I have an '86 H23. Does anyone know if these boats are properly grounded to protect against lightning strikes while under sale or at anchor?
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Doug T.
Lightning
Don't know about the H23, but in general, the mast and all chainplates should be grounded to the keel with 8AWG (or thicker) wire. The wires should be as straight as possible -- lightning will follow conductors that go in a straight line much better than those with kinks or sharp bends in them. (This of course presumes that the keel or centerboard are not encapsulated. Otherwise, you'll have to find some other piece of underwater metal to connect the wires to.)
Don't know about the H23, but in general, the mast and all chainplates should be grounded to the keel with 8AWG (or thicker) wire. The wires should be as straight as possible -- lightning will follow conductors that go in a straight line much better than those with kinks or sharp bends in them. (This of course presumes that the keel or centerboard are not encapsulated. Otherwise, you'll have to find some other piece of underwater metal to connect the wires to.)
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mike
yea..............kinda
Lift your forwardmost floorboard in the cabin sole...........(not the V berth)..........you should see a wire attached to the keelbolts. That's your ground. Of course it's no guarantee against a lightning strike. Might only lessen the damage.
Lift your forwardmost floorboard in the cabin sole...........(not the V berth)..........you should see a wire attached to the keelbolts. That's your ground. Of course it's no guarantee against a lightning strike. Might only lessen the damage.
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Kevin Keen
Lightning
Clarence: As factory equipped, my mast is connected to a keel boat with 8 AWG. However, lightning protection has evolved since 1985 when my hull was laid. I recommend you consult the ABYC standards on the topic. Suffice it to say that all metal on the boat needs to be connected at minimum; electronics, appliances, winches included. How the connections are made are rather technical in the details. You need to realize that none of these precautions are to "protect against lightning strikes" they are for PROTECTION DURING THE LIGHTNING STRIKE ON THE MAST by providing a path through the boat to the ground (water actually). The damage will be severe in any event. But with a properly grounded boat the crew will survive if they don't touch metal and the fiberglass hull and deck won't burn. This topic, including the concept of the cone of safety for crew members, is covered in the Seamanship course offered by your local power squadron. - Kevin.
Clarence: As factory equipped, my mast is connected to a keel boat with 8 AWG. However, lightning protection has evolved since 1985 when my hull was laid. I recommend you consult the ABYC standards on the topic. Suffice it to say that all metal on the boat needs to be connected at minimum; electronics, appliances, winches included. How the connections are made are rather technical in the details. You need to realize that none of these precautions are to "protect against lightning strikes" they are for PROTECTION DURING THE LIGHTNING STRIKE ON THE MAST by providing a path through the boat to the ground (water actually). The damage will be severe in any event. But with a properly grounded boat the crew will survive if they don't touch metal and the fiberglass hull and deck won't burn. This topic, including the concept of the cone of safety for crew members, is covered in the Seamanship course offered by your local power squadron. - Kevin.
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Doug T.
Not all metal needs to be grounded
The ABYC standards for lightning protection are elaborate. I can e-mail them to anyone who cares. Just send me your e-mail address. dougtinva@hotmail.com
The ABYC standards for lightning protection are elaborate. I can e-mail them to anyone who cares. Just send me your e-mail address. dougtinva@hotmail.com
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fletchdoggie
kaboom!
My 23 got hit at the top of mast and fried the radio antenna.No other damage except my hair is a little grayer.
My 23 got hit at the top of mast and fried the radio antenna.No other damage except my hair is a little grayer.
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Randy Simmons
Jumper Cables?
An older gentleman I met advised the best thing for lightning on my boat (besides making sure the ground wire is attached to the keel) was to attach a set of jumper cables to the rigging and throw the other end in the water. He claims to be the man a Michigan marina calls in when a customer requests extensive electronics to be installed in their boats and to have a lot of sailing experience. He'd had a couple of "beverages" when he made that statement so take it from there....
An older gentleman I met advised the best thing for lightning on my boat (besides making sure the ground wire is attached to the keel) was to attach a set of jumper cables to the rigging and throw the other end in the water. He claims to be the man a Michigan marina calls in when a customer requests extensive electronics to be installed in their boats and to have a lot of sailing experience. He'd had a couple of "beverages" when he made that statement so take it from there....
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Kevin Keen
Jumper Cables and a Grounding Plate
Randy: The older gentleman you mentioned was giving good advice for a mast without a grounding system. Except that I would recommend attaching a copper (or monel or bronze) plate of minimum area of 1 square foot (or better 2.5 square) permanently to the end of the cable that goes in the water and is to remain immersed at all times in order to dissipate the strike. For more information on lightning protection standards take Doug T. up on his offer to email the ABYC standards. - Kevin.
Randy: The older gentleman you mentioned was giving good advice for a mast without a grounding system. Except that I would recommend attaching a copper (or monel or bronze) plate of minimum area of 1 square foot (or better 2.5 square) permanently to the end of the cable that goes in the water and is to remain immersed at all times in order to dissipate the strike. For more information on lightning protection standards take Doug T. up on his offer to email the ABYC standards. - Kevin.
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