lightning protection

M

millerkm81

.
Oct 2, 2005
86
Hello all,

I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on lightning protection for their Vegas? I am
considering my options and am leaning towards tying the mast into a stainless steel mast
beam reinforcement (yet to be installed), (via the stainless steel mast base), then down the
bulkhead via 1 AWG copper cables and out the hull through a large sintered bronze plate. I
may or may not tie in the chainplates. My only concern with this system is the fact that
stainless steel is only 3% as conductive as copper, and that there might be some resistance
in the transition from the mast to the copper cable. Any thoughts?Hans Ericsson - Whisper
 
S

stevebirch2002

.
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
Hi Hans

I am of the opinion that if you get hit by lightning then you've been
very unlucky! My friend in a 22' yacht drifted under some elctricity
pylon cables (440,000 volts), when the mast touched all the standing
rigging vapourised as did all the cables and the gold chain around his
neck. Apart from this he suffered no harmapart from a scar around his
neck. From that day on he has been known as "SPARKY" at the yacht club.

I personally doubt that anything will stop the yacht being hit or reduce
the damage. I have been unlucky to be out in three very bad
thunder/lightning storms (the worst was last year) and so far have not
been hit. Two strikes hit the water 500 metres away as the closest. My
thinking was that my Vega is smaller than most yachts and hopefully they
will attract the bolt rather than me!

All non-technical, I know but just my thoughts....

Cheers

Steve Birch (Technical)
 
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