Lightning Arrester for Backstay Antenna

[Tashtego]

What kind of lightning arrestor will protect the antenna tuner from lightning coming down the backstay? I see recommendations in the ham radio literature for coax arrestors but what will work on the single conductor feed wire from the Antenna Tuner to the insulated backstay antenna

[SoonerSailor]

I don't think any lightning arrestor will protect your tuner from a direct, or even extremely close lightning strike. It might protect from one some indeterminate distance away. Keeping that in mind, you can use an arrestor intended for coaxial cable. Just ground the body to your through-hull, and connect the antenna leads to the center conductors of the lightning arrestor. A banana plug on the antenna wire will fit into the center of a coax socket. Downside is there is no positive locking to keep it in place, but you could secure it with tape. Upside is it would be easy to disconnect the backstay antenna from the arrestor and tuner when away from the boat.

[S/V Illusion]

There is no such thing as a lightning arrestor although misleading marketing calls them that. Rather, the best you can do is install a static dissipater some of which are built for open wire line and can be easily used on a single conductor feed. My opinion is they are rather pointless as you need to ground it which in tern sets up a ground path to the antenna as well but if you are so inclined, they can easily be had at any online ham radio store.