[C320-list] Thunderstorm tactics

[Warren Updike]

I've been interested in the subject of lightning protection. July 2011 issue of Sail Mag. Has an article by Nigel Calder on lightning.  What Jeff said agrees with what I've heard as regards protecting boats.  

As I understand the process, before the strike and the super heated column of air that glows white as a result of the passage of enormous voltage, an ionized column of air is created from the ground up into the cloud. It is through this ionized column that the lightning energy descends.  The fuzzy looking thingies that some boats have on top of the mast rather than a pointed or rounded rod are intended to inhibit the formation of this ionized column.  However, I've not seen much reporting on the use of such things or how effective they are.  

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"


-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Hare [mailto:catalina at thehares.com] 
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 8:42 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Thunderstorm tactics

Hi Chris,

There simply isn't any proven statistical difference between being grounded or not being grounded when it comes to lightning strikes. The atmospheric conditions around your boat are really what matters.

Personally I like not being grounded. All things being equal it makes me "feel" like i'm less of a lightning rod. 

We have been in many severe lightning storms on the boat and had much smaller power boats 10 slips away hit. We have been lucky so far. Some day that will change I guess.

So, during the worst of it we stay near the companionway away from the shrouds and hope for the best.

-Jeff 
#809 Woodbine II 


Christopher Nichols <cinichols at btinternet.com> wrote:


Any thoughts on handling the possibility of lightning strike on a c320. 
Grounding plate fitted as standard given the lead keel?

Am transiting cape cod canal today and they say a high prob of t-storms given the heat.


Chris Nichols

On Jul 7, 2011, at 6:56 AM, Jeff Hare <catalina at thehares.com> wrote:

> It hardly moves at all. Maybe 1/8" total. Ours were quite stiff to operate. 
> 
> Pull and push hard and it will click loudly into position.
> 
> Yea, feels like you're going to pull it apart and that's normal for this switch.
> 
> -jeff
> 2001 #809 
> 
> bairdrjb at aol.com wrote:
> 
> Need some guidance on how to operate the Anchor Windlass Switch located on the battery panel, starboard side. It is a push/pull on-off switch. 
> 
> 
> 
> I'm not sure how far to push or pull that red knob and I don't want to break it. 
> 
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> 
> Bob Baird
> Star Dust, 2001
> Hull 784
> Whitehall, Michigan
>