Lightning protection

[gbillman]

I've read alot of pro and con articles over the years, but I recently saw this and wondered if it had merit. Interested in opinions, or better yet, actual knowledge if it's efficacy.
http://www.mto.com.tr

[transmitterdan]

Anyone claiming to provide 100% protection from lightning is going to have a hard time proving that.

This looks like the so-called “bottle brush” gadget that was a fad about 20 years ago. Based on experience with broadcast installations in the US the fuzzy wire device was pretty much abandoned. Back then the claims were pretty much the same as what you have found. If these things worked 100% of the time then every tower in the US would have them. They don’t.

[skipmac]

Extremely complex subject but to the best of my knowledge I have to agree 100% with Dan.

I've read some of the technical articles written by Martin Uman, UF professor who is one of the leading researchers in the world on lightening and unless he's come up with something revolutionary in the last few years, he has found no easy fix. I believe he developed some very expensive and complicated ways to somewhat minimize the risks and reduce the damage but nothing that would be useful on a boat.

[mickt243]

About the best way to prevent lightning strikes is to:

Use a power boat and
Retract/remove all antennas and
Park 50feet away from a steel hulled sailing cat with at least a 100 foot mast....


Other than that, there’s no real proven prevention method, only mitigation strategy that may or may not be effective (like disconnect electronics and keep in a faraday cage, hang chains from stays/lifelines into the water, get low and central in the hull...)

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by mickt243

About the best way to prevent lightning strikes is to:

Use a power boat and
Retract/remove all antennas and
Park 50feet away from a steel hulled sailing cat with at least a 100 foot mast....

Even such a great plan might not give 100% protection.

A friend of mine used to own a 26' Colombia that was possibly the smallest boat in his marina. He was docked in between a couple of mid 40' sailboats (though unfortunately neither was steel) and was struck twice about a year apart while the boats around him were missed.

On second thought, maybe docking next to him might be a the best plan if he hadn't sold his boat. Maybe I'll buy him another one. Might be cheaper than my insurance premium.