Lightning

[bdoutney]

We have just got our first sailboat an O'day 22. Its mast mounts to the fiberglass roof of the cabin. My question is what is the danger of lightning when you are out and cannot get quickly back in or the storm is between you and shore and what do you do about it?

Bill

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Hope this doesn't start another grounded/un-grounded mast debate.
Find another sailboat with a bigger mast and stay near him...but not too close

 

[Ross]

Don't worry about it. That is how I and most others deal with lightning. There is realy nothing you can do about it and the odds of being struck by lightning are somewhere around the odds of winning the lottery.

 

[Cpt. Jon]

This is a frequent topic/question. The short answer is that there is no right answer. There are so many unknowns about lightning and very few knowns about when and where it will strike. Many sailors have reported lightning strikes near their boats in the water but not hitting the 30+ foot tall mast of their boat... why? Who knows...

Some say having a grounded boat is safer, but increases the chances of getting struck... some say if you aren't grounded your chances are less to get struck.

Some say if the rig gets struck the rigging will create a faraday cage and everyone inside of this should be safe.

Common practices that I find to be in line with my own are:
Check weather often where there is a chance of storms, I have radar on my phone for this ($3/month I think)
Seek shelter prior to a storm hitting if possible
If severe weather is imminent I normally anchor in sheltered area until it's passed when possible
While there is lightning, avoid the bulkheads, touching metal, and electrical systems in the even that the boat is struck.

Lightning can reach 25 miles. There is little rhymn or reason for where or when it strikes. It's possible for you to have clear skies above you and get struck from a significant distance. Lightning is a real killer and this year there have been (I believe) higher than average number of lightning related deaths. I have respect and fear of lightning, so I err on the side of caution as much as I can.

People on this board have been in their boats when they were struck and in most cases it seems the results varied. Some heard the thunder, some didn't, most saw a bright flash, some got sick, some just had some of their instraments fried, some said they had tiny little holes burnt through the gel coat.

My boat has been struck by lightning while in a slip prior to me owning it. Only thing I know that happened with ill effects was the VHF was fried. The hose under the sink in the head had a big hole in it and looked almost like it was melted when I bought the boat and I replaced it. I have recently been thinking that the lightning could have traveled through the hose that is reinforced by metal inside and fried it (I don't know though as rubber is an insulator and metal is conductor... not idea), when I went to replace the hose, the through hull disintegrated in my hands so I don't know if this was age or again degredation due to the lightning strike.

Play it safe and don't put yourself in dangerous situations if avoidable.

Jon

 

[Bob S]

Don,

I believe your mast stick's out in a crowd!

 

[RichH]

The university of Florida was considered the 'source / resources' for most boat lightning protection, etc. etc. That was about 10 years ago but their then recommendations can be found in text at http://ssca.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=8016 go the 'middle' of that pages comments.

Supposedly the 'guru' from the Univ of Florida has left the school and started his own commercial business venture: www.marinelightning.com and his 'new' recommendations include a very much advanced approach than when at the UF.

After being 'severely kissed by Thor' this winter in the Bahamas .... Im ready for anything technically novel/promising ..... good thing is with this strike is that no one got hurt, everything was insurance covered, all except a $1000 deductable. The 'lightning guru's new theory of 'waterline air terminals' might be quite plausible as my waterline bobstay fitting showed a lot of 'lightening use' after I got hit .... it was a BIG hit, not much physical damage .... except anything 'electronic' (that wasnt inside the galley oven) plus a seriously discolored bobstay fitting where the strike bled of into the water. Jus' about $6k in electronics that went 'poof'. This is the third boat Ive had thats taken a big HIT ... and Im wondering maybe I should join a church somewhere.

Question: Do athiests insure against "Acts of God"??

 

[Royal Flush]

lightning odds, Those odds are including people who are inside

Don't worry about it. That is how I and most others deal with lightning. There is realy nothing you can do about it and the odds of being struck by lightning are somewhere around the odds of winning the lottery.

The odds would be much different if you were only including remaining outdoors during the storm..As it stands, couch potatoes and people who really fear lightning are included in this study. I've read that the rigging and mast tend to build a shield over the cockpit and it seemed to have worked for me 2weeks ago in a monster storm. I keep the bimini up to serve as a blindfold while I was fighting my intense fear of becoming a french fry.