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biker6977 · 25-09-2014, 06:12

I was just reading up on Noah Cullen, the victim of lightening in the Keys. Can you protect your vessel and person from a lightening strike on a sailboat? Houses have lightening rods, can you put one on a boat?

MarkJ · 25-09-2014, 06:23

Anchor between a catamaran and a steel hulled boat?

**a64pilot** · 25-09-2014, 06:24

I think this has been talked about a lot, a search will probably come up with many threads, but the few I have read, because lightning scares the beezus out of me, is there is no definitive way to protect yourself from lightning, even houses, you don't, or at least I don't see lightning rods on new construction anymore, use to be at least all the Churches had them on their steeples, not anymore.
There are several devices, even I guess what would be called dissipators that you put on your mast head, and large grounding plates connected electrically to your mast to give the lightning a path to ground.
I'm guessing if lightning is near, you should get in the center of the boat, stay away from chainplates etc. and wait it out?

**boatman61** · 25-09-2014, 06:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by biker6977

I was just reading up on Noah Cullen, the victim of lightening in the Keys. Can you protect your vessel and person from a lightening strike on a sailboat? Houses have lightening rods, can you put one on a boat?

Yes... Lightning and Your Boat - BoatSafe.com

**boatman61** · 25-09-2014, 06:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Anchor between a catamaran and a steel hulled boat?

LMAO...

biker6977 · 25-09-2014, 08:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by boatman61

Yes... Lightning and Your Boat - BoatSafe.com

Thank you, good information and yet I feel most have not done this. Do any manufactures do this as a regular practice?
I am old school and our houses were and are always grounded- tornadoes and hurricanes don't bother me- lightening - yikes!

jwing · 25-09-2014, 09:02

I lightened my boat by leaving one of the two anchors ashore. I lightened the sails with an application of Concrobium, then clean water. I didn't prepare for either event, other than having some chilled beer ready to drink after the sail cleaning.

**boatman61** · 25-09-2014, 09:03

Some do.. some don't...
Old school we used to have lengths of galv chain with snap hooks which we would clip on the mast stays and dangle in the water... but I imagine fitting a lightening rod and decent wire down the mast and grounded to the keel (not sure about lead keels

) would also be good.

Delancey · 25-09-2014, 09:04

Also, anything with a circuit board in it is at risk from a strike, even a close miss. Cell phones, vhf, gps, etc. That subject has been pretty well covered here-

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ps-122684.html

S/V Illusion · 25-09-2014, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwing

I lightened my boat by leaving one of the two anchors ashore. I lightened the sails with an application of Concrobium, then clean water. I didn't prepare for either event, other than having some chilled beer ready to drink after the sail cleaning.

Wonder if he "got" it yet?

Can someone describe what a "lightening rod" is?

**boatman61** · 25-09-2014, 09:51

Its supposed to be a focus/attraction point for any strike...

Delancey · 25-09-2014, 09:58

The use of the English word "strike" in reference to work stoppages first appeared in 1768, when sailors, in support of demonstrations in London, "struck" or removed the topgallant sails of merchant ships at port, thus crippling the ships.

Cheechako · 25-09-2014, 10:07

I think the consensus is there is no fix but luck. A lightening rod and large conduit to ground water may help, or may attract lightening, or the bolt may strike there and fan out several places on the way to ground.
Airplanes are struck all the time, I wonder why they don't usually have damage? No path to ground?