, close the hatch, and sit it out comfortably playing scrabble. All the while, hoping for the best.

This is one of the experiences I really look forward to, not in a squall or thunderstorm, just a gentle rain and being cozy and dry below deck.

Thank you all for your answers, I really like the dynamic in this forum and enjoy all the information I am finding. Sorry I missed the other threads relating to this topic, guess I have to double my efforts to "back-lurk" all the previous pages of posts whilst remaining employed and productive, it is a delicate balance. There is an M26 in my area at a fairly reasonable price that I believe I can negotiate into what I want to shell out and still have enough for some sprucing/modding of the boat. I love the design because it is exactly what I want in a watercraft; The ability to use the wind to cruise about the water, camp on the boat when I want to and pull her out of the water and try another locale! The whole concept is just super cool. I look forward to learning a lot from all of your combined knowledge and sharing my experiences (good and bad) in this new hobby.

Now who wants some of these piping hot pizzas I brought? They are from a really cool place just down the street that flies their dough in from NYC weekly!

jjdlg,

These two articles may be of help.

http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/magazin ... g-odds.asp

http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2018/apr ... clouds.asp

Ray

Welcome JJ

Good Luck with your negotiations. Hope you get to be 'Before The Mast' this Season. You're in the right place

P.S. - I'll take 2 Hawaiian or chicken marsala slices