[C320-list] Lightening

[Jeff Hare]

We've been through quite a few lightning storms on our boat.  Sometimes we
just hang out in the cockpit near the companionway, but the Vberth and aft
cabin are comfortable places to hang out and wait for it to pass.  Both are
reasonably quick to exit if necessary but don't have any chain plates to
worry about.

If you think about it, lightning is just dependent on too many factors that
are more significant than anything you can control.  The height of the mast
is only one drop in the bucket of factors that matter since lightning
discharge travels a huge distance and travels the path of highest
conductivity all along that route.   I'm not convinced that being close to a
taller mast makes any more difference than chance.  Catalina masts are not
grounded by design, other builders believe in grounding the mast.  Both
approaches try to make the mast less enticing, but there's really no
evidence that either approach really matters since we're talking about
effectively 40' out of a 3-20 mile lightning path to ground.  If the road
leads to/from your mast, it isn't going to matter whether there's a taller
mast 30' away or not. 

Incidentally (and somewhat off topic) if you look at
http://www.wunderground.com/wundermap/ and turn on "Lightning" mode, you'll
see different [+] and [-] icons in stormy areas representing whether there
is a buildup of Positive charge or Negative charges in the clouds.  It
indicates whether there is + or - charged cloud to cloud lightning, or + or
- charged Cloud to Ground lightning.  They have a very cool free mobile app
I use to watch for electrical storms approaching.

-Jeff Hare
Woodbine II #809

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of John Meyers
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 7:35 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Lightening

One thing that I read is that you should look for holes in the hull as
sometimes lightning will go through the fiberglass. Read this article about
that and other damage.

http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/swlightning.asp

John Meyers
Muskegon, MI


On Thu, Jul 11, 2013 at 6:37 PM, Jane & Ken <obuoy4848 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Three years ago, my friend was asleep in his main cabin when a 
> lightening storm moved across our marina.  GREATEST (worse) lightening 
> I have experienced---OKLA/TEX area.  The corona arcs were flashing 
> (discharging) from every antenna I could see.  My friends mast was 
> hit, arcs spread to several nearby masts and the noise from the strike 
> was deafening--the flash was so bright it hurt my eyes.
> He was tossed out of his berth, electronics were burnt and exploded 
> throughout the boat--nothing was spared, smoke filled the cabin and 
> the area around the boat slip. The mast had charred strips up and 
> down, but he was uninjured.  His pants were soiled though.
> No 'real' damage to the structure, only $ 108,000 to replace the
> electronics--Lesson: you never know.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Allan S Field <allan.field at verizon.net>
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 5:19 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Lightening
>
>
> On a serious note, while I am sure it has happened, I have never 
> personally heard of anyone getting nailed by a boat lightning strike.  
> I have heard of many boats getting nailed and damaged but that is it.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Allan S 
> Field
> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 2:23 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Lightening
>
> Under your bed at home...
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jeffrey 
> Brown
> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 1:04 PM
> To: Catalina C320 List
> Subject: [C320-list] Lightening
>
> Just curious, should you find yourself in the middle of a thunderstorm 
> where's the best place to be in case of a lightening strike, besides 
> not on the water.  Inside the cabin or on deck?
>
> Jeff Brown
> 949-350-5123
>