Lightning Protection for Boats

LIGHTNING PROTECTION. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL THE RISKS!

Lightning is one of nature’s most awe inspiring wonderful sights. I am forever in awe and can recall some spectacular shows, such places like the Caribbean and the Mona Passage spring to mind.

Florida is probably the capital of the world for this so if sailing down to Key West your risks will be higher. On an average year Florida experiences greater then ten deaths and more than thirty injuries. What is also important to note is that some 50% of those deaths and injuries happen to people doing recreational activities, and of that some 40% are water-related, which includes boating, sailing, fishing, swimming etc.

What causes a strike? how it happens is via this link, all you need to know to undestand one of natures great phenomena

DO YOU REMEMBER SOME GREAT LIGHTNING SHOWS?

On a recent summer passage I was unfortunately hit by a rather unpleasant weather front, accompanied by a great deal of activity all around, and it had me looking at the whole subject again. This has long been a problem for mariners.

As far back as the early 1800's on old sailing ships, the boat builders were installing protection systems to minimize the catastrophic effects of strikes. These methods were essentially based upon the grounding of spars and rigging. More than one vessel lost mizzens and masts along with subsequent electromagnetic pulse related compass problems as a result. Protections systems were also evolved as a response to dissipation of strike energy. In the early 21st century, nearly 200 years on, the same measures are still valid, even though the subject seems frequently awash in controversy.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?

It is a simple fact that virtually all marine classification societies and national marine authorities lay down recommendations for protection of vessels from strikes (one good example is The National Fire Protection Association, Lightning Protection Code) but relative few yachts owners adhere to the them. Strikes cause, along with death and injury an enormous amount of damage in shore installations, in particular in the telecommunications and electrical power distribution industries.

How do you protect yourselves and the boat against a strike? Click here for details.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING?

More than a 1000 people are killed worldwide annually by lightning strikes. In the USA lightning transient damage exceeds 1 billion dollars. For these simple economic cost considerations many measures are taken to design systems that minimize the effects of strikes. The main effects are high energy, high voltage transients that result in flashovers and damage. They can be either resulting from direct strikes or induction into power or signal cables, or induced, either through capacitive or inductive coupling. More useful information on how to design and set up your boat lightning protection system, click here for details.

WHERE DO YOU GET MORE INFORMATION?

Do you want more lightning protection and related boat electrical systems, such as corrosion? This article was extracted from The Marine Electrical & Electronics Bible and this is available through West Marine and Amazon.com. Safety and protection for you and your boat during a storm is through this link.

Need more information? then why not go to Amazon and get one of my books to keep on board for easy reference

NEED SOME PROTECTION SYSTEM COMPONENTS, THEN LOOK HERE! West Marine- America's Favorite Boating Supply Source

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