[Rhodes22-list] Electrical grounding and bonding

[G & D Barrera]

Slim

The issue is August 2002, Sail Mag.
Good article on if and when lightning strikes.

Glen
ChickieBabe
Burnham Harbor
Chicago, IL


----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Alm" <salm@mn.rr.com>
To: <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2002 2:44 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Electrical grounding and bonding


> Todd,
>
> This is really a well-worn subject and it seems that nobody can agree.
> Yes--there has been a lot of research, and none of that seems to agree
> either.  I recently read a lengthy article in Sail, or maybe it was
Cruising
> World (can anyone quote the issue?) written by a man who does boat
bonding.
> He explains it pretty well but in the end, he says that in a direct hit,
the
> bonding might not help anyway.  Here's the clincher--he HASN'T bonded his
> own boat.
>
> Some sailors worry about it, others just cross their fingers and try not
to
> think about it.  I'm one of the latter.  Injuries to people are very rare.
> If you're boating through some lightening, as many a sailor has done
before,
> just be sure to NOT hold on to the mast, boom, stays, or anything metal
and
> you'll probably be alright.  A direct strike would probably take out your
> electronics onboard but you will likely be unhurt.  I know, I know...not a
> very satisfying answer but that's about the long and the short of it.
>
> Slim
>
> On 9/14/02 9:46 PM, "Todd Tavares" <sprocket80@mail.com> wrote:
>
> > I was browsing through some books at the boat store (bought a book about
> > repairing fiberglass).
> > I was flipping through a book about the electrical systems.  This book
would
> > give the "two schools of thought" but never saying which was better.
> >
> > I was reading about the grounding of the electrical system and rigging
for
> > lightning strike/protection.  One argument was that grounding the mast
and
> > rigging to ocean/earth potential would dissapate building up ions and
help
> > prevent lightning strikes by lessening the potential difference around
the
> > boat; and in the event of a strike, give a more direct path to ground
from the
> > mast to ground.
> >
> > The other argument was that grounding the mast and rigging was creating
a
> > lightning rod and would attract a strike.
> >
> >
> > Has anyone researched this?  What do most of you owners here do?  If you
> > follow the first school of thought, how have you grounded your rigging?
How
> > (what path) and what size wire did you use?  How is it routed to get
below the
> > water line??
>
> _______________________________________
> Subscribers, send mail to this address Rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
> To change your options or unsubscribe from the list click on this link
> http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list Check out our
> FAQ pages at http://www.geocities.com/blew_skies/topics.html
> http://www.sailnet.com/ -Where Sailors Get It!  http://www.rhodes22.org