Rainstorms—and especially thunderstorms—present
a real risk to pontoon boaters
. Aside from the danger of a lightning strike, storms can make the water rough enough to cause discomfort and even injury should someone be knocked off their feet.
What happens if a boat gets hit by lightning?
The reason is that when lightning exits your boat,
it can leave via a thru-hull fitting or even through the hull itself
. Even if the force of the bolt doesn’t blow out a thru-hull or cause hull damage, it may cause a gradual leak that could go unnoticed and sink your boat.
Is it dangerous to be on a boat during a thunderstorm?
An open boat like a runabout is the most dangerous to human life during lightning
storms, since you are the highest point and most likely to get hit if the boat is struck. If shore is out of reach, the advice is to drop anchor, remove all metal jewelry, put on life jackets and get low in the center of the boat.
Are pontoon boats safe in rough water?
Rough Water. Pontoon boats offer
an incredibly stable and wobble-free ride most of the time
; however, in severe storms when there is heavy chop on the water, a pontoon boat is more dangerous than a traditional V-hull boat. … Within a matter of seconds, the winds kicked up to over 30mph and the waves pounded the boat.
What to do if you’re on a boat during a thunderstorm?
If you’re caught in a thunderstorm out on the water,
seek shelter in your boat’s cabin
, if it has one. Close all windows to prevent taking on water from high waves and rain. If the vessel doesn’t have any sort of shelter, remain as low as possible, in the lowest and most central part of the boat.
What should you not do during a lightning storm?
Do NOT bathe, shower, wash dishes
, or have any other contact with water during a thunderstorm because lightning can travel through a building’s plumbing. Do NOT use your computers, laptops, game systems, washers, dryers, stoves, or anything connected to an electrical outlet.
Should you anchor in a storm?
In storm winds, or in the presence of a rising storm, you will want to set two anchors.
The heaviest and most secure anchor should be set directly into the wind
. This will insure than no matter which way the wind changes, either left or right, you will have your safest gear in front of you.
Can a pontoon boat capsize?
Pontoon boats very
rarely
tip over or flip over, with recorded cases being very uncommon. With a solid flat deck, and the pontoon tube design, they are a very buoyant vessell designed to be used on calm inland waters.
Why would a pontoon boat nosedive?
A pontoon boat can nose dive for multiple reasons. … However,
exceeding weight limits
, bad distribution of weight, fitting the wrong motors, having water in the tubes, taking waves and wake too fast and using the boat in very challenging conditions can all cause a pontoon boat to nose dive.
Are pontoon boats good in salt water?
Bottom line:
feel free to use your pontoon on salt water if conditions are good
. A protected saltwater bay, inlet, or mangrove swamp is often a more suitable pontoon boating environment than the open ocean. Keep an eye on the weather, keep your weather radio set for alerts, and avoid rough conditions.
Why should a boat’s gas tank never be completely filled?
It’s important to never fill the tank of your boat beyond 90% full. This leaves room for
gas to expand
and avoids the potential for overflow. Ensure that all air vents and valves to the gas tank are open.
Is it safe to be in a lake during a thunderstorm?
Lightning often strikes water, and water conducts electricity. That means that the currents from a lightning strike can seriously injure you. In fact, it can even kill you. This is why, when you hear thunder or see lightning, it’s a
good idea to avoid the pool, beach and any other large body of water
.
Where is the best place to leave your float plan?
Where to Leave Your Float Plan. Your Float Plan should be
left on shore with a responsible person
, or with the local marina. That way, if you don’t return from your trip, the person with your Float Plan can use the information to help rescue teams locate you.
What is the 30 30 Rule of lightning?
When You See Lightning, Count The Time Until You Hear Thunder. If That Is 30 Seconds
Or Less, The Thunderstorm Is Close Enough To Be Dangerous – Seek Shelter
(if you can’t see the lightning, just hearing the thunder is a good back-up rule). Wait 30 Minutes Or More After The Lightning Flash
Is it safe to watch TV during a thunderstorm?
It isn’t dangerous to watch TV during a thunderstorm
, but the electronics in a TV set are vulnerable. If you have to make a telephone call, use a mobile phone detached from its cable rather than a landline device. Over-voltages resulting from a lightning strike may follow electrical conductors into the handset.
Can you flush the toilet during a thunderstorm?
A toilet is probably as safe a place as any in a lightning storm
, if you’re not touching metal. … If you have metal plumbing instead of PVC, lightning can follow the pipes through your walls and give you a good (perhaps fatal) jolt.
