With the increase in extreme weather events and lightning flash frequency, it’s no surprise that boat buyers are beginning to give greater consideration to their protection against lightning strikes. A recent article in Power & Motoryacht magazine investigates ways boat owners are dealing with the situation and strategies they can do to insulate themselves against potentially disastrous outcomes.
The author of the PMY story, “One Strike, You’re Out!”, tapped Nordhavn’s own electrical engineer, Mike Telleria, for his thoughts on the ways manufacturers are handling the situation. While the topic doesn’t usually come up during his conversations with clients, Telleria does believe lightning strike protection is increasingly becoming on buyers’ radars – especially for those in areas with a lot of lightning action such as Florida or the Chesapeake Bay. “We’ve had some new buyers who are very concerned and wanted to take as many precautionary steps as possible,” he said. “There are a fair amount of protective measures available to boaters that can really help depending on the severity of a lighting strike.”
Telleria admits he isn’t aware of any practical solution that will offer anything close to 100% protection from lightning, however “contingency plans are always a good idea.” He says it’s not unusual for owners to carry spare electronic control modules for their engines, as well as handheld communications gear, in the event a strike disables their onboard gear.
With worries over climate change and research pointing to a 12 percent increase in lightning strikes for every degree of warming, the discussion is bound to gain even more traction, and adds Telleria, “specifically so if insurance coverage costs go up.”
To read “One Strike, You’re Out!” featured in PMY’s October 2021 issue, click here.
