Category Archives: Lightning Strike

Sugar Shack is struck by lightning in Costa Rica.

Sugar Shack is back on the water in good company with 2 other Catanas

Lightning Strike: The Highs and Lows

Originally, there were a dozen posts documenting our lightning strike catastrophe and the claims process.  But after 6+ months of living the hell, we decided not to publish any of those posts. Instead, we will publish one post and focus on the highlights and the benefits rather than all the negativity surrounding this journey.

If you are a cruiser, please contact us for your copy of “Prevention and Preparing for a Claim” which outlines key measures to take prior to claim.  We created this document with the sole purpose of helping others avoid issues and is based on our experience with our insurance carrier and being in the Pacific.

Despite all the setbacks, Sugar Shack is back on the water and we are a lot more knowledgeable of all the boat’s systems and parts.

HIGHLIGHTS:

A lighting strike can give you the blues.  However, we were elated each time new parts arrived.  It was exciting and surprising to see what arrived each time.  There was no rhyme or reason as to what arrived or when.  Some parts ordered way after others arrived first and parts ordered first arrived last.

Arrival of boat parts

Arrival of boat parts

Waiting Game

While we waited for parts to arrive, we did everything we could to prep the boat for installation.  The most time consuming project was rewiring the boat.  As you can imagine, a lightning strike can do some damage to wiring/cables.  Old cables in lower left image.

Out with the old, in with the new: Cables

Out with the old, in with the new: Cables

The Team:

We had a good team working on electronics, mechanical, and refrigeration.  Of course, Matt was extremely hands on, supervised all the work, and jumped in to ensure it all was properly executed.

AG Marine Descends on Sugar Shack

AG Marine Descends on Sugar Shack

Flaco, the tallest AG Marine worker contorted into the smallest places:

AG Marine get's into Tight Spaces

AG Marine get’s into Tight Spaces

Navigation System

All the equipment at our navigation station had to be replaced.  It was a bit of a disaster for many months as we awaited for parts to come in.  Diego had to build a new face panel to accommodate the new parts, but the end product came out really nice giving us a much cleaner, less cluttered space.

Navigation Station & Equipment Rebuilt

Navigation Station & Equipment Rebuilt

Solar Panels:

Our solar panels were fried and had to be replaced.  The new panels had different specifications, so we had to modify our existing rails to accommodate them. 

New Solar Panels Providing Energy

New Solar Panels Providing Energy

DC DIGITAL SWITCHING: POWER

The last to arrive, even though it was the first to be ordered, was our main digital switching or AC/DC control system.  Of course it had to be built, programmed, and calibrated before being sent to us.  Catana built their boats with cartes which are no longer being manufactured.  So, we replaced the system with a C-Zone system.

C-ZONE AC/DC Main Control System

C-ZONE AC/DC Main Control System

The old Digital Switching Control Panel (lower left photo) was completely destroyed by the lightning strike and is no longer available. C-Zone replaced it, which is a complicated beast, but gives us much better monitoring and access to everything remotely.  We can now control systems from this main control panel, a sub-control panel in the master suite, through B&G, and on an iPad.

DC Digital Switching Panel

DC Digital Switching Panel

BEAUTIFICATION:

We also took care of standard maintenance including wash, wax, bottom job, and prop speed.  I love the mid-way photo of the wash wax below (middle photo).

Sugar Shack get's a bath and a new wax

Sugar Shack get’s a bath and a new wax

The last color of our skirt was red and they sanded it down, painted a light blue which we didn’t like and changed it to a dark blue, which we love.

Sugar Shack get's a new skirt

Sugar Shack get’s a new skirt

Prop speed is used by a lot of fishing and speed boats.  We have never applied it to our props because it’s very expensive.  But, Bristol Marine included it for free with the cost of our bottom job.  Prop Speed prevents marine growth from bonding to metal surfaces below the waterline.

Prop Speed on our props - it's a first for us.

Prop Speed on our props – it’s a first for us.

Stepping the Mast:

Stepping the mast requires a village.  We had a rigging crew (3), yard assistants (3), AG Marine (5), painters (2), crane driver, lift drivers (3), launch slip helpers (4), a diver, and of course Matt and I.

Stepping the mast includes: carefully positioning the mast, connecting all the cables, securing the standing rigging (and tuning it), and putting the lazy jacks, sail bag, main sail, jib, and reefing lines all back on.  Then they touch up the bottom job where the blocks were located, move the crane, bring in the lift and slowly lower us into the water.

Stepping the Mast Takes a Village

Stepping the Mast Takes a Village

And she floats!  Thank God!  We had several issues once she was in the water, but we worked through them.  Both engines wouldn’t start, but after 20 minutes they were purring like kittens.

Sugar Shack is back on the water in good company with 2 other Catanas

Sugar Shack is back on the water in good company with 2 other Catanas

Outstanding Items After Splash (since repaired):

  • The radar doesn’t work (we have to exchange it for another new one),
  • Autopilot smart controller LCD screen is still funky (we are going to live with what we have)
  • The new starter battery was dead (charged her up)
  • Frigeration is on the fritz (spent 4 days working on it).

The lightning strike slowed us down and beat us up, but we are in the water and one step closer to continuing our adventures on sv Sugar Shack.

MPV Celebrating Our Departure

MPV Celebrating Our Departure

Any lightning strike is tough as you never know what it will impact. Some parts work at first, then fail, or fail, then work.  Unfortunately, there is no proven way to prevent lightning strikes.  All you can do is try your best to stay out of bad weather or zones that are prone to lightning strikes.

View from Unit 7 at Manuel Antonio Estates

Manuel Antonio Estates: Short-Term Rental

How did we end up living with the monkeys at Manuel Antonio Estates?  Well, Sugar Shack was struck by lighting (a story we will share once the boat is repaired) and had to be hauled out. Once she was hauled out, we became homeless because Marina Pez Vela does not allow live aboards on the yard.

The marina arranged a room for us at the Best Western Kamuk at a discounted rate for the first couple of nights.  This was great for the weekend, as they were close to the marina.  But at $68 per night , for 3 months, it would break the already broken bank.

The first three nights we stayed in a small room over a crowded street, but the last night we moved to the top floor which notably had a great view of the beach.

View from Best Western Kamuk Hotel

View from Best Western Kamuk Hotel

The marina connected us with real estate guru, Alvin who showed us a few short term rental properties.  We ended up at Manuel Antonio Estates which offered  AC, wifi, a pool, and a full kitchen. Remarkably, most apartments don’t have ovens.  I have grand plans of baking for our boat workers so an oven was a must have.

We negotiated a lower rate which included all of the utilities, maid service twice a week, and moved in the next day.

Nestled in the trees are 9 apartments overlooking a pool and the dense foliage below.  Once you pass the guard gate, you walk up a hill, past the Rain Drop Spa (top left), to the main reception area (top right).

Then you climb up another hill to the apartment units (2nd row, left) which overlooks the pool.  We have lots of wildlife, including iguanas, geckos, monkeys, toucans, and tons of birds.

Manuel Antonio Estates

Manuel Antonio Estates

The hike up the hill in the heat often requires a dip in the pool to cool off.  With this in mind, it is not a hardship to get home.

Crazy Neighbors

The apartments are located near the Manuel Antonio Park and are nestled in the trees.  So, we have lots of wildlife around.  We’ve seen scarlet macaws fly by and one toucan sighting.  Tons of other birds, lizards, geckos, iguanas, Capuchin monkey family, squirrel monkey family, and even a few dogs and cats.

We get visitors around sunset – they are a playful bunch of monkeys.  Crawling, leaping, jumping all over the place.  The monkeys are so curious, they kept peeking over the roof and hanging from the rain gutters to look at us.  Generally speaking, they are more afraid of us then we are of them.  These are Capuchin monkeys but we also get squirrel monkey family as well.

White Faced Capuchin Monkeys

White Faced Capuchin Monkeys

Waterfall Hike on Property

There is a pretty challenging hike to a small waterfall on the property. The first 1.5 miles is up and down many hills on a paved road.  At the end of the road, make a left at the dirt pile, then right past the tree onto a “water runoff.”  The little, muddy trail down only takes about 30 minutes and you are rewarded with beautiful views, a waterfall, and a refreshing body of water.

Manuel Antonio Estates Cascadas

Manuel Antonio Estates Cascadas

Movers and Shakers

We have moved around a lot at Manuel Antonio Estates.  We started in unit 8 which is on the top floor.  After about 5 weeks we had to move to unit 5.  The top units have a better view, more ventilation and direct sun so they can rent them easier than the other units.  However, we found unit 5 to be just as fabulous.  We stayed in this 2nd unit for about a month when we decided we wanted to move to unit 2.  We had some “unusual” neighbors who smoked a lot on their patio and we wanted to move further away (plus unit 2 had a bigger couch).  As Manuel Antonio Estates busy season came to an end more units opened up.  So, after about a month we were offered unit 7 which is back on the top floor.  Sweet.  Great views from here with a cool breeze.

View from Unit 7 at Manuel Antonio Estates

View from Unit 7 at Manuel Antonio Estates

They were doing maintenance on the pool which is why it is only 1/2 full but normally it is a fabulous place to cool off.

We love our team at Manuel Antonio Estates!  Dorit is an amazing property manager handling everything from repairs, rental cars, tours, and local advice.  Giselle and Reina keep all the apartments clean and comfortable and Tariq runs a smooth operation.  Thank all for making us feel welcome and at home!