re: Offshore lightning advice

I’ve been offshore my whole life and never once has a storm just come out of no where. Instantly.

Radar dings at you if you have it.

Even if you don’t have it, when the wind picks up, or there’s a noticeable change in the air temperature, or ya know the dark arse clouds...that’s a good sign you probably need to start looking around and keeping an eye out for storms.

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The way everything instantly goes to shite is amazing and you cant really even prepare it happens so quick.


It will definitely make you realize how small you are in the ocean

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This. You don't even have to be in the "ocean." Barataria Bay comes to mind as the site of a really intense 30 minutes.

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I’ve probably been caught in more storms offshore than most people have ever been offshore.

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As most people have never been there every person on this board could likely make that claim

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no need to get overly dramatic.

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correct, a pop up GOM thunderstorm will not sink a craft designed to be offshore barring some sort of hull failure, it can handle much more than you can.

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Having a healthy respect for the ocean/weather and it’s power is a good thing....but those baws in West Africa will strike out 50 miles in a pirogue with a tiller handle 40 horse on the back and hand line tuna. They don’t even know what radar is. It’s out of the comfort zone for most of us though, so panic sets in.

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Hell, the one with the 40HP will tow out 5 more that are paddle powered and they will stay out for days in the dugouts, same deal in the far east.

I have spent nearly 25 years at sea in everything from skiffs to tankers to drillships and can remember very few true weather sinkings, they are nearly always related to non seaworthy craft, this includes daily reports from SecureWest.

Any modern craft designed for the offshore enviroment can survive way more than most people think, will it be uncomfortable? yes, but you will survive unless you do something incredibly stupid or your vessel is not seaworthy.

To the OP, get away from the platform 500 meters to avoid a collision, those steel legs are far more dangerous to you than any wave action and point your bow into the wind/waves while maintaining forward momentum until it passes and you will be fine.

I’ve only witnessed 1 squall in my life, the power is unreal. We were doing mothership trip in Chandeleurs. All small boats made in safely before the squall hit - 40+mph winds out of nowhere. Thought the 16’ skiffs begins the boat would be flipped. Couldn’t imagine riding that out in a smaller boat.

I've been caught in 4 really bad ones now, and tons of not that bad ones. 3 times the nearest anemometer read gusts over 100. Once we were sleeping in a chandeleur mother ship at anchor no squalls in forecast everyone asleep. We had our boat in full fwd to keep the anchor from pulling. couldn't get up there fast enough to get it up. 3 shrimpers aboard a 40' next to us went down and died. Once on the way in from the hub we hit a bad line and there is simply no where to go out there. Once drifting the bank near tarantula for swords at midnight. That was probably the quickest one. it literally went slick not even drifting to 10" in probably 10 minutes. I'm super glad to have satellite weather now.

back to original subject, I've ridden out plenty of lightning, at cognac/lena/medusa/mars/ihub. get in close on the leeward side. if you have ear plugs I'd put them in. The thunder will rattle your eye balls its so loud when it pops the rigs

Can barely keep the engines in gear, facing waves broadside. Jesus some people don’t need to be running a boat.

We’ve always untied from the rig, moved to the leeward side, faced into the wind, and used the throttle to stay in place. If the wind changes we keep moving to the leeward side. That is only if we can’t run to a protected spot, outrun the weather back or go around it and wait it out. We’ve always had some warning and time to make a decision. If it sneaks up on you I think the worst thing you can do is to get to far from the rig. At least at a safe close distance, they can help you if the shi! hits the fan. They have also always been very nice and helpful in giving reports on the size, movement, and severity of the weather. Most of the time the radio traffic in the area starts lighting up before it even gets to us and we have always had plenty of time to make a decision. Biggest thing is to make a smart decision and stay calm. We have seen several freak out and run, only to be seen shortly after coming back fighting the seas to get back behind the rig.

As for lightning, stay away from metal, lower anything conductive, and I have also heard other good stories about the lightning plates too.

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I’ve probably been caught in more storms offshore than most people have ever been offshore.

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Damn Baw! #SaltLife!