The Warden and I were fishing at the Jetties today when she said she heard thunder in the distance. She pulled out her phone and the weather apps confirmed a storm was in West Ashley. It looked like it might go north, so we figured we’d be caught by the storm in the harbor. A few short minutes later, the harbor was dark and the storm was getting bigger.
We secured the boat. Rods were taken down because they looked like lightning rods.
Slowly, we headed in, still hoping for the worst of it to go north.
Around the first red can near the Grillage, we got smacked by ice cold wind, rain and pea sized hail. A boat ahead of us turned around and headed back out. Off in the faint distance, we could see a ship heading out of the harbor, but in no time, the visibility dropped to nothing. On the radar, it’s was solid red from rain. That guy’s decision to go back out seemed like a good idea…I swung around and headed out of the rain and hail.
Finally, the skies lightened so we figured it was best to get in before round two struck.
Around the Grillage, visibility increased from a boat length to the Ravenel bridge, lightning was popping all around, I finally put the hammer down. Whew.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 22 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 18 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
Wow, that had to have a fairly decent pucker factor. We got caught in one on the Broad River down near Beaufort years ago. It was really bad. I’m convinced that my Dad’s seamanship (he was Navy) was the only thing that kept us alive.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
I’ve only seen rain that hard only a few times when driving a car…never in a boat. When the ship disappeared and vis went to near zero, I didn’t know if we’d be blasted by a 50mph wind gusts like the weather service was warning about, but I knew there was a ship ahead and I couldn’t see it. It was a tough call…turn around and run and hope the storm eased up…but know that I might be putting us deeper in the snot if it didn’t get better.
After the ship passed, I figured it was time to come home. Still had rain and hail, but the wind wasn’t nearly as bad as the aborted run.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 22 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 18 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
Don’t know if you all remember my post about 2 years ago. Me and a friend got caught in a storm by the lighthouse and we had to get all the way back to Folly Landing. Not only us but more people on boats and including everyone on the beaches were all caught in it. A waterspout formed about 200-300 yards from us all and really kicked up a mess. Lightning started popping and raining cats and dogs. So i decided to make a dumb decision without thinking and put up a top over us and when i did the lightning hit the top and nearly threw me out the boat. I remember my friend waking me up. Needless to say i was in the hospital for a couple of days in Charleston and was on vacation. Friends, parents and all were worried that i wouldnt make it from it but i did. Prayers lifted me. So on that note, everyone please be careful on that water with them storms cause they can get bad real quick and i found out the worst way…
We were definitely concerned about waterspouts and lightning was popping all around and up and close. We were definitely lucky.
That bimini may have prevented you taking a direct hit - glad you didn’t!
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 22 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 18 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
First off, Claim I am glad you are were ok… We were out there as well… I was on the Sullivans side of the North Jetty… I saw it coming and we pulled anchor and headed in… Should have loaded up right then, however the radar looked like that if I made it to the Ravenel we would be clear of the storm… rode up the Wando to a couple spots to try a few trout and the storm just built all around us, we were cornered… We were idling as we were having to wait it out trying to keep the nose towards the rain and wind, I had one hand on the wheel and the other on the control when all the sudden a jolt of electricity wailed my hand, then pow,boom… it was a close one…
There were a couple other boats that got stuck in the same corner… not sure if the got hit also, but I thank god trust me it could have turned out a lot worse. Should have went up the Cooper…
First off, Claim I am glad you are were ok… We were out there as well… I was on the Sullivans side of the North Jetty… I saw it coming and we pulled anchor and headed in… Should have loaded up right then, however the radar looked like that if I made it to the Ravenel we would be clear of the storm… rode up the Wando to a couple spots to try a few trout and the storm just built all around us, we were cornered… We were idling as we were having to wait it out trying to keep the nose towards the rain and wind, I had one hand on the wheel and the other on the control when all the sudden a jolt of electricity wailed my hand, then pow,boom… it was a close one…
There were a couple other boats that got stuck in the same corner… not sure if the got hit also, but I thank god trust me it could have turned out a lot worse. Should have went up the Cooper…
Wow. Your picture shows how bad it was between us. What you can’t see is the Coast Guard cutter lost in that mess. Glad you made it too.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 22 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 18 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
