Lightning Strike Protection
- Thread starter seadoc3
- Start date
SEADOC,
NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE ASKING?
LIGHTNING PROTECTION ON A BOAT? NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. BONDING SYSTEM IS NOT FOR LIGHTNING ORGROUNDING, BUT FOR MECHANICALLY CONNECTING ALL UNDERWATER METAL FITTINGS AND STRUTS TOGETHER TO FORM THE SAME POTENTIAL, SO CORROSION DOES NOT OCCUR. DISSIMILAR METALS HAVE DIFFERENT VOLTAGES WHEN SUBMERGED IN WATER, JUST LIKE A BATTERY. THE LEAST NOBLE METAL WILL ERODE, AND NOT BE PROTECTED. ALUMINUM IS THE LEAST NOBLE ON MOST BOATS WITH OUTDRIVES.
IF YOU LOOK CLOSE, NO METAL ABOVE THE WATERLINE IS CONNECTED TO THE BONDING SYSTEM. (BOW RAILS, CLEATS, ETC.).
I GUESS IF LIGHTNING HITS US, MAYBE ITS OUR TIME TO GO.
NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE ASKING?
LIGHTNING PROTECTION ON A BOAT? NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. BONDING SYSTEM IS NOT FOR LIGHTNING ORGROUNDING, BUT FOR MECHANICALLY CONNECTING ALL UNDERWATER METAL FITTINGS AND STRUTS TOGETHER TO FORM THE SAME POTENTIAL, SO CORROSION DOES NOT OCCUR. DISSIMILAR METALS HAVE DIFFERENT VOLTAGES WHEN SUBMERGED IN WATER, JUST LIKE A BATTERY. THE LEAST NOBLE METAL WILL ERODE, AND NOT BE PROTECTED. ALUMINUM IS THE LEAST NOBLE ON MOST BOATS WITH OUTDRIVES.
IF YOU LOOK CLOSE, NO METAL ABOVE THE WATERLINE IS CONNECTED TO THE BONDING SYSTEM. (BOW RAILS, CLEATS, ETC.).
I GUESS IF LIGHTNING HITS US, MAYBE ITS OUR TIME TO GO.
What little I know can be said here ;D
The National weather service reports that lightning strikes are 80% to land and 20% to water. With these odds I'd rather be on the water in a lightning storm.
There were deaths here in Atl at lake Lanier when people under a picnic shelter on a hill were killed by lightning while boaters nearby were unharmed.
Furthermore, fiberglass in an insulator and not a conductor which is a greater safety factor for me.
In the case of an aluminum arch and electronics grounded to the boats wiring system, I don't know if this could significantly draw a lightning path but even if it could a protection system would have the same path which would end up the same either way.
A previous employee where I work was on a boat when an alleged lightning path was experienced. According to him there was a girl on the boat who had hair down to her lower back. While they were just drifting along in a large river ( I don't remember where he said it was) talking the girl's hair stood straight out from the ends forming a large hair sphere around her head. Immediately the driver told everyone to sit down and hang on while he gunned the boat. After moving a short distance the girl's hair just fell down like it was dropped from someones hand. He said they never saw any lightning but they didn't hang around looking for it either.
And that's his story. ;D
Can anyone debunk this story ???
I feel pretty secure on the water even if it is lightning. I have floated and watched it many times in calm amazement. ;D I have seen the storm clouds part around lake lanier while I sat and watched it rain and lightning on land but not the lake. Strange ??? 8)
I like it better when it rains in the lake. That is peaceful and beautiful to me :
;D
The National weather service reports that lightning strikes are 80% to land and 20% to water. With these odds I'd rather be on the water in a lightning storm.
There were deaths here in Atl at lake Lanier when people under a picnic shelter on a hill were killed by lightning while boaters nearby were unharmed.
Furthermore, fiberglass in an insulator and not a conductor which is a greater safety factor for me.
In the case of an aluminum arch and electronics grounded to the boats wiring system, I don't know if this could significantly draw a lightning path but even if it could a protection system would have the same path which would end up the same either way.
A previous employee where I work was on a boat when an alleged lightning path was experienced. According to him there was a girl on the boat who had hair down to her lower back. While they were just drifting along in a large river ( I don't remember where he said it was) talking the girl's hair stood straight out from the ends forming a large hair sphere around her head. Immediately the driver told everyone to sit down and hang on while he gunned the boat. After moving a short distance the girl's hair just fell down like it was dropped from someones hand. He said they never saw any lightning but they didn't hang around looking for it either.
And that's his story. ;D
Can anyone debunk this story ???
I feel pretty secure on the water even if it is lightning. I have floated and watched it many times in calm amazement. ;D I have seen the storm clouds part around lake lanier while I sat and watched it rain and lightning on land but not the lake. Strange ??? 8)
I like it better when it rains in the lake. That is peaceful and beautiful to me :
;DMuch has been written -google "lightning strike protection" .One excellent article in Seaworthy magazine of Boat/Us and www.cdc.gov/nasd/doc......
One ion dissipator that is sold attaches by a wire to the grounding plate of the boat....according to their brochure. Just wondering if there were many strikes to powerboats. Sailboats get lots of action!!
We had a near strike last year on the water near Navarre Beach, Florida. A man was killed on the beach which was about a mile away at the same time we were in the area. Made for a good story when we got home. A sailboat 2 slips down from me in Lake Pontchartrain got struck..hole in the hull..all electronics "fried". An eye opener to watch.
Thanks for your replies.
One ion dissipator that is sold attaches by a wire to the grounding plate of the boat....according to their brochure. Just wondering if there were many strikes to powerboats. Sailboats get lots of action!!
We had a near strike last year on the water near Navarre Beach, Florida. A man was killed on the beach which was about a mile away at the same time we were in the area. Made for a good story when we got home. A sailboat 2 slips down from me in Lake Pontchartrain got struck..hole in the hull..all electronics "fried". An eye opener to watch.
Thanks for your replies.
I read some info from the CDC website that was mentioned. It reminded me of how lightning prone Florida is. Also some pretty interesting info about how to devise a protection system for a boat and safety tips for boats with no lightning protection.
Some good info to consider.
Some good info to consider.