Preparations for a Lightning Strike

[CRM]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a description of what is considered to be best practices in preparing a cruising catamaran for a lightning strike? Of particular interest - how should the mast be grounded to sea to minimize damage to the boat and its equipment?

Your guidance will be appreciated.

CRM

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by CRM

preparing a cruising catamaran for a lightning strike?

I stand on the bow pointing to the Steel boats just incase God can't tell....


But I am on a mono. I don't know what you should do.

[jackdale]

I am sure if cats are any different from monhulls.

I think it was Lee Trevino who prevented lightning strikes on the golf course by holding a 2 iron over his head. "Even God cannot hit a 2 iron."

Seriously

Try this site: SGEB-17/SG071: Lightning & Sailboats

[GordMay]

See our earlier discussion
➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...n-11542-2.html

And
➥ Catamarans
➥ Systems Gallery

[sneuman]

I was just talking to someone the other day who was struck about 4 years ago in my marina (before I was there). The mast right next to him was taller than his. So, that part may be more urban legend than otherwise. It's amazing, actually, how poorly understood these things are even today.

[Vasco]

On a cat just pray twice as hard as on a mono.

[Kashmir cat]

My cat got hit about 3 years ago wiping out ALL electronics. At that time the cat was new to me and did not have any lightening ground system. I have since added two large battery cables clamped to the shrouds and then a fish (zinc) in the water while at dock. Who knows if this will work but I can't think of anything else. While under way, I guess you could keep the cables in the water and remove the zinc so it won't pound the hell out of the hull. I also leave 2 or 3 feet of bare (tinned) wire under the water for increased surface area. Erik

[s/vfootloose]

You get under your desk, put your hands behind your head, tuck your head between your knees and kiss your ... oh yea that was for atom bombs sorry

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by s/vfootloose

You get under your desk, put your hands behind your head, tuck your head between your knees and kiss your ... oh yea that was for atom bombs sorry

is there a difference????

[maxingout]

I always anchor my catamaran next to a really large monohull with a very tall mast. That way I will be in their cone of protection.

[zeehag]

my personal favorite position is somewhere underneath my fur bearing cat and trembling.... i need to learn to grab camera and get lightning shots. but they may not be in focus........i do not want to be standing still in a port when they come thru--that is scary. at least on the run is a harder target....YEAH YEAH--I KNOW-MOMMA NATURE CHEATS.....

[sabray]

I like to lure a bunch of cats to anchor near me with my big stick. They think their safe but Im thinking more targets.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by sabray

I like to lure a bunch of cats to anchor near me with my big stick. They think their safe but Im thinking more targets.

'at's right--yer a monohull with training wheels.. cute lil thangs.....fast flyers....

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by sabray

I like to lure a bunch of cats to anchor near me with my big stick. They think their safe but Im thinking more targets.

Who knows? More targets might mean more attraction. Have you ever seen a picture of a bolt of lightning that didn't have a zillion jagged side flashes? I haven't.

If you're within a few hundred feet of a strike there's a good chance your electronics will be toast.

[Captain Bill]

Put all of your spare electronics in a good faraday cage. At least you'll have something left. Grounding won't help much as EMP will kill your electronics just as fast as the strike current. We lost a radio and a depth sounder communications channel a few years ago to a strike that hit a piling 5 slips away. No way the strike voltage got us, but the EMP did.