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Old 19-07-2021, 15:14   #16
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

The old-time advice was: Grab yer anchor, take the chain once around the mast, once around the shrouds (which side is immaterial), hang the hook over the side and pray.

And much good may it do you :-)!

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Old 19-07-2021, 22:44   #17
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

Side strikes will get you every time ,maydbekeep a mobile phone in the microwave maybe ⛵️⚓️
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Old 19-07-2021, 23:42   #18
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

Thank you TrentePieds, for your scenario !!

I have a full set of old charts on board, and know how to use them, no worries.

Your jolle boat was doing fine in Odense Fjord, but remember, that I have a 1.6 meter draft fin keel.
In such a stormy and dark and rainy night, I can't head to the shallow waters in Odense Fjord without a sounder. Then she WILL be a wreck !

Not possible to head for Kolby Kås to get a taxi back to Lolland, as they still haven't made the bridge to/from Samsø yet. They may make a tunnel there, when we finish the tunnel to Germany from Lolland. Then I'll be too old to drive anyway ;-)

The plan, in case of a lightning strike in bad visibility, that cuts out the rudder :
Wait in "embryo position" in the middle of the cockpit for the lightning cell to pass (there could be more strikes !), throw out the draft bag to stop drifting, roll out 30' of anchor chain/line and wait for it to touch something, and then let the rest go.
When anchored, take a deep breath, grab a beer (if they survived) and review the damages and the situation.
Then probably dig out my smartphones from the Kellogg's box...

How's that, gamle dreng ?
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Old 19-07-2021, 23:55   #19
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

I wonder about the "microwave"-protection: phone receives call when in the mw, just tried it the other day...
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Old 20-07-2021, 00:09   #20
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

Hoy, Trentepieds,

Here's a link to a boat that suffered lightning damages in Denmark :
https://grinde.wordpress.com/grinde/...m-mastesporet/
The Grinde boat (almost of same size as my boat) has the mast foot stepped almost near the keel, thus the minor damages, as the lightning just had a short way to the keel (the ground).
They grounded the mast to the keel afterwards...
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Old 20-07-2021, 00:47   #21
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

A Kellogg's box for EMP protection ?

For EMP protection, no one (exept the military, perhaps) knows how much EMP flux your devices will get during a lightning flash or even a spike.
But doing nothing means that you'll be quite sure, that things gets fried when close to the fireworks.

Here's a guy who uses modified ammo boxes.


In combination with EMP bags, this may proof your gear well.
https://survivaldispatch.com/product-category/gear/

Maybe a Kellogg's box works too, who knows.
I'm not running to test it
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Old 20-07-2021, 00:54   #22
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

I intend to change my backstay to (isolating) Dyneema.

See how it works at 14:33 in this video from The Rigging Doctor :

More about the backstay itself at https://www.riggingdoctor.com/life-a...ding%20rigging

Herb is a genious guy !

For a start I will change the backstay.
I'm considering changing all shrouds and stays to Dyneema, after watching this.
Then all troubles of making groundings to the water will be unnecessary.
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Old 20-07-2021, 11:25   #23
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

It sounds sounds sensible to try something to ground lightning out. Kudos for giving it thought and attempting to increase your and your properties safety and survivability. Have a plan for the boat sinking from under you for any reason. I will have a spare Controller for my just launched 5 KW E-Drive System as I see it as the weakest link in these systems.

I have no idea of the ratio of boats that sink from strikes and will be happy to just be alive to come up with a plan after it hits my boat.
I agree with those who believe Neptune decides who or who doesn't get to go home after a strike.
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Old 20-07-2021, 22:06   #24
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

Good point, Skipper Lee !
As an ancestor of vikings, I will now begin to sacrifice some liquor to Thor before heading out. Means that I cheer "Skål, Thor", then I sip some, and throw the rest up in the air to him.

Then, to be even more safe, I'll go below to do some crossings before the picture of Santa Barbara.

That should protect me well !

I'll help Thor to get rid of his anger easily, by grounding my mast
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Old 21-07-2021, 06:32   #25
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

Brilliant plan Carstendenmark!
Your comment had me look up Thor and Neptune as I worried that I was wasting a good dram each outing as well as leaving my boat unprotected entirely. It wasn't just my new boat but I always offered a dram up to Neptune on the launch of all my previous boats.
It does seem that although I didn't include Thor I somehow had the blessing of Neptune, god of fresh water and the seas and have stayed on the surface of the deep.
As I am a descendant of Scots I will check the WWW again now to see if I missed any other relevant entities, and take extra jar to the lake.

BTW, I launched my Balboa 27 Ft with 5 KW Thunderstruck Motors kit with 4 X Firefly G 31 Batts last Sunday and am quite impressed. Its powerfully torquey! The initial charge of 50.8V was still at 49.7 after about an hour at 750 rpm at 11 KPH or 5.94 KTS with the original 13RH11 prop. I was pretty nervous but everything checked out good. I think any more RPM would have been wasted/unneeded.
I do not think one test is enough data to be conclusive so I must get back to the boat today to make sure the data is consistent. LOL.
I did not ground my motor or controller.
So In closing regarding your electric conversion... Get you some of that!
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Old 21-07-2021, 06:54   #26
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

Quote: "I'll help Thor to get rid of his anger easily, by grounding my mast"

Ooh, ahr! I hear faintly, across the seas, the voice of your ancestors as in days of yore:

Rolf kan blegne, Bjarke segne,
Hjalte svømme i sit blod.
Lejres buer,
kam i luer,
synke ned for Hjartvars fod.
Marken kan han ej beholde —
Før de emmer vorde kolde
dræber ham den sidste gnist.


Safe passage, min ven :-)!

And apologies to all non-Danes for the bizarre language. You have to be a SERIOUS history buff to know what THAT's all about :-)!

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Old 21-07-2021, 07:34   #27
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

Ohøj, TrentePieds, did you see posts 18 and 20 ?
Any comments ? Just PM me, if you're shy :-)

Skipper Lee, nice job !
What prop do you use, from before conversion, and what is the weight of your boat ?





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Old 21-07-2021, 08:55   #28
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

Yep - shy, that's me :-)

I'm outta here momentarily. I'll reply to 18 & 20 when I pick up the WIFI on the other side :-)

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Old 21-07-2021, 11:22   #29
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

It's a crap shoot, to ground or not to ground. It is like a part of the anatomy, everyone has one, an opinion.
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Old 21-07-2021, 11:50   #30
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Re: Electric propulsion - lightning protection ?

QUOTE: "I'm considering changing all shrouds and stays to Dyneema, after watching this. Then all troubles of making groundings to the water will be unnecessary."

Changing to Dyneema will have little effect on what happens when lightning strikes. Given the damp and the salt in any rope, it is likely to take at least some of the current.

We think of wood as being a good insulator, but have you seen what happens to a tree when hit? The moisture in the wood makes it a conductor, the sap turns to steam, the bark and a strip of wood goes flying...
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