Went to take my MacGregor 25, "Kon Tiki" out of the water yesterday due to keel trunk damage (see "URGENT - Keel Damage, Taking on Water from Saturday). Terrific storm passed by preventing shuttle from taking me to boat. One lightning strike was very close, and I commented to a dockhand, "The way my luck's been going, probably hit my boat." It did. When I got to her, the battery indicator only worked for one of the two batteries. My LCD battery powered clock had nothing on its face. VHF would not turn on, nor would my nav lights. I found a 2"x3" hole charred into the gelcoat on the starboard side near the bow, immediately below the "gutter" which drains water off of the foredeck. This was in the center of a salad-plate sized blister. After I got underway, I found that the remote control for the autotiller had a hole that looks like something inside exploded. Upon trailering the boat, I found that the mast-top antenna no longer had a white plastic tip, but now had a BB sized ball of what had once been molten stainless steel. Have not yet completed the damage assesment. I'm almost too disgusted at this point to deal with it. Appears that the lightning path involved the antenna, mast, and water on the deck as it poured over the side. The scattered nature of electronic damage inside is phenomenal. Some things still work, other unwired items do not. I'm just glad I was not yet on board.
Lightning Strikes Mac25
- Thread starter Steve Z
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Often wondered about being onboard ...
when lightening hits the mast or boat. In Florida these pop-up t-storms formulate fast. Too fast for a lumbering 9.9 hp outboard to outrun. So most of the time, I hunker-down and wait out the storm while lightening is hitting all around me. I usually sit in the galley opposite the mast tabernacle, but I know if lightening hits, I am doomed no matter what. Anyone ever been aboard while lightening hit their mast?
when lightening hits the mast or boat. In Florida these pop-up t-storms formulate fast. Too fast for a lumbering 9.9 hp outboard to outrun. So most of the time, I hunker-down and wait out the storm while lightening is hitting all around me. I usually sit in the galley opposite the mast tabernacle, but I know if lightening hits, I am doomed no matter what. Anyone ever been aboard while lightening hit their mast?
Yep, me.
It ain't pretty! Some stuff lives, but most dies. But if your on a sailboat you are protected by what is known as 'the cone of protection'. That means that anything inside that cone is safe from a direct strike. The mast and shrouds will send the strike to ground (water) and the passengers 'should' be fine. Steve, good thing the shuttle driver stayed ashore. Powerboat passengers are the overwhelming leaders as victims of lightening. Ah, Steve, no offense, but I don't want to be your friend and drinking buddy.
It ain't pretty! Some stuff lives, but most dies. But if your on a sailboat you are protected by what is known as 'the cone of protection'. That means that anything inside that cone is safe from a direct strike. The mast and shrouds will send the strike to ground (water) and the passengers 'should' be fine. Steve, good thing the shuttle driver stayed ashore. Powerboat passengers are the overwhelming leaders as victims of lightening. Ah, Steve, no offense, but I don't want to be your friend and drinking buddy.
Update
Spoke to a potential repairman for my boat today. Told him about the hole, and he challenged me saying that "there's NEVER one hole." He was right. Upon examination, thusfar I've located three more spidery places under the waterline where the bottom paint, gelcoat, and outer layers of fiberglass have been blasted away. Pressing around each "wound" results in sickening crunchy sounds. I'm starting to sense a salvage job coming on.
Spoke to a potential repairman for my boat today. Told him about the hole, and he challenged me saying that "there's NEVER one hole." He was right. Upon examination, thusfar I've located three more spidery places under the waterline where the bottom paint, gelcoat, and outer layers of fiberglass have been blasted away. Pressing around each "wound" results in sickening crunchy sounds. I'm starting to sense a salvage job coming on.
Feel for you
Hey Steve, Just wanted to say I'm very sorry to hear all the troubles your having lately. But once you get all this crap overwith you should have clear skies and perfect wind for several lifetimes to make up for it.
Hey Steve, Just wanted to say I'm very sorry to hear all the troubles your having lately. But once you get all this crap overwith you should have clear skies and perfect wind for several lifetimes to make up for it.
My condolences, things can only improve
from here. People sometimes ask if I'm not scared of earthquakes, I always tell them "No, an earthquake doesn't come out of the sky and suck you off the earth" Hope you come out of this okay, people who have been electrocuted by high voltage have a lot of hidden damage due to charge passing thru, I suspect a fiberglass hull may do likewise.
from here. People sometimes ask if I'm not scared of earthquakes, I always tell them "No, an earthquake doesn't come out of the sky and suck you off the earth" Hope you come out of this okay, people who have been electrocuted by high voltage have a lot of hidden damage due to charge passing thru, I suspect a fiberglass hull may do likewise.
better the boat than you
Two weeks ago I was hiding under my house (I live on the outer banks of NC and all of our houses are on 8-10 foot pilings) watching a thunder storm pass through. It had pretty much wound down and I was getting ready to check if the cooler of beer survived, when there was a tremendous flash of blinding white light, and a blue arc of lightning going into my right hand that I was holding out to gesture to my buddy. It turned out to be a side flash from the house accross the street that took a hit into their cable line (blew all their tvs and a computer). I have a new respect for thunderstorms as I now realize that, yes it can happen to me.
Two weeks ago I was hiding under my house (I live on the outer banks of NC and all of our houses are on 8-10 foot pilings) watching a thunder storm pass through. It had pretty much wound down and I was getting ready to check if the cooler of beer survived, when there was a tremendous flash of blinding white light, and a blue arc of lightning going into my right hand that I was holding out to gesture to my buddy. It turned out to be a side flash from the house accross the street that took a hit into their cable line (blew all their tvs and a computer). I have a new respect for thunderstorms as I now realize that, yes it can happen to me.
Lightning rods
My dad told of a story on their old 1898 42-ft yawl in the late '40s when they were at anchor and got hit by lightning. The boat was wood which could get REALLY scary, you know. He said he was standing in the hatch in the mild rain when the masthead got hit. The charge came down all shrouds at once and sizzled all over the rig like crazy, going back and forth, up and down, till it finally found the chain anchor rode... probably about 5 seconds but he said it felt like half a minute. Then one great sizzling plop as it fizzled out. I have always thought that cable-clamping a hunk of chain or rigging cable about 4 ft long to a shroud and throwing the end into the water would work as a decent lightning rod. Anyone have any experience with that? JC 2
My dad told of a story on their old 1898 42-ft yawl in the late '40s when they were at anchor and got hit by lightning. The boat was wood which could get REALLY scary, you know. He said he was standing in the hatch in the mild rain when the masthead got hit. The charge came down all shrouds at once and sizzled all over the rig like crazy, going back and forth, up and down, till it finally found the chain anchor rode... probably about 5 seconds but he said it felt like half a minute. Then one great sizzling plop as it fizzled out. I have always thought that cable-clamping a hunk of chain or rigging cable about 4 ft long to a shroud and throwing the end into the water would work as a decent lightning rod. Anyone have any experience with that? JC 2
Not lighting but just as dead
A few years ago in these parts a young couple had just bought a sailboat. They went out into the delta around here and got back into an area that had an over head power line. As you can guess that was it for them. fried them and the boat. Sad, makes me look up alot when I'm looking for a out of the way place to anchor out in.
A few years ago in these parts a young couple had just bought a sailboat. They went out into the delta around here and got back into an area that had an over head power line. As you can guess that was it for them. fried them and the boat. Sad, makes me look up alot when I'm looking for a out of the way place to anchor out in.
Fried by overhead lines
There is a High Tension Line over the lake I sail on. I called the local power co and talked to a guy there. He said the Lines can sag as much as 15' vertical height, depending on air temp and amount of energy passing through. He also said that the power can arc as much as 20 feet away from the lines and not to get my mast inside that distance or there would be nothing left. Since then I always cross under them near the shore (and close to the tower) Never in the middle.
There is a High Tension Line over the lake I sail on. I called the local power co and talked to a guy there. He said the Lines can sag as much as 15' vertical height, depending on air temp and amount of energy passing through. He also said that the power can arc as much as 20 feet away from the lines and not to get my mast inside that distance or there would be nothing left. Since then I always cross under them near the shore (and close to the tower) Never in the middle.
Lighting Strikes!
That post reminds me of the question that is heavilly argued.....To ground or not to ground? There are arguments for both sides. Has anyone had any experience with a lightning disipator? I have never heard if they work or not. I was racing on an Endevor 32. We were finishing the last leg of the race and we were sailing downwind. Ahead of us there was a storm coming and the sky turned green. I saw the boats that were way infront of us get knocked down by a storm gust. We dropped all of the sails and cast the ancor out. About that time there was a bring flash and a loud boom. We saw sparks fly off of the mast. Luckly, the boat was grounded and only some of the electrical equipment was damaged.
That post reminds me of the question that is heavilly argued.....To ground or not to ground? There are arguments for both sides. Has anyone had any experience with a lightning disipator? I have never heard if they work or not. I was racing on an Endevor 32. We were finishing the last leg of the race and we were sailing downwind. Ahead of us there was a storm coming and the sky turned green. I saw the boats that were way infront of us get knocked down by a storm gust. We dropped all of the sails and cast the ancor out. About that time there was a bring flash and a loud boom. We saw sparks fly off of the mast. Luckly, the boat was grounded and only some of the electrical equipment was damaged.
nope ...
So called “Lightning Dissipaters” (what are they callinmg them this week ?) haven’t demonstrated any efficacy. They don’t work. See the link, for one of many references. http://www.thomson.ece.ufl.edu/lightning/AirTerminals.html Gord
So called “Lightning Dissipaters” (what are they callinmg them this week ?) haven’t demonstrated any efficacy. They don’t work. See the link, for one of many references. http://www.thomson.ece.ufl.edu/lightning/AirTerminals.html Gord
Jumper Cables
About 45 miles from me there is a MAC 25 which has set parked out in the yard for the last two years. There are holes blown in the fiberglass at the water line just below the chainplates. According to the owner, it was struck by lightning while in the water. Since then I have taken a set of old battery jumper cables, stripped the insulation on about four feet on one end and I clamp it to one of the shrouds and drop the bare end in the water. It provides an easy path for the lightning to the water. I only clamp it on one of the shrouds because I am afraid there would be heatbuildup at that point and if was clamped to both shrouds on that side it might burn through the shrouds and drop the mast. Is it effective? Who knows. I haven't had any lightning damage. It also appears to be an effective way to ward off attacks by marauding elephants or tigers and the occasional cobra.
About 45 miles from me there is a MAC 25 which has set parked out in the yard for the last two years. There are holes blown in the fiberglass at the water line just below the chainplates. According to the owner, it was struck by lightning while in the water. Since then I have taken a set of old battery jumper cables, stripped the insulation on about four feet on one end and I clamp it to one of the shrouds and drop the bare end in the water. It provides an easy path for the lightning to the water. I only clamp it on one of the shrouds because I am afraid there would be heatbuildup at that point and if was clamped to both shrouds on that side it might burn through the shrouds and drop the mast. Is it effective? Who knows. I haven't had any lightning damage. It also appears to be an effective way to ward off attacks by marauding elephants or tigers and the occasional cobra.
how about
putting disconnects on all of the wiring coming from the mast in a suitable location so as to isolate the mast and all of its componets from the rest of the electrical system, then make sure the mast is well connected to the keel (even if its keel stepped) or hang a jumper into the water. Sounds too foolproof, someone tell me why this won't work??
putting disconnects on all of the wiring coming from the mast in a suitable location so as to isolate the mast and all of its componets from the rest of the electrical system, then make sure the mast is well connected to the keel (even if its keel stepped) or hang a jumper into the water. Sounds too foolproof, someone tell me why this won't work??
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