DEVIATING AROUND TSTMS; MLG FLIES MORE THAN 100 MI OFF THE COAST WITHOUT FLOTATION GEAR ABOARD.

Narrative

DEPARTED CHS FOR RDU. FORECAST: BROKEN LINE OF TSTMS FROM N VA TO WSW CORNER VA TOPS 50000' MOVING ESE AT 30 KTS ACROSS EASTERN AND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF NC. ALSO SCATTERED TO BROKEN LINE TSTMS DEVELOPING FROM CENTRAL NJ WSW WORD INTO NE KY. ALSO POSSIBLE TSTMS OVER SOUTHERN DEL AND CENTRAL EASTERN VA. SHORTLY AFTER TKOF I ELECTED TO GO AROUND SOME SCATTERED TSTMS TO THE E THEN A LINE STARTED TO SHOW ON MY SCOPE; BUT SHOWED IT WENT ONLY 20 MI PAST WILMINGTON. AS WE WENT DOWN THE COAST THE LINE BECAME VERY STRONG BUT ATC SAID ANOTHER 120 MI AN I COULD GO AROUND. MY SCOPE SHOWED A LITTLE LESS. WE KEPT HAVING TO GO FURTHER OUT OVER WATER AND THE LINE KEPT ON EXTENDING FURTHER OUT; IT WAS OBVIOUS THE WX WAS BLOCKING OUT THE EXTENT OF THE LINE BUT WE HAD GONE SO FAR AND HAD PLENTY OF GAS THAT WE CONTINUED ON AND REMAINED IN THE CLEAR. WE FINALLY CAME TO THE END OF THE LINE AND WENT AROUND THE END SOME 300 MI LONG OF SOLID SEVERE TSTMS; DIVERTING TO BALTIMORE FOR GAS; LNDG WITH 10000#. WE HAD GONE APPROX 100 MI OFFSHORE TO STAY OUT OF THE WX. NO ONE HAD TOLD ME ABOUT ANY SOLID LINE; NO DISPATCHER OR ATC EVEN AFTER I ENCOUNTERED THE LINE AND STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS.