when lighting strikes

[Paul M]

Does anybody know any info on, or has anybody ever experienced being on the open water when a lighting storm occurs with a 29 foot metal mast above you, If it hits the mast are we cooked, unlike a car they say were safe causes were not grounded.What do you do, motor home, anchor and go below??, any and all comments are very welcome PAUL M

 

[dan]

Lightening in the Desert

Hi Paul.......We get lightening storms just about everydayfrom mid June to mid August. They occur in theafternoon and last a few hours.When I see thunder clouds forming I drag apiece of copper buss bar(1/4"x2"x12")in the water attached to the backstay with 4AWG cable.This prevents the buildup of static electricitywhich will also ZAP you if not grounded to thewater.I have been told that battery cables willalso work for a temp water ground.I also have a "DC Block" in the VHF coax to isolate the radio.The strike will go down your stay wires and toground in the water. Keep clear of rigging.If sailing.....REEF SAILS and head for your slipor anchorage. As the storm comes and goes thewind will gust violently. Just sit it out.At the slip I leave the water ground in all thetime for protection. I have also been WARNED notto attach a ground plate to the hull. This givesthe lightening a place to BLOW a hole in yourboat !I have also been ZAPPED on shore while deriggingwith static electricity. Here you pound a groundrod in to the ground. Attach a battery cable tothe forestay and the trailer BEFORE you startderigging if thunder clouds are present.happy sailing.......and be safe......dan

 

[Brian]

Great Tips

I've been on my boat when it was hit by lighting. I was in the slip sitting on the berth during a thunderstorm and watched the electricity run down thru the stays into the chainplate in the cabin. Definately scary, but it didn't hurt me. Thanks for the tips Dan.

 

[Bob Trail]

Lightning and sailboats

I highly recommend this downloadable article:Lightning and Sailboats by Ewen Thomson, Dept Of Electrical Engineering, University of FLhttp://www.thomson.ece.ufl.edu/lightning/SGEB17.htmlThey have a nice video for $15alsohttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/as04800.html If you have any experience with lightning please let Ewen Thomson know about it.

 

[Michael Shomate]

I use 4 cables

I bought 2 pair of jumper cables at Wal-Mart, cut one clamp off each wire and split each pair. I now have 4 cables with a clamp on one end only of each. At the first sight of lightning or a threatening cloud, I get out the "jumpers" and attach one to each stay, throwing the other end into the water.I was given this idea by another, more experienced than I, but I havn't been hit yet.Happy sailing.-MIke-