[Rhodes22-list] Electricity Problems

[Michael Meltzer]

it has noting to do with the batteries, thier voltage is to low for any real "shock", sometime it is a charging coil blow it's
regualtor, the voltage can jump but that not it either.

I play in saltwater but I heard the story form freashwater. The rhodes22 is any unbonded boat. I think you where building up a
static chage, the story I here is around lighting storn it can reach a point that the rigging will start to glow. Alot of people
think it is a precursor to a strike. I am a little surprized that a motor in water could built up a charge???? You must be sail in
some pure water, maybe rodge has some insight. Getting out of thier sounded like a good move. This will bring up the lighting debate
again. It never been resloved by the experts. 1)do not ground making the boat an uninterresting target, rhodes22 case. 2)put in a
good gounding system, i.e. large copper plate on the bottom, #2 wire stright from the mast to plate. Tie all meatl into plate, it
will cover you but now you are a great target(also a boat building standard). 3)halfass, fuzzy thing on mast. batrry cabels rigging,
to same a plate or wire not in a stright line, etc.... this is the worst soluation, what happens you are crying out to be hit but
are unable to handle the load.

MJM



----- Original Message ----- 
From: <CarolN8 at aol.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 11:37 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Electricity Problems


> OK, since I've come out of lurker mode I might as well ask a question. The
> last two times I've been out when there are storm clouds in the area, I have had
> a problem with static electricity building up in the boat. Both times, I have
> received pretty bad shocks. The first time was when I tried to start the
> motor (with an electric start). I thought I must have a short somewhere, so I
> unhooked both batteries but still got shocked every time I touched the motor. I
> was docked at the time, so I just went home. When I came back, it was sunny out
> and I had no problems.
>
> The next time it happened, there was a storm nearby (this happens frequently
> in Colorado) and I was out sailing. All of a sudden I started hearing a
> clicking sound coming off the forward stays. It was a steady and strong click. I
> immediately unhooked both batteries again, but it kept clicking. So I carefully
> hand-started the motor without touching the metal guard on the back (which was
> no easy feat) and went back to the docks.
> I've had this boat at the same marina for four years and this has never
> happened before. Anybody have any ideas on what I can do? It's pretty nerveracking!
>
> Carol
> s/v Painkiller
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