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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Lightening

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/14/2008 : 13:33:46

We are planning to expand beyond our day sailing trips and include some overnighters/multiple day trips this season. What are the general thoughts as concerns lightening strikes? We’ve seen the photos and heard the classic experiences, but are interested in practical thoughts.

Assuming we’re not under-way when a storm hits, it seems inevitable that through the course of the season, we’ll be tied-up, on the hook or moored during a thunderstorm. We’re OK w/ securing the boat. But what about being beneath a tall aluminum stick, that’s the tallest thing around? I’ve read the tech stuff on grounding, how many out there actually do that? How many just go for it?

Many thanks!!

Jerry

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2008 : 13:52:27

Jerry, Up in the Adirondacks my stick has been up in the air for six years with no added groundings etc.

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2008 : 14:17:29

Found this on the net...http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/SG/SG07100.pdf
pretty thorough and understandable.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2008 : 14:24:36

Drop your hook really close to a C&C-39... then you won't be the tallest stick around.

Seriously, the debate happens here about twice a year or so--you can search for those threads. Of all of the cruisers I know or know about, none have had their boat hit directly, whether they were on it or not. (Think about all of the boats moored in your area all summer in all weather without being hit.) One friend lost some electronics apparently due to a nearby strike, which can create a powerful magnetic pulse.

My bet, which I will not defend against any others, was that the aluminum stick mounted on a fiberglass deck and separated from the water by almost 6' of dry air and two more layers of fiberglass isn't that good of an attraction. I've also seen statistics that show that boats are less likely to be struck in salt water than those in fresh, presumably because salt water is a substantially better conductor, so a strike is more likely to be attracted directly to it. Through mere luck, we were never in the boat in a lightening storm, although on one cruise we listened to thunder from a storm just inland from us--while motoring through dead air. And there was no evidence Passage had ever been struck in her 21 seasons on moorings and in slips up until I sold her.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/14/2008 14:32:07

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2008 : 14:31:09

Jerry... You find (either by searching or by his possible response here) that Arlyn Stewart, one of our C-250 gurus, doesn't think much of Thomson's work. But Arlyn's case goes over my head.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2008 : 14:59:33

The bottom line on lightning seems to be that there's no sure way to protect yourself and your boat from a lightning strike, and most of us don't know of anyone who has been injured by lightning on a boat. If you're at the marina, you can get off the boat and sit in your car, if you prefer, but most people just stay on their boats and stay away from direct contact with the mast and rigging. Lightning is unpredictable. If you're going to get hit, you could get hit after you got off the boat, when you're walking to your car in the marina parking lot. Whistling, or humming a favorite tune helps take your mind off it.

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Don B
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2008 : 15:01:35

Here's one of the many...

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15855&SearchTerms=lightning

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2008 : 15:16:40

Yea...my bad...sorry...I should have checked earlier threads...the topic is rather completely covered.

Thanks all!

Edited by - jerlim on 04/14/2008 15:17:14

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2008 : 22:20:11

No harm, no foul... It's an annual rite.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2008 : 08:04:04

Quote: Drop your hook really close to a C&C-39... then you won't be the tallest stick around."

Heck, with a C25 - drop your hook next to just about anyone! A trawler even!

We were always the smallest cruiser in the anchorage on our C25. Now on our C&C 39 (with a 58 foot airdraft) we are still often the smallest boat in the anchorage. We are often the tallest though.

Buy lottery tickets, you have as much of a chance of getting hit as you do for winning the lottery. BTW - as reported in a previous thread on this subject, our VHF did turn itself on and issued continuous beeps after a lightning storm passed nearby. I had to kill main power to get it to stop. Stuff does happen, but after a lot of seasons cruising and living aboard our C25, we never experienced a hit nor even came close. Hang some chain into the water via your backstay, disconnect everything and turn power to everything off. Use a handheld to monitor the storm, and relax. The worst thing that can happen is that you'll punch a big hole in your cabin top where the mast used to be and the mast will fall over the side. No worries, you'll be down below snug as a bug knowing that you are safe.

Sten

DPO C25 #3220 "Zephyr", SR, FK
SV Lysistrata - C&C 39 - St. Augustine FL for flipping ever!!!!

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2008 : 08:17:33

Oh, and I might add: Drop your hook really close to a C&C 39 and then hit it at least three times causing $4000 worth of damage plus dock fees and you'll probably wish you were hit by lightning!

Sten

DPO C25 #3220 "Zephyr", SR, FK
SV Lysistrata - C&C 39 - St. Augustine FL for flipping ever!!!!

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2008 : 08:20:58

Sten wrote;
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Buy lottery tickets, you have as much of a chance of getting hit as you do for winning the lottery. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That's not entirely true in Florida or anywhere that has violent summer storms created when sea breezes come together or clash with opposing inland breezes. Lightning is a real danger here and although masts are still not primary targets for whatever reason you'll do well to keep a close eye and take appropriate actions to ground/not ground your boat.

Edited by - DaveR on 04/15/2008 08:22:00

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2008 : 09:44:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 Oh, and I might add: Drop your hook really close to a C&C 39 and then hit it at least three times causing $4000 worth of damage plus dock fees and you'll probably wish you were hit by lightning!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">My point exactly...

But I suspect chain (or a jumper cable) from the backstay isn't likely to be worth much--the stainless stays are pretty poor conductors.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2008 : 11:19:14

agreed Dave... But at least if you do something to help yourself - you will feel better about it and never have to wonder "what if?" I once met a cruiser who swears by this method and had welded links to show for it. Apparently it scorched his sides too, but the vessel was largely unharmed.

sten

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2008 : 13:29:41

Yup, and if he'd omitted the chain, perhaps the lightening would've gone straight to the water and he wouldn't have a scorched vessel.

Nobody knows...

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/15/2008 14:20:08

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2008 : 14:39:27

I've heard a keel stepped mast can blow a hole thru the hull... Nobody knows... Whatever i do on my boat is probably wrong on your boat kinda thing...

sten

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