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? during Lightning storm

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 6:57 pm
by Geniabelle
Hello everyone. I'm new here, but have a question. This past week we were caught in a lightning storm on a Lake in the mountains and there was some debate on what we should have done. :scared It was a lake surrounded by mountains, would have taken 25 minutes to get back to the cabin/safe shelter. No where to run and hide, trees everywhere. The debate was do we get to the closest shore and get on the mountain that is covered by trees, or stay on the pontoon and get close to the shore under the trees? I know you don't want to be on the water, around trees or in an open area during a storm. But there was no where to go. What should we have done? My husband and father-in-law are in debate on who was right. :donno Thanks for any advise.

Re: ? during Lightning storm

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:13 pm
by curtiscapk
If it was me.... I would head to shore with trees and get out of toon on to land under trees but not next to them lightening hits tallest thing and it will strike water! which makes it worse if you are in your toon! it is taller than the water level. That is my opinion others may differ but knowing a 12 year old kid that made it to shore during a storm, but went back to a boat to get his dad's graphite rod he "borrowed" he never made it back to the trees! :prayer After that I got a whole new respect for lightening and water! get under the highest thing but don't hug it or carry it!

Re: ? during Lightning storm

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:27 pm
by lounge lizard
I would like to know more on this too. Maybe doing a search will yield professional advise,,,,,?,,,,,, :coffee . Last one we were in we stayed on shore and had trees around us, but stayed on the boat as it was our shelter. The last thing I want to do is run to a tree to get wetter than I am staying in the boat. If lightning hits the water, does it fry everyone in it? Thanks,,, now Im even more paranoid! :drink4 ( I picked a bad summer to quite drinkin)

Re: ? during Lightning storm

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:36 pm
by curtiscapk
In my opinion you are sittin in a metal 20 x 8 ft lightening rod! Granted you could be under shore trees but you are still sitting in a metal tub so to speak. You can stay dry my ass is staying alive. Like you said don't know for sure but after seeing that kid get blowed up my ass and all my family is as far from the open water as possible he was 20 yards from the trees when it hit that fishing pole granted he was running with a lightening rod, but he still would have been the tallest thing closest to the "open area of the lake"!

Re: ? during Lightning storm

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:38 pm
by ChappyEight
I would think if lightning actually hit the water, as long as you're not touching anything metal, the plywood deck will keep you insulated from electricity that may come up from the water.

However, as mentioned previously, if you're in the middle of the lake, guess what, you're the tallest thing around and lightning is coming after you, not the water.

I was struck as a freshman in high school and wouldn't wish it on anyone. What a nightmare. I've pissed off quite a few golfing buddies because if I hear it coming in the distance, I'm heading back to the clubhouse. I'll use the same logic while boating. I've used my life mulligan.

Re: ? during Lightning storm

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:46 pm
by curtiscapk
I agree Chappy! What percentage of a toon is metal? MOST OF IT! Speaker wire, Lights, etc.... I am with you my ass is as far away from water as possible!

Re: ? during Lightning storm

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:49 pm
by curtiscapk
Man I just caught this your name is Lounge Lizard and you quit drinkin when you bought a toon! You got bigger balls than I do!

Re: ? during Lightning storm

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:30 pm
by BassFrequency
ChappyEight wrote:I would think if lightning actually hit the water, as long as you're not touching anything metal, the plywood deck will keep you insulated from electricity that may come up from the water.
ya have any idea how far 100,000,000 volts can arc, chappy?

Re: ? during Lightning storm

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:10 pm
by texaspontoon
I actually know a guy named Paul who is a charter boat captain in Galveston. He was coming back in during a lightning storm with a boat load of clients when all of the sudden he woke up on the floor/deck with everyone standing around him asking him if he was ok (he was holding onto the metal steering wheel when the boat was struck). He did not even remember the strike, everyone proceeded to tell him what ha had happened, (it scared the clients to DEATH!) Paul was a little freaked out as you can imagine!

So run for cover man, otherwise you might as well lick your finger, stick it up in the air and scream like Lt. DANE in Forrest Gump "IS THAT ALL YOUVE GOT GOD!" :eviltaunt Chances are you would be fine, but I don't ever want to be BBQ'd!

Matt.

Re: ? during Lightning storm

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:26 pm
by HandymanHerb
Well lets see if you on shore and on wet ground, if it hits the tree it's going to ground, I think I have to take my chance on the Toon by the tree and let it ground and the lake take it.

But you don't have much choice in a situation like that.

Re: ? during Lightning storm

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:57 pm
by chill'nthemost
Hope I hit the Lotto before I getting hit with lighting in our toon. Odds are better to get "lit up" before the gov. sends out your winnings.

Re: ? during Lightning storm

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:42 am
by ChappyEight
BassFrequency wrote:
ChappyEight wrote:I would think if lightning actually hit the water, as long as you're not touching anything metal, the plywood deck will keep you insulated from electricity that may come up from the water.
ya have any idea how far 100,000,000 volts can arc, chappy?
Good point.

You're toast either way.

Re: ? during Lightning storm

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 3:28 pm
by lounge lizard
curtiscapk wrote:Man I just caught this your name is Lounge Lizard and you quit drinkin when you bought a toon! You got bigger balls than I do!
That was a joke, Im still a lounge lizard! Go Nattie Lite,,,
:nana