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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....

Catigale wrote: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

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

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.

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

Rick Westlake wrote: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.

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.

ROAD Soldier wrote: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

Classic

Fa ra ra ra raaaaa ra ra ra ra