|
|
Subject: Re: [worldcruising] Lightening Strikes
From: Bryan Genez (capella@XXX.XXX)
Date: Tue Sep 10 2002 - 13:11:56 EDT
galatea_49 wrote:
> I had a lightening dissipator fitted at the mast head when the boat
> was commissioned in Florida - but my friend who was struck has an
> identical boat with the same dissipator.
Have you heard the term "snake-oil salesman"? To the best of my knowledge,
there is not one solitary shred of evidence that *anything* will protect a
boat from a lightning strike.
> When leaving the boat in a
> marina I suspend a length of chain from the cap shroud chainplate
> into the water - but does this really do any good?
If it makes you feel better, then it's doing some good. As far as
protecting your boat, see my statement above.
> Obviously the amount of damage varies enormously - from a few blown
> instruments to major damage to wiring, starter motors and pumps. It
> would be interesting to hear of other experiences and to have any
> references in the literature to any scientific studies of GRP sailing
> boats fitted with Aluminium masts.
There's no relationship between lightning strikes, fiberglass boats, and
aluminum masts. Note that trees are often hit. So are wooden boats,
aircraft in flight, automobiles, and children playing on a football field.
My boat was hit two summers ago. It was at dock, alongside a creek with
very steep banks and very high trees. I'd estimate that the tree tops
within 200 feet of my mast are at least 100 feet higher than the mast. The
strike was witnessed by the owner of the home where I dock.
I lost my radar antenna. All the other masthead electronics were
unaffected. I have a short circuit in one interior light that I haven't
traced out and repaired yet.
A couple of years earlier, I was at sea in the middle of an intense
lightning storm. I saw many strikes within a quarter mile. I was never
hit.
IMO, it's all witchcraft. YMMV.
-- Best,Bryan (KB3HMZ) "Capella" Valiant 40 #158 Annapolis, MD
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> 4 DVDs Free +s&p Join Now http://us.click.yahoo.com/pt6YBB/NXiEAA/MVfIAA/_0TolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
===================================== to unsubscribe email to: worldcruising-unsubscribe@onelist.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|