[Rhodes22-list] question about electricity

[Just bent]

Mike wrote:

As far as static electricity accumulating on the hull goes, it is probably 
due to the lack of humidity. 

It was almost raining at the time. 
We were at the dock just before the storm hit. Once it started raining, it
stopped. 
The last pic shows my Rhodes with 3 other boats when the incident occured.
My wife couldn't help but notice the 2 other ladies out in the rain stuffing
there sails into their bags.
She just laughed & said ..." sure glad we don't have to do that"
Jb




R22MikeW wrote:
> 
> Jb,
> 
> The first pic is just fabulous!  For an northeast boater, the 
> foothills/mountains show that it is not like any water that we sail in
> here 
> on the LI Sound.  Beautiful - and the water still feels wet and you can
> sail 
> on the stuff?  Here, boats are hauled and wrapped, the leaves have nearly 
> all fallen (we did have one of the prettiest autumns in years) ...  Now if 
> only we could sail on snow!
> 
> As far as static electricity accumulating on the hull goes, it is probably 
> due to the lack of humidity.  Just as it occurs on airplanes, the winds 
> redistribute electrons, causing a charge to build up on the insulated 
> (fiberglass) hull.  The simplest way to remedy this is to provide a
> leakage 
> path to the water.  All conductive metal objects (motor housing, rails, 
> mast, rigging, etc.) should be connected together via a small wire (no
> real 
> current is involved) and terminated at a fixture that is exposed to the 
> water.  Care should be taken to make connection to the water away from 
> gasoline vapors (not at the motor or mount) and using a "sacrificial
> anode", 
> something that you would not miss, as it may be consumed by galvanic 
> corrosion in the process of transferring the charge.  See 
> http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/23.htm
> 
> The creation of static electricity in this manner has been a real problem
> in 
> biking (bicycles) due to the use of nylon suits and composite helmets. 
> Some 
> people have had good results using antistatic preparations such as fabric 
> softeners to solve the problem.  While treating the hull with wax
> increases 
> the static generation ability, applying fabric softener solutions may
> reduce 
> the generated potential, although the combination may cause an unsafe,
> very 
> slippery surface.
> 
> You need to find a way to harness the potential energy that you have
> created 
> rather than just discharge it.  How about a static electricity motor - I 
> think that John Galt knew something about this ...
> 
> Mike
> s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
> Nissequogue River, NY
> 
> From: "Just bent" <j.bulfer at jbtek.com> Sent: Monday, November 10, 2008
> 10:56 
> AM
>>
>> Went sailing yesterday in somewhat stormy weather. Had a great day. When 
>> we
>> got back to the dock, when you touch the boat, you would get shocked. I
>> unhooked the battery & still got shocked. Was it static electricity from 
>> the
>> storm?
>> Jb
>>
>> Jb http://www.nabble.com/file/p20422568/DSC01925.jpeg
>> http://www.nabble.com/file/p20422568/DSC01927.jpeg
>> http://www.nabble.com/file/p20422568/DSC01930.jpeg
>> http://www.nabble.com/file/p20422568/DSC01931.jpeg
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