ALTON - A lightning strike hit an abandoned boat at Alton Marina on the afternoon of Saturday, July 4, 2026, causing its mast to fall onto another derelict vessel, marina operator and general manager Rob Honke said. No one was hurt, and officials’ main concern now is salvage, Honke said.
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Honke described the incident as “very, very rare and very scary.”
“The good news is no one was hurt, and the vessel that was struck was an abandoned derelict vessel slated to be removed from the harbor. The mast fell on another boat, also abandoned. There was no significant monetary loss. Now we worry about salvage; there is no environmental danger and no leaking fuel,” Honke said.
The struck vessel had already been slated for removal from the harbor, and the second boat hit by the falling mast also was abandoned, Honke said.
Boaters at the marina said they had “never heard anything so loud in their life” when the lightning struck, Honke said, adding that it was “so terrifying.”
Honke said the harbor master and Alton Fire Department responded quickly after someone standing near the strike called 911 after the lightning strike.
“The harbor master and the fire department were there really quick; someone standing right next to the strike called 911 on their phone, and the fire department and harbor master were right on it,” Honke said.
Honke said one of the two damaged boats is now underwater, complicating recovery efforts.
“The boat was set to be hauled out and destroyed; the wrinkle now is that one of the two damaged boats is underwater; where it is sitting, you can see it under the surface,” Honke said.
“It would be easier to remove the boat that sank when water comes up a little. We are not at full pool now; we will check with the Corps of Engineers about the water level,” Honke said.
Honke said the marina will contact a private contractor to see about arranging salvage for the two boats.
(Note: Rob Honke and John Roman provided the above photos).
