The Aftermath of a Lightning Strike | Sailing Soulianis - Ep. 82

If lightning hits your boat, hope Zeus taps it lightly, like he did Soulianis. After a thunderstorm rolled through St Augustine, Florida, we weren’t even sure if we’d been hit. But the over the next couple of days, we discovered more and more electronics no longer working, and our VHF antenna had been vaporized from the top of our mast.
We start an insurance claim, and begin the business of getting to the bottom of our lightning mishap. The boat is hauled out for a survey and electrical inspection. Ultimately the damage found is minimal, and we decide to tackle the broken electronics and mast rewiring after our seasonal migration north to see family and friends.
Hope you enjoy!
Lauren & Kirk
FILMED: July/August 2019
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[@klouism1]

No matter what gets thrown at you just remember to encourage one another love one another and give each other lots of hugs. Blessings and good health to you both ⛵😊

[@ChiChi-dy9qi]

I so like how you call each other " love". That's a relationship goal.

[@Doctoberfest]

Especially after living on boat together for as long as they have lmao!

[@ExpeditionEvans]

That cliff hanger though! Excited is not the right word, but a TORNADO? after lightning? That's wild you guys.

[@SailingSoulianis]

Yea it was an insane few months... really felt like Mother Nature had it out for us.

[@yup3398]

What I love about your channel apart from great sailing content is that I get to see parts of the US that as a foreigner we wouldn't normally see.

[@SailingSoulianis]

Glad you enjoy it, thanks for watching!

[@paulphillips6272]

Glad to see you were able to get her hauled out and that the overall damage is relatively minor compared to what it could have been! Also very cool to see you up in my neck of the woods in Maine. My parents used to have our boat stored and maintained at Hinckley in Southwest Harbor, so I know the MDI area fairly well, and grew up not far from there. My sister and I have taken a more hands on approach with the sailboat now, and have it in a very DIY friendly yard on the Penobscot River. We still really enjoy visiting Southwest and Northeast Harbors though! Really enjoy your adventures, always look forward to new episodes!!

[@SailingSoulianis]

Thanks for stopping in to say hi Paul! It was a cool area to explore! We will be back. Hopefully by boat. :)

[@paulphillips6272]

That would be great! Maybe we can meet up if you do make it back up to “the frozen north” again one of these days haha!

[@ksc826]

Sorry to hear about your visit from lightening. Years ago, the sailboat across the dock and one slip down mine got hit. The lightening traveled across to the boat next to me and then to mine. The first boat lost their radio, the boat next to me, nothing. Mine? Fried every thing electric and cooked all through hulls. Good news was that I got to upgrade to newer and better electronics and some type of “plastic” through hulls. Total cost to ins co - $22K when that was a lot of money. Good luck on getting back in the water.

[@SailingSoulianis]

Thanks Scott. That estimate sounds about right. Lightning is expensive!

[@jaywegu18]

Been following for awhile now. Never would have thought you be playing in our waters. Exactly that spot in Montreal is our stomping grounds when sticking close to home. Mother Nature is moody. 2017, thé very water I love was also the exact same thing that flooded my house and lost everything I had. Whatever it is:, we all somehow plow forward despite the challenge.

[@adam30028x]

I grew up in SW Harbor. I’m glad you had a chance to explore and hope you enjoyed the island!

[@mymortonisms]

I'm impressed with your ability to abstain from cursing. I'd be filth, floran filth. You're better then I. Keep it up kids, eventually you'll hit a sweet spot.

[@theonewoo]

Nerve wracking! Watching you disassemble stuff at the edge of the boat.

[@SailingSoulianis]

😂

[@Luke_81]

A lighting strike on a boat is such a wild card. I've seen boats take no damage at all, and I've seen boats be completely wrecked. The effects are not always clear right away either. We're currently working on a boat that was struck back in 2019, and system after system keeps randomly failing due to the damage done to the wiring and the subsequent corrosion that occurs.

[@Stubones999]

Life is grand, with a boat. A Grand here, a grand there...

[@shakey2634]

B.O.A.T. Break Out Another Thousand.

[@davido.3151]

A new Sailing Soulianis video! What a wonderful way to end a very crazy week! Thank you guys so much for helping to warm all of our hearts out here in pandemic isolation land! God bless you both! (All three of you now! ;-) ) By the way, the copper coat on the bottom is looking good at the end of it's first season. You guys didn't comment on that at all, although I'm sure that potential damage from the lightning strike was much more of a concern than the state of the bottom paint. I expect we'll hear more about that whenever you return to the boatyard before she goes (went, since we're still in the future) back in the water.

[@einmensch4040]

You're a nice couple with a great accepting attitude. Fun to follow you, now as parents too. Greetings from Berlin!

[@joes7166]

I know this was taped months ago, but I have an Autohelm also. A slightly older model. What you were showing disassembled and the cam not tightening doesn't mean much. The cam tightens the belt around the ring of the other half. without it in place, it would never tighten. when you showed what was happening before disassembly it was engaging too soon. There is a way to adjust the eccentric cam that tightens the belt. Also a good idea to move the belt around about 90 degrees or so. When its working the clog drive gear on the motor is only going back and forth a few inches on the belt. This will wear the toothed belt in one area only. Move it around to another area to distribute the wear. These belts are expensive but I carry a spare. I am on the Great Lakes so salt is not a problem. I just finished disassembly and cleaning it. I took off the wheels on the inside track and cleaned and lubed them. I don't have an engagement problem so I left the cam adjustment alone. It will sometimes let the belt rub in the larger diameter inner race ( the ID of the half that mounts to the wheel) I cured this by drilling a small hole in the engagement lever to pull it back with a small piece of shockcord. This keeps it from sticking when I am hand steering which is most of the time. When using the Autohelm I just take the shockcord off and engage the lever.

[@RB9522]

Thunderstorm, check. Lightning, check. Tornado, check. What's next? A whole lot of great videos! Thanks for sharing your journey!

[@learigg]

We had the same issue and resolved it by adjusting the belt tension. If I remember correctly the rollers have offset centres. It was trial and error, belt too tight and it doesn't disengage properly and too slack then it doesn't engage properly. It can be tested 90% while moored up. Also make sure belts clean.

[@meestahwah]

Yes... This would be my suggestion. The cam without a lever on the opposite side of the motor cog sets the belt tension. Losen the alen key slightly til you can ratchet it. Adjust a bit looser and test. When you have it right, retighten the alen key.

[@ylemoine1]

If that doesn’t work and the belt seems stiff from age, they sell a service kit with new belt and assort parts. Otherwise, if a replacement is an option consider a ram based autopilot connected directly to the rudder post or quadrant below cockpit. It’s an expensive upgrade, but you’ll love it.

[@adamlancaster2]

Holy moly, what a cliffhanger at the end there.

[@jimsargent7288]

keep up the good battle, hope you're back up and sailing soon . hugs from Montana

[@Viper_Poker]

Im glad tgat your ship wasn't severely damaged by the lightning. ..... ⛵💕🌠 My wife and I are shopping for an inexpensive project full keel ship. If you happen to see one in the yard; please keep us in mind ... sincerely Christine & Crystal .... ✌

[@greggrichards3338]

Another great video. My wife and I live vicariously on a sailboat through your videos. We'll probably jump ship when you do the baby on board thing LOL

[@greggrichards3338]

Just kidding!

[@DrDoid0420]

River surfing? Crazy! Keep up the great adventures. And oh, my...your videography just keeps getting better and better. Great work guys!

[@TheZoidberg1119]

Finally caught up. Wanted to tell you as a person from Racine I love seeing it on the back of your boat. You actually sailed right by my parents house, they live on the lake in between the marina and the lighthouse.

[@jamessandman3708]

Bellowing from afar like a booming echo across the Grand Canyon Chip could be heard "I've got no stinking seacocks and I am grounded so come ride with me!" Ah, Chip, Chip, Chips ahoy! I've made that trip from Florida to Maine and you guys sure made it look pretty. lol Stay Safe!

[@jeffwhiting511]

You two know how to have a good time and a grand adventure!

[@peterfrebold]

.... those were some sizable boats you saw on your venture north, take more than a day to do the inches on one of those .... glad everything turned around for you in the end ... Hey Lauren, how's kirk's cooking, you were pretty quick to say "no I'm cooking" .. smilin .....

[@thedawg5792]

Hi guys, love the channel. Lauren, you are gorgeous! I am an avid boater from Indiana. Sorry you guys are having a run of bad luck! Safe travels!

[@johanpren]

Love servicing winches. So simple but still it really feels like you're doing some proper work and improving the boat.

[@airshipguys]

It's good that the lightning damage wasn't worse. Cheers from Juneau Alaska, Greg Chaney

[@rickczainski9856]

Thats as sad as I've seen you two. Hoping for the best!

[@ericcp8757]

YESSSS more longboarding clips. Glad that you feel things are on the up and up, I can't imagine the level of stress.... As always thanks so much for documenting and sharing with us future boat dreamers :) Edit - Wow memories of Montreal in the Before times... I miss it. And omg you two, stay away from volcanoes. Hope you made it out ok.

[@SailingSoulianis]

Hahaha volcanoes, noted!

[@bradleyianfield]

Pro tip when you have a bird on your mast. Whack on the back stay. You will need to do that slowly. Once fully on release suddenly. It won’t come back.

[@verngay6557]

Great vid, I could travel with you two all day on land or sea. Thank you for allowing us to tag along.

[@SailingSoulianis]

Thanks for watching Vern!

[@calvinhenshaw2147]

LOVE YOU TWO AND LOVE WATCHING. THANKS

[@clayfarnet970]

You guys should look into lighting defusers that are placed at the top of the mast. It’s looks like a metal Christmas tree branch at the top of the mast. It’s my understanding it defuses the electrons in the air to prevent strikes. Good luck guys. 😜😜👍👍✌️✌️

[@davidoverholt251]

Love watching you two in your travels!

[@SailingSoulianis]

Cheers David!

[@curtisprincemusic]

Cool to see you guys in St Aug. I lived there for seven years, actually laid at the Oasis, and surfed the pier many many times. Sorry about the lightning strike but St Aug worked out for you guys. Peace

[@davidrrodriguez]

So happy for you guys

[@Redneckmfg]

NNNNNNOOOOOO !!!! You went right passed me and didn't even STOP !!!! If you come thru Delaware again Dinner is on me .....

[@keithvanbrunt6721]

Philly. I hope you like it. The pics were good. I had a soling and in the summer we sailed in the delaware just about every day.

[@zachallthetime7228]

Thank you for another amazing episode!

[@paulsmith3652]

Hopefully not to much lightning damage? Great to catch up with you again.

[@armyman1134]

Finding a fellow cheese head turning to sailing life is very inspirational.

[@christopherolson5534]

River surfing looked cool. More storms do not. Stay fantastic you two.

[@bimmergeezer]

Hey kids, great video, so much fun. I loved the river surfing, you both did great.

[@SailingSoulianis]

Thank you!! 🥰

[@rmk6693]

So melancholy seeing all the pre-covid social interactions! Miss the days when someone comes by and “chats you up.”

[@TheGrayMatters]

"This ones got a hair in it... from somebody..." "I heard that!" 🤣😂 And, again I submit that there’s no one happier than Lauren on a skateboard. 😁

[@JustMe-pp1mp]

'THEY' hear everything !!!

[@bobdupont1145]

priceless

[@simpsonservicesllc2987]

River or Tide surfing is very cool. Once did it in Colorado in snow run off on the Colorado River, It was chilly..

[@Johnsouthshore]

I used to put some single use plastic shopping bags up on halyards to keep birds off the mast..

[@christopherbarber9351]

Excellent filming and editing!

[@KiwiSkipper]

that river surf was epic.. looked like cool fun. I'm surprised it wasn't packed out with peeps.

[@SailingSoulianis]

It was pretty fun! There’s only space for 2-3 people to ride at the same time, so lots of people were waiting their turn on the bank.

[@Bluenoser613]

I have the same drive unit with the Raymarine X-5 autopilot. There is a clutch knob below the motor to adjust the tension. If that doesn't work you need a new belt.

[@jimnoise7579]

Good old Long Beach Dub All Stars!

[@asailboatnamedroxy696]

Pff that lightning strike is scary! Glad you’re okay! Great video 👌🏽

[@SailingSoulianis]

Cheers, thank you!

[@mr.e7022]

You have nerves of steel to disassemble the winches with no wall between it and the sea.

[@hymanocohann2698]

Oh lordy, that tunnel, drove in one Friday during rush hour, turned on the lights and the whole electrical system caught fire and we were dead in the fast lane! Got a real good cussing for that.

[@danielpearson6306]

I drove a semi for several years and they were doing construction in the tunnel so lanes were narrow. Very close to the wall on one side and on the line on the other. Very interesting.

[@SailingSoulianis]

Yikes!!

[@etherboy3540]

I live in Florida. Summer lightning storms here are no joke. I think the most scared I've ever been was golfing during a lightning storm with my wife's uncle, who was a) playing the best round of his life, and b) drunk. He simply would not leave the course. Finally i jumped in and started driving, forcing him to run after me. I told him we could have died--he said, "I could have broke 80!", as if that was more important.

[@cleangreenearthforall9405]

Great video per the usual guys! Thanks!

[@wiilillad]

This was a good episode. =)

[@AdventureOtaku]

The Outer Banks are my favorite part of NC... Glad you enjoyed it.

[@srenhansen1104]

Had that autopilot on my boat - same problems. Tried 100 things, and some helped a bit, most did not. Short story: It will never be the autopilot you want. Take a deep breath and spend the money on a "real" autopilot with hydaulics directly on the quadrant. It´s expensive, but you will never look back. Quality is what you are left with when the price is forgotten.

[@boatrvme8478]

I hope to be anchored there in april...Bridge of Lions. Did you guys get to experience the history in St. Augustine?

[@patrickcote2392]

Love your videos just enough boat life and sightseing. Didn't know you could surf in the Saint-Lawrenece, thanks ;-)

[@jamesa702]

The belt looked in tact but does it still fit precisely? Check Uma to see their auto pilot solution. Lightning could possibly deform it. Sailors in calm voyages have sometimes experienced terminal boredom. Yeah, Right. not to mention twisters. Jeeze, you guys, stay safe in your amazing adventure. You are inspiring. Thanks.

[@davidrrodriguez]

That looked like fun

[@cliffmainor4255]

I'm sure you guys have considered it, but you likely want to drop the swing keel and inspect the hinge pin - just to make sure lightning didn't alter its integrity. My $.02. Glad the damage was minimal (but still expensive - ugh). Be safe.

[@SailingSoulianis]

We didn’t include it in the video but we did take it apart. All looked good!

[@cliffmainor4255]

@@SailingSoulianis yay! I figured you did.

[@benc.8103]

So Cool. Thanks

[@jlb9074]

Yep. When we were struck by lightning we had random stuff fry and other stuff just fine. Super crazy.

[@AlexGoesSailing]

Great video hope the damage isn’t too bad!

[@Ed-uj4bc]

Curious how you store your van when you’re sailing. How do the tires and battery not flatten? Would love to see you address that in your videos for people interested in maintaining a connection to land for parts of the year when sailing other parts. Love your videos by the way!

[@persephone3892]

I feel like i remember them saying they store it at kirks parents house. At the end of the vanlife video or right when they got back to their boat, the parents picked it up and they mentioned it.

[@dub944]

Made my heart happy to see you guys in my neck of the woods... i.e Canada. West Coast is where its at though :)

[@spencer6145]

BAMMM! Stay awesome.

[@st-px3zv]

You might try a light silicone based lubricant. NOT window caulking !!! It comes in a spray can and is usualy used for lubricating patio doors or car door hinges....

[@Jayr2374]

Hello from Sheboygan Wi !

[@earlpoe7570]

Angel's Wings got struck 10 years ago. Inverter, radios and electronics were lost. Pumps, engine and A/C survived. Great opportunity to upgrade.

[@bradkuether3561]

Belt tension or outright replacement of the belt. Happened on my 4000+ as well. Except mine kept "slipping out".

[@sergyk9588]

👍👍👍Thank you all for the positive video it is very impressive.

[@Axias2011]

sailboats @13:03. Cambridge, MA right? I learned to sail there ;)

[@brianmiller7934]

Have you considered a windvane? Great for longer passages. Uses no power.

[@timharrison9060]

you need to start these videos with a hi and wave.....from the baby......LoL be safe, Tim and Cat

[@MisterUnicornFL]

St augustine, welcome to my city :)

[@charlespickering2726]

Lightning strikes are like unleashing a pack of gremlins. Rando stuff breaking randomly.

[@rossipop]

Sweet love this channel ......Much hugs safe sail .......

[@SailingSoulianis]

Thank you 🤗

[@Double2KK]

What a segway into the next episode.

[@brendenz5496]

Do you think your copper bottom helped dissipate the energy from lightening strike better and help protect the hull?

[@SailingSoulianis]

It definitely crossed our minds. We asked one of the electrical inspectors that came to the boat and he was less convinced it had any impact.

[@brianamoss3809]

Seeing you swim in that current made my palms sweat lol (not for me)

[@bobdupont1145]

Any chance you could post when you filmed the episode?

[@SailingSoulianis]

We include filming dates in the descriptions. :)

[@bayanicustodio3998]

Just wanted to ask, are there any surge protectors anywhere in the electrical supply lines of your boat? On the 12 volt supply lines or oven the shore power connector lines?

[@kevinfisher1345]

Most typical surge protectors will not protect anywhere near the amount of amperage that lightning puts out. You can get some though that would .... except is couple of issues with this. The entire boat is in essence a conduit. At best one might be able to save some specific equipment, but never everything on a boat. Nor would one want to even attempt this, because if you short the lightning current onto YOUR boat ... you might have lot more problems then simply frying some equipment. Like possibly even burning the boat. Stray voltage goes everywhere from a lightning strike, as it does when it hits a home as well. With that kind of high voltage, it can easily jump. It is better to attempt to funnel that high current right on through and out if one can.

[@danielguillory.timewillbri6551]

Add lots more grease for winches .special grease for water intense apps .

[@asennaydenov6461]

I think is something wrong with the quality of the belt... Every time when start making this issue I am replacing the belt on the malfunction disappear.

[@dacapo82]

if you're going to continue to do extended cruising, I'd really suggest a below deck AP....

[@boatrvme8478]

How is e propulsion holding up? What mask and snorkel do you use? What spear do you use?

[@SailingSoulianis]

Epropulsion has been fantastic! We will do a follow up shortly. Not sure on the snorkel or spear... we bought most of our kit at a dive shop in Marathon.

[@boatrvme8478]

@@SailingSoulianis Good to hear...I'm about to purchase.

[@trishb85]

Hey Lauren! Can you share your recipe for your brownie bite balls, please?

[@ventureswithbob]

I think I’ve seen the tornado video already? Are you keeping the boat now that the baby is here?

[@SnowSkiingIsLife]

"There's a hair in there." "I heard that!" 🙂

[@steeltree-fabricatingandcu3796]

There is a lightning strike protection kit it takes about 25 hours to install it’s through hull 3 inches above the waterline seven of them and ground cables to everything in the boat it’s on KZbin

[@glennedwards1449]

You missed the most important ingredient hen you made your brownies - Rum!

[@chuckleber3484]

I had that same s%&ty autopilot. Always gave me problems.

[@joannshuttleworth6359]

Question for you. I think you applied copper coat to your boat. If so, do you think it contributed to your lightening strike?

[@SailingSoulianis]

We wondered the exact same thing! We asked the electrical inspector that we hired to give us a safety inspection that same question. He was very doubtful it had any effect. It would seem logical that it could act as a big grounding plate... We did Coppercoat over the top of our flush mounted thru-hulls, so it seems as though it should have been bonded to our grounding system....

[@Fawkes42]

Wow, talk about bad weather