Grounding

[hewebb]

I was wondering if I should ground the mast to the metal work on the slip. There are taller mast in the marina, however, I have not checked to see if they are grounded. I doubt if the shore power connection is a path for a lightening strike

 

[sinnettc]

From what I've read, it won't matter. If you take a hit your electronics are toast and if you're lucky your hull won't be turned into a sieve with hundreds of pinholes at the waterline. Not sure there's anything you can do with a deck stepped mast to mitigate a strike.

 

[CCHer]

I've done a fair amount of reading on the subject and based on that I agree with Chris. My boat's PO put one of those Forespar ionizer trees on the masthead which may or may not be a placebo-Forespar makes a case for it. In any case the best deterrent from my research is hope, pray or cross your fingers, whichever works best for you.

 

[sinnettc]

Those are for lightning?! I thought it was a bird deterrent.

 

[CCHer]

Well let's hope it works better at protecting from lightening than birds-they perch on the wind vane with impunity

 

[CaptGregg]

If you have a swing keel, could you wire the ground bus to the keel winch? The keel is lead right? In my 26' Pearson Ariel, the grounds ran to the seacocks.

 

[hewebb]

I think that I will not worry about that. I was guessing that it would not help. I may start unplugging the antenna as it is the highest point.

 

[Joe Diver]

I don't worry about it....In my marina, I'm down by the covered boat slips. Lightening usually strikes the boat in the middle of the open slips...and there's another C25 down there to attract it....so I'm good.

 

[hewebb]

Ya-there is another C25 by me also. If it is a tall rig he can take the hit as well. I think his is a fin keel so he has deeper grounding in the water.