The mask is one big lighting rod. If one got stuck out in a lighting storm, what is the best thing to do to protect the electrical equipment and passengers? Would running a thick wire from the middle of the mask down into the water help?
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Depends
whether you get struck or not. Probably nothing you can do to protect electronics. To protect the boat and crew, the mast should be grounded to the keel. There is supposedly a "zone of protection" around the boat, the radius of which is equal to the height of your properly grounded mast. Get everyone below, and keep hands off metal. An old Coast Guard fellow once told me that in a lightning storm you could attach battery jumper cables to the shrouds and throw the other end into the water. He was still alive and was wearing a uniform. Other than that, I can't vouch. Good luck.
whether you get struck or not. Probably nothing you can do to protect electronics. To protect the boat and crew, the mast should be grounded to the keel. There is supposedly a "zone of protection" around the boat, the radius of which is equal to the height of your properly grounded mast. Get everyone below, and keep hands off metal. An old Coast Guard fellow once told me that in a lightning storm you could attach battery jumper cables to the shrouds and throw the other end into the water. He was still alive and was wearing a uniform. Other than that, I can't vouch. Good luck.
Best protection
Disconnect all of the electronics and put them in a metal box. Crew should be below, and away from any metal fittings, the mast, and shrouds. The helm should not be touching metal if this is possible. (An advantage of a nice, wooden tiller.) The mast does provide a "zone of protection" for people. The shrouds, and an aluminum toerail add to this protection. Stay away from them! The mast should definitely be grounded to the keel. The principle danger to the boat and people if the mast is grounded are "side strokes" which are almost impossible to predict, but would probably radiate from the mast/grounding set-up. David Lady Lillie
Disconnect all of the electronics and put them in a metal box. Crew should be below, and away from any metal fittings, the mast, and shrouds. The helm should not be touching metal if this is possible. (An advantage of a nice, wooden tiller.) The mast does provide a "zone of protection" for people. The shrouds, and an aluminum toerail add to this protection. Stay away from them! The mast should definitely be grounded to the keel. The principle danger to the boat and people if the mast is grounded are "side strokes" which are almost impossible to predict, but would probably radiate from the mast/grounding set-up. David Lady Lillie
forget it
I've never heard of anyone who got hit that didn't lose their elctronics. Hopefully that's all that will happen and it won't blow out a through hull and sink the boat.
I've never heard of anyone who got hit that didn't lose their elctronics. Hopefully that's all that will happen and it won't blow out a through hull and sink the boat.
Mast not a ground
I have been informed that the mast is not really a electric ground source like a tree or pole that actually goes into the ground. If you are caught in a thuderstorm, all crew should put on life jackets in case there is a strike. Better safe then sorry!!!
I have been informed that the mast is not really a electric ground source like a tree or pole that actually goes into the ground. If you are caught in a thuderstorm, all crew should put on life jackets in case there is a strike. Better safe then sorry!!!
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I searched for lighting and came up with 2 threads which didn't have any info for my question. BTW, Franklin is my first name but that was a good one.
I searched for lighting and came up with 2 threads which didn't have any info for my question. BTW, Franklin is my first name but that was a good one.
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