Picked the wrong day to put the mast up

[Catigale]

Translation - if you do it, you will likely do it half-assed, which IS worse than doing nothing

The cabin on a boat doesnt have to be metal to offer protection. Lightning does follow paths, and generally wont open a companionway door to come looking for you, unless you have been really, really bad....

[SkiDeep2001]

Lightning does follow paths, and generally wont open a companionway door to come looking for you, unless you have been really, really bad....

Oh no, I might be in big trouble. Zzzzt Rob

[proteus]

Wasn't the halyards. They were in the washing machine at the time...

Hi everyone...I'm Kingbubba's wife...just joined today since we are getting back into taking the boat out

[Rick Westlake]

Lightning scares me, pure and simple, and you can't plan on avoiding it if you're going to be out for more than overnight.

I chose to install an aftermarket grounding system. The one I chose was the "Strikeshield" from Seyla Marine - it uses a VERY heavy copper cable (I think it's a 0 or 00 gauge - it weighs about a pound per foot, or 1500 grams per meter), with a large tinned-copper grounding electrode at the bottom end and a long tinned-copper bonding plate to attach it to the mast. Seyla marine claims it exceeds ABYC Standard E-4, for lightning protection.

If the clouds start building, I attach the top plate of the cable to the mast-plate with two big wing nuts, and drop the electrode overside into the water. Same thing if there's a chance of thunderstorms and I'm anchored out overnight. It was pricey, and there are no guarantees with lightning, but ... well, I can hope.

[Hamin' X]

I hope that they included all materials and equipment for bonding the shrouds, boom, lifelines, etc. to the mast. Lightning does not always strike the top of an object. Good luck.

~Rich

Lightning scares me, pure and simple, and you can't plan on avoiding it if you're going to be out for more than overnight.

I chose to install an aftermarket grounding system. The one I chose was the "Strikeshield" from Seyla Marine - it uses a VERY heavy copper cable (I think it's a 0 or 00 gauge - it weighs about a pound per foot, or 1500 grams per meter), with a large tinned-copper grounding electrode at the bottom end and a long tinned-copper bonding plate to attach it to the mast. Seyla marine claims it exceeds ABYC Standard E-4, for lightning protection.

If the clouds start building, I attach the top plate of the cable to the mast-plate with two big wing nuts, and drop the electrode overside into the water. Same thing if there's a chance of thunderstorms and I'm anchored out overnight. It was pricey, and there are no guarantees with lightning, but ... well, I can hope.

[ROAD Soldier]

RussMT Said

You guys with your fancy bungees and "J" Hooks. Eeeh, for years all I ever did was wrap the halyards around the shrouds. Simple, sweet, no tap tap tap.
--Russ

Every once in awhile somebody does or thinks of something that is so simple it make you feel totally stupid for not thinking of it yourself. Thanks Russ now I feel like a total retard.

Now for lightning protection an old sailor once told me you can dissipate static electricity from you boat by placing you tongue on the mast during a lightning storm. Now I have not seen him since the last lightning storm but he looked old and wise.

[Russ]

Now for lightning protection an old sailor once told me you can dissipate static electricity from you boat by placing you tongue on the mast during a lightning storm. Now I have not seen him since the last lightning storm but he looked old and wise.

I think this works for flag poles in the winter also.


--Russ

[Catigale]

Classic

Fa ra ra ra raaaaa ra ra ra ra