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Old 08-31-2017, 07:31 PM   #41
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My father in law's boat was tied up to his dock and got a direct hit. It did enough damage to his 2 outboards that they were replaced and he had to replace his GPS, but not his VHF. Not sure if it matters...but he kept it on a lift and it was out of the water. He seems to think he'd have been better off if it was floating at the time.
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Old 08-31-2017, 07:37 PM   #42
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Probably not.....it could have hit the boat next door and your dads boat might have sustained the same damage.
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Old 08-31-2017, 08:12 PM   #43
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regarding lightning, what is the best protection? I read book mentioned in this thread (calder) talking about the mast etc but on my boat I have no mast and there is no protection in place. Engine would not be an issue as mine has absolutely nothing electronic but I am worrying about damage to the boat itself. Damaged to a vhf or an old gps lie mine would be limited cost but damage to the hull would be something else.
Up here we have a lot of severe storm usually in summer and I was wondering if there is any risk mitigation system easy to retrofit on a boat not equipped. For example if I install a mast higher than my antennas to catch the lightning leader, where to run the massive cable needed for it?

Any input welcome.

L
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Old 08-31-2017, 08:20 PM   #44
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Many boats run a large copper wire or strap from the highest point on the boat to a very large ground in the bilge. In theory that gives the Lightning a direct route to the water.
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Old 08-31-2017, 08:26 PM   #45
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Read and read and read, I have and there does not seem to be enough agreement on how to protect a boat for me to put much effort into it.

The one thing I might do is wrap my phone, backup hard drive and favorite computer in 4 or 5 wraps of tin foil or stick them in a microwave/oven. A makeshift faraday cage but will I do it every time a thunderstorm passes?

Probably not an you can get nailed bt a clear blue bolt so roll the dice.
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Old 08-31-2017, 09:12 PM   #46
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Greetings,
Mr. ps.

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Old 08-31-2017, 10:16 PM   #47
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ulysses View Post
Best prep is to stay on good terms with Thor
I have a Norwegian built boat.
I am Norwegian built -- does that help?
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Old 09-02-2017, 03:26 PM   #48
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I live in the lightning capital of the world. (actually not true regardless of what people say, but in the top of lightning in the US).

I have no intention of doing much of anything for lightning protection. First, I don't believe it's really that effective.

I've been here since 1968 and done a bunch of boating and flying. And in the past 15 years have probably been out on the water somewhere here 4 days out of every week.

I've boated thru numerous thunderstorms with lightning that scares the bejesus out of me, and I've never been hit. Now, in flying, I can fly around them, but have been hit several times.... fortunately nothing horribly serious, but has damaged the radome and left "exit" tails by the static wicks, etc.

I guess I've been lucky, and I'll take luck over skill any time. I don't believe a lot of effort to prevent strikes from hitting is worth it.

I've had MUCH worse things to deal with... like keeping the beer cold so I can debrief the lighting later on.

YMMV....
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Old 09-02-2017, 04:30 PM   #49
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For me 55 years in FL And no losses. Second year in west NY and took a direct hit to an antenna. This is where people stare at lightning stores because of the scarcity.
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Old 09-02-2017, 06:34 PM   #50
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For me 55 years in FL And no losses. Second year in west NY and took a direct hit to an antenna. This is where people stare at lightning stores because of the scarcity.
Diver Dave,

I guess you never know....
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Old 09-03-2017, 01:17 AM   #51
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1) A lightning ground should never be in bilge!!!(as some have stated) it must be on the outside of your hull and should be a dedicated plate just for this not combined with radio's ground plateor similar.
2) The lightening ground should never be connected to your thru hulls
3) It's a fact the Catamarans suffer way more strikes than Mono hulls(mainly due to double the water line length)
4) Trawlers/power vessels moored in a marina or presence of sail boats are largely unlikely to be struck.
5) Recently i came across a seemingly good idea as a Silicon bronze Anode placed inside a nylon thru hull fitting (which protects the hull but allows the charge to dissipate into the water as below,

Cheers Steve (MIIMS-Lloyd's Maritime)
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Old 09-05-2017, 08:40 PM   #52
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Lightning!

This makes for interesting reading on lightning protection:

http://marinelightning.com
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