PBO Article - A Bolt from the Black

[mica]

I was amazed at the damage done to this yacht which was struck by lightening.

Does anyone have any tips to guard against such damage.

Lightening Conductors? Do they work? Where can you buy them and how do you fit them.

Worried!


MICA

 

[vyv_cox]

See the thread below, page 2. Plenty of people will try to sell you something that will divert/conduct/prevent a strike. Common sense tells us it's like trying to stop a bulldozer with a fly swatter.

 

[andrewhopkins]

agreed

Never experienced it but from what ive read there is little you can do. Some suggest a piece of chain from the mast over the edge to the water but this is dubious.

A good idea from someone is to put your portable VHF/GPS into the oven as this may act as a farraday cage and protect it.

Unwiring all electical items may save them too but again, not convincing.

 

[Guest]

In thunderstorms at sea there are two golden rules:

1. Pray that any strike will hit someone else.

2. Get within 100 metres of someone with a much taller mast and hope that they are not better insulated than you are. As a general rule the highest lightning conductor will take all "hits" within an area of about 100 metres diameter!!

Best regards )

Ian D

 

[jfkal]

Seriously, proper grounding works insulation doesn't. Get an ion-dissipation device for the top of the mast. It dissipated the charge slowly so it cannot built up for the big bang. It looks like a bunch of fibers sticking out in all direction.
(Always wondered what this stuff is other people have sticking out from the top of their mast ??) Now we know.
Another hint. Do not tie your throughhull into the bonding system if you are not sure whether your mast is nicely grounded to the keel. Heard of cases where bronze throughulls got knocked out clean. (Guess that's why they are called throughulls (They leave the boat through the hull ))