Lightning protection

Hammerhead · #1 09-13-2007, 10:53 PM

What's anyone here do about lighting protection...aside from the obvious...get outta dodge.
Here in Florida it's kinda a cat and mouse game tryin' to skirt around storms. can't always get away. What's the best...if any protection?
A sailboat I crewed on had the masts grounded to the keel. We didn't touch them in storms.

THEFERMANATOR · #2 09-13-2007, 11:12 PM

I know on larger sportfish's, they bond the tower or top to the bonding strip that attatch's to the zincs. Not sure on smaller boats though ???.

chumbucket · #3 09-13-2007, 11:17 PM

Copper grounding plates on the hull connected to the boats' negative circuit.

phatdaddy · #4 09-14-2007, 12:40 AM

I'm also in fl and i lower the antennas & turn off electronics & try not to touch the steering wheel , if it is a metal one. There was a family in a small boat that got caught in a squall, three of them got out and were pushing the boat up the beach and got struck. it killed 4 out of 6 in the boat.

Hammerhead · #5 09-14-2007, 06:52 PM

I'm scared of two things...my wife...and lightning.

I read sumthing about how to make a temporary emergency lightning ground system outta an aluminum pole and rod holder. Just wondering if anyone else had seen one or had ideas.
I'm not too proud to run from a storm...but, still have been caught in'm.

spareparts · #6 09-14-2007, 10:02 PM

i don't think a ground wire, or ground plate would handle the amperage of a lightning strike, If one hits your boat, its gonna find its on way to ground

lumberslinger178 · #7 09-14-2007, 10:14 PM

I know on houses we use lighting rods that are about 1/2 thick and about 18 inches long and are attached to a 3/8 braded copper wire that runs to a ground rod and the guy who installs them said when they are hit the wire is vaporized form the voltage , so basiclly there only good for one strike. average size house cost about 4500.00 to supply and install.

spareparts · #8 09-14-2007, 11:19 PM

I always thought the only thing lighting rods did was alert the next sales man coming down the road, that an easy score lived there. I've seen what 800 amps at 12 volts will do to 2/0 cables if shorted, you'd need a ground cable the diameter of a tree to handle the kind of voltage a lighting strike would have

hangbelly · #9 09-15-2007, 03:46 AM

you have heard the old saying you dont have to be able to out run the bear you just have to be able to out run your buddy right?
Same holds true with lightning. You just shadow the tallest boat/yacht around and when he takes a hit you grab his beer and fishin tackle and his whenches.
arrrrrgh!! >:( :D :D

macojoe · #10 09-15-2007, 09:00 AM

I don't worry about what I can't controll!! Besides if you get hit you can kiss your --- good by!