Lightning Strikes Multihulls More Than Monohulls

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Dsanduril

Otherwise just a bunch of speculation and hot air. Oh wait, this is CF

Thats funny cause its true

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Dsanduril

Otherwise just a bunch of speculation and hot air. Oh wait, this is CF

Those figures do seem high, and I am curious as to why. At the risk of being accused of speculation it would be interesting to puzzle out the reasons for that, or at least the possible ones......

Anyone know what the Brochure says?

[Dsanduril]

Googling around led to this article (sales tool?):

Catamarans and Lightning

The bottom line is they think a catamaran (same arguments apply to tris, why does everyone forget we exist ) has a wider "strike area". Because of their beam multi's masts are further separated from other nearby masts in the marina. And, multis are frequently on end-ties, so there is no outside neighbor to offer "protection" on that side.

Basically, multihull owner's are off in a world all their own, separate and distinct from everyone else.

[noelex 77]

Statistics have have shown that multihulls get hit significantly more often.
Most reports I have read suggest the risk is 2-3x once you discount the effect of a multihull being moored , more commonly, on an outside berth.

There was a good thread on CF explaining the effect in terms of ionisation of the seawater between cat hulls. This increases the risk of a strike to a cat. There was also the suggestion that bonding the port and starboard sides could reduce the risk to multihulls.

Anyone remember the link? It seems information worth repeating

[carstenb]

FYI

The article says the stats are an average of the insurance companies last five years of claims. Sso the nu,bers are accurate, looked at from their point of view. Yes severity is obviously cost of the claim. I don't think fewer mono have comprehensive insurance than multi's, but multi's, looked at as a group may be more expensive than monos and therefore the cost of claims is higher.

But i bet those stats show up in the cost of insuring your boat

[donradcliffe]

The way I read the table is that cats are about twice as likely to get hit, and the cost per claim is almost twice as high. BoatUS is one of the largest insurers, so they have pretty good database.

What I don't understand is if the chance of a cat getting struck by lightning is 1% per year, and the average claim is something like $30,000, then BoatUS has to figure they are spending an average on $300/boat/year on lightning damage. Their same costs for a mono would be $90/boat/year. You would think this difference would be reflected in their rates, but it doesn't seem to be.

In the San Blas case, you would need to know about how many monos there were and how many cats--if there were 6 monos for every cat, then the relative statistics would be about like BoatUS. However, unless there were 300 cats and 2000 monos in the San Blas (not likely), it looks like the title of lightning capital of the world should move down there from Florida.

[Cheechako]

Of course you need to figure in the population density of each type of craft per geographical area! (ie: what if there are more multihulls in a high lightening occurance area)
or..... maybe Thor has trouble hitting the faster motorboats!
hmmm.... interesting though... the only boat I've actually seen struck by lightening was a tri in mexico... I was right alongside in my dingy in a squall...

[SunDevil]

Here are some elementary school questions. Does it matter if it is in salt water versus fresh water? Multihull sail boat compared to a multihull power boat? And if the boat is anchored to the seabed compared to out sailing, would that make a difference?

Does anybody prepare their boat against lightning by disconnecting wires? Do you avoid touching metal objects or being around them in a lightning storm?

[Cheechako]

I stay away from the mast as much as possible...

[bobconnie]

Personaly I would like to see how many boats , both cat,tri, and Monos, are hit by lightning at sea, not just in anchorages, or at docks !! Just wonder if it's safer to keep on cruiseing ?? LOL

[SaltyMonkey]

Heres the key that was mentioned:

(ie: what if there are more multihulls in a high lightening occurance area)

and my 2 cent monkey bet...

[Cheechako]

Yeah, rare to see a cat up here in the PNW, and we dont see much lightening compared with Fl either...

[bill good]

Maybe God favours monos?

Less all metal Cats
Less design for prevention of Lightning damage
Taller rigs

Note to oneself Always make sure there is a taller mono mast near by in the Marina

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by bill good

Maybe God favours monos?

No doubt! Those multi's flip over....AND get hit by lightenng more often!

[Factor]

But rarely sink without a trace

YAWN