shaol draft keel

[Harry Kazimirski]

I would like to know how to ground my mast for lightening protection . Is the keel completely encapsuated in fiberglass ? If so what is the best way to ground it . Is the keel bottom of very thick glass . Harry

 

[Ric Shultz]

chain

I bought a bike security chain that has the chain in a plastic tube. When we fear lightning, I clip it to my back stay and put it over the stern in the water. If lightning hits, it would follow the backstay/chain path, I hope. It has never been tested and I paln not to start. Bad storms usually gets me to the dock if I can make it.

 

[Peter]

i'm with ric...

though, I have no lightning protection. With the Odays we don't have much to work with...fully encapsulated keel, hard to reach bilges, deckstepped mast, etc, you just gotta do what you can. Too bad the debate on whether grounding systems actually increase the chances of a strike as an easy path to the ground or better "camouflage" the boat with its is surroundings still goes on.

 

[David]

Harry....

What I have done on my 22 is to buy a five dollar set of copper jumper cables and, when conditions get a bit on the thunderstorm side of things, clip one to each chainplate under the spreaders and let them dangle overboard.Of course, the most important thing I do down here on the summer thunderstorm prone Gulf Coast is to (1) avoid those conditions of possible and (2) crank up the motor and run like hell when needed.You could, if really inclined, drill a hole in your hull and intall a grounding plate near the mast step, but I'm not sure it is going to be any more effective.