Help Rebuild After Lightning Struck Their Boat

Story

On June 1st, our dear friends Dave and Lisa were anchored in a remote and protected bay in the Bahamas when a squall rolled through. They’d done everything right—unplugged equipment, prepped the engines, watched the radar. But nothing could have prepared them for what happened next. A bolt of lightning struck their boat directly. In an instant, nearly all their onboard systems were disabled: power control, navigation, communication, refrigeration—even their ability to charge a phone or check if their equipment survived. The smell of burnt wiring filled the saloon. Engine gauges went dark. They were shocked—literally—and completely shaken. They are safe. Their boat is still afloat. But the electrical and electronic damage is severe—and they are not insured for lightning. Here’s what was lost or badly damaged: Their generator, essential for off-grid power The battery charger and inverter/charger (batteries survived but cannot be charged) All navigation electronics: autohelm, radar, AIS, wind instruments, depth, VHF antenna Interior and exterior lighting wiring, much of it burnt beyond use Their freezer, which has failed Possibly much more as they attempt repairs They’ve been relying on ice to preserve food, borrowed charging blocks, and patchy marina Wi-Fi to send updates. Canadian roaming is costing $25–$50 a day—just to stay in touch. They can’t even use their Starlink until a new generator arrives. These are resourceful, independent sailors. They’ve built a life afloat, sharing their journey, videos, and hard-earned knowledge with others. Asking for help is not in their nature—but the damage is just too big, too remote, and too immediate to handle alone. This GoFundMe will help them: Replace their generator Get a new lithium battery charger and inverter Restore basic navigation, safety, and communications systems Rewire critical lighting Stay afloat and eventually return to creating and sharing again If you can give anything at all—thank you. Every dollar helps bring them back to self-sufficiency. If you can't donate, a share, a kind word, or even just spreading this story helps more than you know. They’re safe. They’re grateful. But right now, they’re in survival mode—and they could use a hand. With love, Nancy (on behalf of two incredible sailors and friends) Partial equipment list estimates. All costs in approximate in US$ and include VAT, Duty, Brokerage, Shipping, etc. where applicable Generator: Used Yamaha EF3000iSE $1200 Inverter/Charger: Victron 3000/12/120 with Cerbo GX and interface screen and Battery Monitor $3000 Raymarine Wind and Depth instruments $2500 Raymarine Radar $3600 Raymarine Linear Drive $3300 Raymarine Pilot Control Head Package $4400 Icom AIS $1500 12V Fuse Panels $875 Navigation lights repair replacement... awaiting estimate Anchor/Trilight... awaiting estimate Deck work light... awaiting estimate Spreader lights... awaiting estimate Courtesy lights... awaiting estimate Steaming lights... awaiting estimate Keel repair... awaiting estimate For Canadian $ add approximately 42% conversion All funds donated will be applied solely to lightning strike repairs