Date: 12/18/2008
Name: Mark Weinheimer
email: innerbanks@embarqmail.com
subject:lightning protection
The idea behind lightning protection isn't necessarily to dissipate a strike. The lightning rod grounded to the water is designed to minimize the potential difference between the masthead and the water, ie., make the mast "look " like the water to the charge and not a more advantageous point. A sharply pointed rod or a brush of metal with many points bleeds off the potential difference more effectively than just the mast. At issue is the connection between the rod on the masthead and the water. Ideally it should be a very heavy multistrand wire like a battery cable or welding cable with as straight a path as possible to a Dynaplate or similar large area conductor in the water. The mast is a good conductor so bolting the wire lug end to the extrusion is fine but getting it to the water is somewhat problematic. My solution for lightning protection is to take down the mast and trailer the boat home....if you're on the water, Cal's advice is sound - stay away from anything metal.
[Return to Harbor Messages | Create New/Followup Message]