Lightning Strikes

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by j dragon

This is the only lightning protection system that has any scientific basis.
Science & Technology

ROFL

is exactly why the NASA engineer in slidell was hit not just once but TWICE in 4 yrs.
i must laugh at those saying how exact the inexact science is.
the folks who study it cannot even agree on its exactness or inexactness--
so--go ahead and attract it --i will sail comfortably thru the storms and be safe as possible sans a gizmo that is meant to ATTRACT the stuff...sorry--that sales scam aint workin on my boat.

i have WOOD masts stepped via a WOOD block to a CONCRETE keel. no path for lightning--isnt the easy path-- so is a protection in itself. do not over engineer your stuff--you will end up like that nasa engineer with the bendy toy 55 that was sunk 2 times from hits in same place in 4 yrs.
my experience dictates no alleged protection as that is what attracts the bolt to you.

mebbe gods dont like 55 bendys...who knows--is not an exact science.

[j dragon]

I just threw it out to add to the discussion. I still like the cat idea though.

[zeehag]

rationale behind cat on board --there has never been a record of a cat being hit by lightning---he takes his job seriously as guardian of boat--is a goood kat---doesnt like strangers nor lightning or invading species--he kills those nicely... gooood kitty

[goldiphlox]

Ha....that's what my instructor Skipper Dan told me......wear croc s....he's an old salt...so to speak....with many...many years exp....teaching racing....he says he is too old for that now....so he teaches newbs like me

[zeehag]

crocs attract nothing, so is an excellent choice--besides they are made of rubber---good for lightning storm sailors

[sabray]

Great your so right. Masts in zees. New world should not have direct ground . The new standard is to not ground anything. Wear clogs and go
Hop around so your not likely grounded. Because uhhh the energy from even a near Strike will find you except if you wear rubber shoes If your deck stepped get rid of the ground bond. Best of luck to you.

[goldiphlox]

Originally Posted by zeehag

crocs attract nothing, so is an excellent choice--besides they are made of rubber---good for lightning storm sailors

He also said the grip is better than any boat shoe he has ever found....now if only i could find a sexy designer pair....lol...jk

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by j dragon

This is the only lightning protection system that has any scientific basis.

(...)

Science & Technology

Sure it is about science?

b.

[sabray]

I give up . We're about to have a storm so I just Tossed the cat and got two crocks. Cutting the mast bond cable. Cat is very pissed off . Please help what should I do with this damn cat. Can
I tie it's tongue to the drive shaft.

[goldiphlox]

Originally Posted by sabray

I give up . We're about to have a storm so I just Tossed the cat and got two crocks. Cutting the mast bond cable. Cat is very pissed off . Please help what should I do with this damn cat. Can
I tie it's tongue to the drive shaft.

Lol....if you do...i'll call pita

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Sure it is about science?

b.

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!! THANKYOU!!!! is ALL about products and nothing about science at all. many folks fallinto the thinking that it is about the science--butNOT--is all about the crappy products sold to make you THINK you are safer. in reality, i have SEEN it not be the case---lightning wants the easy path.if you provide it, you get HIT.


mebbe i should talk of sabray's imaginary world of unreality and desk space......but that would be attacking someone, and he has those rights already, so i wont sink that low.....and now he is condoning cruelty to animals, as well as trying to sell products unnecessary to survival at sea.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by cat man do

So if lightening wants to take the past of least resistance doesnt it make sense that the boat with the best grounding system is most likely to get hit?
In this case it was the powerboat

Apparantly Lightening doesnt care about taking the path of least resistance....

[sabray]

Originally Posted by j dragon

I just threw it out to add to the discussion. I still like the cat idea though.

Oops I remember something being thrown. No not the cat it's not the cat you throw. I'm so going to get the cat.back if it's still swimming.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by sabray

Great your so right. Masts in zees. New world should not have direct ground . The new standard is to not ground anything. Wear clogs and go
Hop around so your not likely grounded. Because uhhh the energy from even a near Strike will find you except if you wear rubber shoes If your deck stepped get rid of the ground bond. Best of luck to you.

Slow down, Sab!

:

1) it is not a new standard, our ship built 1980, designed 1967, NOT bonded,
2) if there is a direct hit, due to the amt of energy, you are likely to get fried, grounded or not,
3) the luck factor you have mentioned, doh.

Love and flowers, no sparks ;-)
barnie

[westwinds]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Yesterday, looking at chain plates on another boat ... I suddenly realized that our mast is grounded too (!!!) - the forestay attaches to the fore chain plate which extends at least 3 feet below the waterline! (It forms a protection to the leading edge of our keel).

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Why not have some of the external chainplates on some boats extended so that they form a natural path to the water/ground?
And will this sort of 'grounding' work?
b.

I think you are on to something. I have wondered why through hulls fail when a boat is struck. If it were a side flash, the lightning would enter the low resistance metal into seawater and not generate any heat as watts equals resistance times amps squared. If the strike got into the fiberglass, you would have resistance with enough heat to create steam and blow a through hull up. According to Inspecting the Aging Sailboat by Don Casey, fiberglass will absorb moisture and professional surveyors use a moisture meter to detect this. This moisture puts the gelcoat and laminate at risk for blisters. If the chainplates and stays had metal that went below the water line, then the metal would be a ground rather than saturated fiberglass where it would be very difficult to predict where hull penetration would occur. Air is a very good insulator unless it is ionized. The lightning would take the lower resistance path from stays and shrouds through saturated fiberglass and the out at the water line making a lot of little holes.