Monday, July 11, 2011

Lightning Safety For Boaters

According to a recent story by Ken Kaye in the Sun Sentinal, 82 percent of the 648 people killed by lightning in this country between 1995 and 2008 were men. Why are so many more men killed? They refuse to walk away from sporting events and other outdoor activities when the weather turns bad. As the captain of a Fort Lauderdale deep sea fishing boat , I can tell you that lightning is nothing to play around with. The only safe places during a thunderstorm are in an enclosed building or in a car so getting back to the dock and to one of these two locations should be your first option. Here are some other lightning safety tips for boaters from the National Weather Service.

Check your local weather forecast and radar before going out on the water. If thunderstorms are predicted, Stay In Port!

Most of the people who are injured or killed while boating are on small boats with no cabin. Carry a NOAA Weather Radio or listen to local radio stations. If storms start to build, head back to a safe location. If you do get caught in an electrical storm on a boat with no cabin, drop anchor and get as low as possible.

If your boat has a cabin get drop anchor and get inside. Stay away from metal and electrical components and stay off the radio. Boats with a properly installed lightning protection systems are safer then boats without one.

So, if you are out on the water and the sky turns ugly, it is time to pull in the lines and head back to port as quickly as is possible. Safety should always be your number one priority. The fish will be there tomorrow!

Reel Work Sport Fishing
301 Seabreeze Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
954-522-9399
1-877-524-9377
Email:
lauderdalefishing@gmail.com
Website: lauderdalefishing.com
Fort Lauderdale Fishing Charters

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