[C320-list] Lightning Proetection

[Scott Thompson]

Jack, did you add that cable yourself? If so, how? I'm not aware of any 
such protection on my boat. A lot has been written about lightning 
protection for sailboats, but my sense is that none of it is conclusive. 
My owners manual appears to deal with the subject by saying basically 
that the owner needs to decide for him/herself how to deal with this 
risk and that Catalina does not represent that there is any protection. 
Clearly written by lawyers.

My last boat (not a 320) was struck by lightning and the damage was 
extensive, although it did not start a fire or sink the boat. I lost all 
electronics, the engine controls, and a lot of the lighting. That boat 
had a cast iron keel, but no cable from the deck stepped mast to the 
keel, i.e. similar to a stock 320.

A neighbor was sailing on one of the Navy 44's a few years ago when it 
was struck. The strike melted the VHF antenna, causing burning material 
to drop on the deck, catching someone's hair on fire! But no one was 
hurt otherwise.


On 7/26/2019 12:43 PM, jackbrennan wrote:
> My 32 has a thick cable from the mast to the keel. An external lead keel acts as a wonderful grounding plate. Still ..
>
> Some say proper grounding will attract lightning, even though it may lessen the damage if a bolt hits. Side flashes are possible in any event.
>
> My opinion: It's random. Accept it as a risk if living and sailing. If it's your time, it's your time.
>
> While I was traveling in Europe recently, a series of bad thunderstorms hit Tampa Bay. A sailboat moored in Boca Ciega Bay was hit and started burning. A guy at Clearwater Beach was killed while packing up.
>
> A sailboat eight slips up from me was also hit. His boat and mine were plugged in. No damage to mine. I heard he lost some electronics.
>
> Forty years ago, I got caught in a bad storm in the Gulfstream. I had hits all around me, but nothing touched my 19-foot sailboat.
> Ten years ago, a bolt struck 50 yards away while I was anchoring. The chain was in my hand.  I felt nothing, but lost some electronics.
> All in all, I think I'm in more danger riding my bike on the street.
> A good bit of advice is to put your portable electronics in the stove. They won't get fried because they are surrounded by metal.
>
> Jack  Brennan
> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320, no. 528
> Tierra Verde, Fl
> Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay
>
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
>   
>    On Thu, Jul 25, 2019 at 9:08 PM, John Meyers<jcmeyers7 at gmail.com> wrote:   I hope this subject isn't personal in an unfortunate way for anyone......
>
> Is the 320 in anyway protected from lightning such as taking the lightning
> from the mast to the keel? Or is the boat insulated enough by the
> fiberglass as to not give lightning a way to travel into the cabin?
>
> I have heard, we should attached jumper cables to the shrouds and drag the
> other ends in the water?  I wonder if do this will attract lightning by
> giving lightning an "easy" path.
>
> Of course, with lightning nothing is for sure either good or bad.
>
>
> John Meyers
> Muskegon, Mi
> Wind Chime #406
>    

-- 
Scott Thompson
Surprise, #653