How to Prepare for Lightening Strike?

[zeehag]

lol wood masts aint lightning rods, as are aluminum ones. that is my prep--not to prep--i have wood spars, and most other boats are major attractors of lightning.
keep moving also-- nothing can hit a moving target.
as lightning is not predictable and is random, how the hell you gonna not be hit by it when you ARE a lightning rod..
ye pays yer money , ye takes yer chances. good luck.

oh yes .. and keep it guessing.. change strategies at will and per whimsy

[svfinlandia]

Agreed that wouldn't masts arn't lightning rods, but having a wooden mast will not necessarily protect you against a lightning strike. Wooden houses and trees get hit by lightning too.

[wellin]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I don't know about lightning rods, but here is a picture of lightning holes
Rods, Holes ??
http://www.vx-aviation.com/rv-9a/pho...103_0388_1.jpg

They work by diverting the electrons around in circles preventing the concentration that would melt the aluminum. Simple. And why most planes are full of them. That is why they fly-on unaffected by a strike. The planes still in the factory could suffer a delay from a strike. But the ones flying are safe.

[zeehag]

nothing is perfectly safe--just ask that nasa scierntist in slidell, louisiana with 2 strikes to same beneteau 55, all nasa scientist protected to the max... oops gone now , after second strike, was not repairable.
but he can tell ye ALLLLLL about lightning protection from a nasa scientist point of view....

nothing wrong with scientists.. but.. there is no rhyme nor reason to lightning strikes. that is why they are considered RANDOM

[svfinlandia]

Originally Posted by svfinlandia

Agreed that wouldn't masts arn't lightning rods, but having a wooden mast will not necessarily protect you against a lightning strike. Wooden houses and trees get hit by lightning too.

I could learn to serously hate spell checkers!

[barnakiel]

Yes your mast is of wood and your rigging is excuse moi of what? PCV?

C'mon.

If you get hit, you get hit. A wooden mast changes nothing.

But no mast seems to do. Perhaps get a tabernacle and lower the rig while in a thunderstorm???

b.

[builder dan]

my boat is steel with steel decks how do I keep from being fried?

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by builder dan

my boat is steel with steel decks how do I keep from being fried?

Stay below while lighting is about and you will perfectly safe. Inside a complete steel boat is about the best place to be during a thunderstorm.

[Emmalina]

Originally Posted by BobFord

When I took on my current cat, aluminium hull with 100 ft mast ,I became neurotic about ' lightning strikes'. Did a fair bit of research but could not find a definitive solution to the risk.

This is what I sourced.

Patent devices need to be installed at new build stage but lack warranties on effectiveness. Cats are no more susceptible than monos or houses.A strike or near strike , on a boat . will fritz the electrics but will seriously harm the crew if in a vulnerable position i.e. become a conductor.

Best advice , from an Electronics Engineer, 1) keep well insured 2)Use two wooden spoons to hold wheel.

The theory is simple and at the end of the day , there are no guarantees. Try to avoid storms. I'm also open minded and follow this blog with interest

+1 on the Insurance.. Been hit twice and doesn't matter what you do if its a big enough hit !

[svadagio]

If you can find it Nat Geo has a program on lightening. Two major schools did a study and changed a lot of what we used to think is true about lightening.
They proved lightening starts in the ionosphere. They have pics of huge clouds of charged particles. Pink at that stage. The clouds put out "leaders" that look like weak lightening. These hunt around for a target. They are not looking for ground! That is the main thing they proved. The lightening is looking for an opposite charge. They have pics of objects on the ground putting out their own leaders. When the two leaders with opposite charge find each other the lightening travels down that path in a split second. A very interesting and informative movie.
I have grounded my rigging to bleed off the static at the mast head. We survived a direct hit on a boat 3 boats down in the marina. That was nice.
We have had other experiences where lightening hit nearby but not us. Then we had a nearby hit in the Turks a Caicos and lost a lot of electronics. The lightening hit about 400 yards behind us. We have never had a direct hit. My opinion is that is unpredictable but you can reduce you chances.
Bob

[Coops]

Lightening means to make less heavy or less dark. Lightning is a natural and potentially dangerous part of nature.

No, I have not read the whole thread and if this has been said before then I apologise.

Coops.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, capnjack.morton.
About time you spoke up.

[Arthur Garfield]

Lightning-

All I can say is read this - Lightning Attenuation Onboard



All the Best

[s/vfootloose]

I grew up in the Miami area during the Cuban missle crisis. I think what we were taught and practiced to do in case of atomic attack( honest to god truth) would work here. You crawl under your desk and put your head between your legs. And as anyone with any sense would add Kiss your ass goodbye.

[Steadman Uhlich]

During the storm,

Wear your rubber boots.

Here is a link to a fascinating short video on YT that shows super slow motion capture of lightning strikes. Watch at 2:50 especially to see the amazing slow "leaders" coming down and going out to find the place to strike.

Lightning in Super Slow Motion - YouTube