Checking the weather before setting sail on your boat is highly important to be sure there are no thunderstorms in your area. The National Weather Service continuously updates their weather forecast to keep you informed and safe. Not all thunderstorms can be predicted even with the best reports and some smaller storms may not be reported at all. Therefore, it’s highly important for boaters to learn how to read the weather as well. A thunderstorm is already in progress when the clouds become dark and more anvil-shaped. Thunderstorms can be highly unpredictable, especially over coastal waters. Florida has the most deaths and injuries from lightning strikes than any other US state. A large percentage (more than 50%) of these deaths and injuries reported occur to people who are involved in water-related activities like boating, swimming and other recreational activities.
If a storm should arise while you are boating or engaging in any water activities, get off the water immediately. It is crucial to follow certain safety precautions to protect yourself and others during a thunderstorm if you cannot get to shore. Be sure to stay low in the boat or in the cabin since lightning is more attracted to objects above a flat surface. Stop any water activities (like water skiing, fishing, etc), disconnect all major electronics and remove or tie down antennas.
You can also protect your boat from being a target for lightning strikes but there’s no such thing as a lightning-proof boat. All-metal ships are rarely damaged and deaths or injuries are uncommon. These ships are frequently struck but the high conductivity of metal causes a rapid dispersion of the electrical charge. Smaller boats constructed from fiber-glass are more vulnerable to lightning strikes since any object projected above a flat surface acts as a potential lightning rod.
Lightning can seriously injure or even kill you. Be sure to take all precautionary measures to protect yourself and others in any weather condition.
If a storm should arise while you are boating or engaging in any water activities, get off the water immediately. It is crucial to follow certain safety precautions to protect yourself and others during a thunderstorm if you cannot get to shore. Be sure to stay low in the boat or in the cabin since lightning is more attracted to objects above a flat surface. Stop any water activities (like water skiing, fishing, etc), disconnect all major electronics and remove or tie down antennas.
You can also protect your boat from being a target for lightning strikes but there’s no such thing as a lightning-proof boat. All-metal ships are rarely damaged and deaths or injuries are uncommon. These ships are frequently struck but the high conductivity of metal causes a rapid dispersion of the electrical charge. Smaller boats constructed from fiber-glass are more vulnerable to lightning strikes since any object projected above a flat surface acts as a potential lightning rod.
Lightning can seriously injure or even kill you. Be sure to take all precautionary measures to protect yourself and others in any weather condition.
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