Static Electricity

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Kristal

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For some reason, here at St Katherine's I get the most dreadful static shocks when I climb back aboard after a walk up the pontoon. I use the backstay as a handhold, and yesterday the discharge made such a loud noise that someone on a boat about 10 metres away heard it. Or maybe they just heard my yelp of pain...

Anyway, does anyone else have this problem? I don't have it anywhere else, and surely it couldn't be my trainers against the wooden pontoon slats charging me up?

/<
 
I would doubt if it was static, If you have shore power have both your boat and the supply checked by an electrician. You or some else could end up dead.
Make no mistake this could be really dangerous.
 
That's the thing - our shore power is basically a long, hefty extension lead with a double socket on the end - doesn't connect to the boat anywhere. It's almost certainly a static shock, because it only occurs briefly before contact. Then you can hold onto what you like.

Interestingly, I've just been to the shower block, and put my shoes on without socks - this time, no shock. I wonder if I've gone and bought some high-voltage footwear by mistake?

/<
 
[ QUOTE ]
That's the thing - our shore power is basically a long, hefty extension lead with a double socket on the end - doesn't connect to the boat anywhere.
. I wonder if I've gone and bought some high-voltage footwear by mistake?
/<

[/ QUOTE ]

If you have mains aboard, you really do need to have it all checked out. You can still get a lethal shock from it, as unless the boat itself is properly earthed, a fault in the cable or an appliance could easily make metalwork 'live'. What you have done is probably the most dangerous way of bringing mains aboard, as it gives you no protection if a fault develops and causes metal boat parts to become live.

It is astonishing how little damp is required to cause real danger where mains is concerned!

If on the other you do have 'high voltage footwear', then carry a short metal rod (a screwdriver will do), and make sure you touch that to the metal part of your boat first to discharge the static. You may be surprised how big a spark you get - but you will not feel it. It is the concentrated charge and heat of the spark on your skin that makes you jump, and you need to make sure the spark jumps from something other than your anatomy!
 
Probably your shoes, happened to me in St Kats (last Tuesday morning) if I obey SWMBO's maxim about remembering shoes when boating. Will be worse on dry days with low humidity. Tread in a puddle and earh that way, no point contact.
 
It's the plastic pontoons -- get the same thing there and at SouthDock but not at marinas with proper wooden decking!

The charge that builds up especially when its a bit windy and the boat/pontoon rub is surprisingly large

I try and remember to touch my keys to a stay before getting aboard. saves a bit of pain!
 
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Why do they call it static electricity

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Dunno - but guess it is because static charges build up and remain there until discharged or dissipated.

Ordinary 'household' electricity is the flow of electrons along a wire. Cut off the source, and there is no electron flow, unlike static which accumulates and hangs around waiting to zap you.
 
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