Caught out in thunderstorm at the lake, best place to ride it out?

[IvanRZB]

Hi all,

Want to poll the collective wisdom of the group: while we were out at our local lake this weekend a nasty thunderstorm blew in; we didn't have time to get back to dock or any real shelter. I felt too exposed out on the water so we found a nearby beach, tied up the boat and waited it out on shore in the middle of the woods--the lake is in a state park. As is the case in many, many, boating scenarios involving a married couple, there was a stark difference in opinion on what is the safest place to be. In my mind being out in the middle of the water means we'd be the tallest thing around and a lightning target, being in the woods among tall trees isn't great either but at least I felt like our chances were a better of not being hit.

In the end we ended up getting back into the boat but stayed tied up to shore--it was quite literally a middle ground between our opinions, plus I'm thinking maybe it really was safer since the trees could act as nearby lightning rods. Any other options / opinions? We could have maybe motored over under one of the road overpasses but I had visions of tons of boats fighting for the same space and slamming into concrete girders.

 

[Maccam26]

following, i think staying on shore is now the consensus I'm finding online.

 

[Dixie Highway]

I think you made the right call. If you can't get the boat off the water getting yourself off the boat is option #2. I'd take my chances in the trees before taking my chances on open water.

 

[Dean P]

I too would get in the wood. This would provide some shelter. I'm not on a lake, but it gets really nasty here. Winds kick up which makes waves crash against the boat. Anchor could get loose and who knows what happens then. Being onshore is safer. Can always fix the boat if it gets damaged.

 

[Scottintexas]

if I didn't have an aluminum tower/lighting rod over my head I may choose to ride it out as practice for a Bimini trip,

that being said, my advice is if you can safely get off the boat that is option 1,

we recently had a SEVERE storm on our lake and someone got pushed up on shore with people still in the boat,

 

[Chevyguy2021]

we try to hide under a bridge

 

[Elliott]

I doubt that there is a correct answer, because there are so many variables. Overall, your chances of being struck by lightning are very, very low even if you are the highest object, but if you are struck the impact could be fatal. Hiding in the trees (presuming a thick forest) should significantly reduce your already low lightning risk, but it raises your risk for falling branches (risk varies with types of trees). Also, how much has or will the storm kick up waves on the lake? If you anchor your boat near the shore or beach, you probably run a significant risk of damaging your boat versus the other lower risks.

I think I would have headed to the overpass / bridge. It might not be crowded. If it is crowded, you are at least near others who might render aid if you need it.

 

[jsg73]

In the past we always tried to get up in the steepest hollow so there would be many trees way higher than us to attract the lightning if we couldn’t beat it back to a marina.

 

[Inthrustwetrust]

If I can’t find shelter my plan is to drop both anchors in water we can touch in and get on shore. I don’t like being out in the open water with a aluminum tower, seems to be a poor choice. There are a lot of nasty critters where I boat, so I’m not getting into a wooded area either. Snakes and spiders are much more a threat than the lighting. I got a couple of gortex jackets in the boat for the ladies and kids. Beach seems to be the best spot. Trees close but we aren’t under them, boat in the water not to far away acting as a lighting rod.

Fortunately we are in the inner coastal, I can run as far as want to East or West until the gas runs out. North/South not so much. Which comes with its own set of challenges.

Best defense in this situation is a good offense. If weather is questionable I’m reading the forecasts from the NWS. It’s a lot of info and big words but you can get some good knowledge on what/where/when things are expected to develop, which can help your plan. Radar on the phone. Unfortunately our favorite spot is hard to get good signal, there are so many people in a tiny spot. Like going to a professional sporting event. 5 bars but no data. I watch the winds and clouds like a hawk. Once the cumulonimbus clouds start towering its time to start planning, which is pretty much every day in Florida. Often times we don’t do anything, I just let the group know we need to watch things, and when I make the call we are bailing we aren’t messing around, get on the boat and get packed up, you can get another drink/take a selfie once we are moving.

 

[Crob83]

I feel ya, I got caught in a nasty storm last weekend. My buddy has a spot at the campground to tie up on the shoreline. So I just tied up to his pontoon with a lot of fenders. Including 4 Babz balls, so I knew our boats would not touch not matter how nasty it got. It hardcore stormed for 4 plus hours, and my cover was in my truck at the ramp. Left her uncovered all night and was pleasantly surprised how dry everything was in the morning to be honest. Heres a couple pics before the storm hit, but when it did the waves were like the fucking ocean...lol. they probably got sick of hearing me talk about if my boat was ok because all of their boats are shitty????

 

[IvanRZB]

@Inthrustwetrust great point about being vigilant about the weather before you even go out. Cell signal is very spotty where we boat so radar isn't a great option, NOAA weather alerts might be useful enough though for alerts

 

[dscable]

I feel ya, I got caught in a nasty storm last weekend. My buddy has a spot at the campground to tie up on the shoreline. So I just tied up to his pontoon with a lot of fenders. Including 4 Babz balls, so I knew our boats would not touch not matter how nasty it got. It hardcore stormed for 4 plus hours, and my cover was in my truck at the ramp. Left her uncovered all night and was pleasantly surprised how dry everything was in the morning to be honest. Heres a couple pics before the storm hit, but when it did the waves were like the fucking ocean...lol. they probably got sick of hearing me talk about if my boat was ok because all of their boats are shitty????

This looks like Raccoon. If so, I pulled out at the state park ramp right before this hit and then drove through it. I remember leaving looking at everyone anchored out as I went over the bridge thinking "glad I got out of there". While driving through it, I was very thankful to be in the truck and not on the water. I also passed a poor guy on the side of the road with I flipped over boat trailer. Boat was laying on it's side in a ditch. I assume he hydroplaned and lost control as it was not in a spot where wind shear should have been a factor.

 

[tdonoughue]

I think I would be in the 'on shore in the woods' camp, but a couple other suggestions not yet mentioned:
1) In foul weather like that, the first move should be to get everyone in a life vest.
2) If in the boat or moving to shore, you want your crew to be as low and toward the center of the boat as possible. That means sitting on the floor in our boats, even if some wave action gets some folks damp. Why? Lower avoids some lightning risk, but also lowers the center of gravity of the boat and makes it take rollers better without capsizing.

 

[Crob83]

This looks like Raccoon. If so, I pulled out at the state park ramp right before this hit and then drove through it. I remember leaving looking at everyone anchored out as I went over the bridge thinking "glad I got out of there". While driving through it, I was very thankful to be in the truck and not on the water. I also passed a poor guy on the side of the road with I flipped over boat trailer. Boat was laying on it's side in a ditch. I assume he hydroplaned and lost control as it was not in a spot where wind shear should have been a factor.

Yes sir it is Raccoon and it got nasty very quickly!

 

[zipper]

Keep in mind that at least on my boat 07 AR230, that the tower is not bonded/grounded to any metal surfaces below the waterline like the mast on our Beneteau has a bonded flat braided cable that connects the standing rigging (mast, shrouds and stays) to the lead keel/S.S. keel bolts. I think a strike would bypass the tower, and find a path to ground like the driveshafts. No ground strap on my tower directing a strike to ground. I would not want to be on either during a lightning storm/strike. Best scenario is that my tower/boat would be a Faraday Cage. Pay attention to the weather forcast, Seek shelter or get off the water.