I decided to put the boat in and fish a little bit today. Launched about noon at Haigh Landing on US 278. I started fishing a drain on the south side of Pinckney Island. It was hot and muggy and was a typical dog days stingray-fest. Decided to head up Moss Creek and scout out some locations for future trips. Kept hearing thunder off in the distance and was keeping my eye on the clouds. Found a new-to-me spot that looked like it should be a redfish paradise. The lightning kept getting closer and I kept estimating the distance using the ultra-scientific “flash-thousand one, thousand two-boom” method. I kept hoping that the dark cloud I was watching would go to one side or the other, but then flash, thousand wuh, BOOM!!! OK, time to pull anchor and head in. I thought I was going to get caught in it, but I made it back to the landing just as the wind picked up and it started to rain. Tied my boat to the dock and went to get my truck. About the time I started my truck, all hell broke loose. It was raining buckets, the wind was blowin’ a gale, and lightning was striking all around. For a second I thought I’d wait it out in the truck, but changed my mind because this storm was going to last a while. So I got in line with everyone else that was pulling their boats out. Luckily I was #2 in line. Backed down the ramp like I’d never backed a trailer in my life…had to pull forward twice because I got too close to one side, then too close to the other side. Finally got it backed in and jumped out to get my boat and pull it around. At this point it has probably been raining buckets for about 10-15 minutes and everything inside my boat is floating in the 8 inches or so of water that is standing in my boat. (I don’t have a bilge pump. I know, I know.) Luckily, my little 25 Johnson 2 stroke cranks right up and I pulled around with the wind whipping one direction, the current ripping another direction, and me praying “just let me hit the trailer just right”. Well, I didn’t come anywhere close to hitting the trailer right but I w
Crazy but glad you are ok. Besides your toe.
I put a 500 gph bilge pump in the area behind the bulkhead and the hose goes thru a u bolt in the top of the transom. Works well in those situations. I’ll send a pic by PM fyi
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
President, Summerville Saltwater Anglers
Thanks, Dave.
13ft Whaler with 25hp Johnson
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.
My long-time rule that has served me well: head to the hill when you first hear thunder. Don’t wait for the sparks!
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
If you would get an aluminum boat your trips could be even more exciting. You tell a great story. Matter of fact, you brought back some bad memories.
‘87 Pacemaker 31’ SF
‘04 Renegade 29’ 2 225’s
‘97 Maycraft 17’ 40 hp
quote:
Originally posted by specMy long-time rule that has served me well: head to the hill when you first hear thunder. Don’t wait for the sparks!
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>I think that is my new rule as well. (Although, I’m a bit of a rule-breaker.)
quote:
Originally posted by mattc14If you would get an aluminum boat your trips could be even more exciting. You tell a great story. Matter of fact, you brought back some bad memories.
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Thanks. I considered a jon boat for a while, but decided against it. I’m noisy enough with a fiberglass boat.
13ft Whaler with 25hp Johnson
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.
We were out tarpon fishing when that weather rolled in on us…couldn’t fogure out which way as we were by the mouth of port royal and had to get back to broad creek. We were motoring along slowly thinking about sitting it out until lightning hit the water about 60 ft from the boat. I said $&@" this and laid down the throttles. Probably saw about 300 lightning strikes on the way back in. It was nasty! Glad you made it back safely!
‘90 Maverick 18.5’ Master Angler/'03 Evinrude 150
'14 Hydra Sports 3400/ 2 350 Yammys
Glad you did too! The lightning was intense.
13ft Whaler with 25hp Johnson
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.
Lightning is just a test to see if you’re living right 
It’s as likely to get you while sitting at home on the couch and that would be a heck of a place to be when the time comes.
Enjoyed your story. I would suggest investing in a bilge pump and some shoes though. Makes my toe hurt just thinking about it [:0]
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Yeah, I felt like Lieutenant Dan on top of the mast except I wasn’t mad.
13ft Whaler with 25hp Johnson
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.
Your attitude will serve you well in messing about with boats. No need to get mad about anything, it’s supposed to be fun, and when it ain’t fun anymore, still don’t get mad.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Just wanted to add a funny story myself. I took a friend fishing one afternoon. We put in at the sands and we were fishing by the port royal dock. Off in the distance we heard thunder. I told him no worries if it gets close the alarm siren on PI will go off. Shortly after that lightening struck right across the river from us. Before I could say a word he whipped out his pocket knife and cut the anchor rope yelling let’s go! I’ll buy you a new anchor! I’ve never seen a grown man do scared in my life! Still haven’t gotten my new anchor either!
Key West 1900
Bazinga
^ Thats crazy shoulda just pulled the anchor in. I’ve been in my boat and had lightening so close I could hear the electricity moving through the air before it went BOOM. No where to go so all I could do was pray that I was living right and it wasn’t my time to go!!!
07 Scout Winyah Bay 221 Yamaha F150
Too funny. Lightning travels at just under 186,000 miles per second. You aren’t going to out run it even in a fast boat
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
When you speak of lightning, I was caught in that storm as well. I was working my way to HH Boathouse and found it ingulfed in rain and lightning. I retreated back into Calibogue sound when crack came the lighting in front of me and it actually shocked my hand on the throttle (I was making minimal contact with the stainless steel wheel for obvious reasons). At that point I made a beeline to the dock at the bridge, tied off amid the 6-8 boats trying to get off the water and my shelter was in the trees! (real safe huh?)
When I was ankle deep in water, I decided to go to higher ground!
There was much more to the story, but when you get shocked on a boat, it is not looking good.
Just think how a sailboater must feel in a storm!
Sea Hunt BX22 Br
WS Tarpon 140