| lightning rod grounding post? | |
|
|
Author | Message |
---|
irishguy Posting Member
Posts : 23 Sailboat : 26' Clipper Join date : 2012-06-13
| Subject: lightning rod grounding post? Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:53 am | |
| hello, this is my first post. new to sailing, am fixing up 26' and i see a grounding post in the floor under the galley seat and a 3" or so round through hull in the bottom of the boat. owners manual talks about a lightning rod option is that what this is? thanks | |
|
| |
Gary Admin
Posts : 1310 Sailboat : Pair CM 32's Aft Cabin Ketch & Aft Cockpit Birthday : 1956-10-17 Join date : 2011-12-28 Age : 67 Job/hobbies : Artist
| Subject: Re: lightning rod grounding post? Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:12 am | |
| Welcome!!!!!
I have nothing like that on my boats. Can you post some pics of this for us?
Also, what page of the owners manual is this mentioned?
Now let's switch gears from reality to opinion. Why not.
When crossing a busy street against a flow of traffic, it is very important to constantly be looking and on guard to adjust your movements so you do not get hit. Who would cross the street without looking?
Lightning strikes and protection from them is not a process like crossing a busy street. Lightning is ten million percent unpredictable as to exactly where it will strike. Or when it does strike, what damage it will cause. The best case is always when you see storms approaching seek a solid substantial building and wait out the storm. If given a choice, never wait out a storm in a sailboat.
This subject comes up in forums all the time and members sometimes get in arguments over this subject and feelings get stepped on. Some boat owners go to great lengths to do do it yourself lightning arrest kits on their boats. My personal feelings are they are doing a feel good project that does zero to help. Lightning is out of our control 99.999999 % of the time.
This is of course just my humble opinion. | |
|
| |
irishguy Posting Member
Posts : 23 Sailboat : 26' Clipper Join date : 2012-06-13
| Subject: Re: lightning rod grounding post? Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:41 am | |
| it is mentioned in section 5 optional elec. i will try to figure out pics and post some. do other boats have any kind of separate grounding spot other than just the batteries? it is not hooked up just a cut off wire at the top of the post, it is about a 4" tall 1/2" wide metal rod going into the floor. | |
|
| |
Gary Admin
Posts : 1310 Sailboat : Pair CM 32's Aft Cabin Ketch & Aft Cockpit Birthday : 1956-10-17 Join date : 2011-12-28 Age : 67 Job/hobbies : Artist
| Subject: Re: lightning rod grounding post? Wed Jun 20, 2012 12:40 pm | |
| From the manual:
Optional Electrical Accessories
LIGHTENING GROUND. If optional lightening protection has been provided, it will consist of a #8 9x21 strand wire connecting the upper headstay or backstay chain plate to a common point on one of the keel boats | |
|
| |
Gary Admin
Posts : 1310 Sailboat : Pair CM 32's Aft Cabin Ketch & Aft Cockpit Birthday : 1956-10-17 Join date : 2011-12-28 Age : 67 Job/hobbies : Artist
| Subject: Re: lightning rod grounding post? Wed Jun 20, 2012 12:45 pm | |
| This is word for word on another owners manual,
http://www.columbia26mk2.com/cman4.htm | |
|
| |
Kelly CM26 Posting Member
Posts : 24 Join date : 2012-03-17
| Subject: Re: lightning rod grounding post? Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:40 pm | |
| Your through hull maybe an knotmeter, a small paddle wheel , led to a dial in your cockpit. Mine is under the V Berth in the bow area. I have never heard of a lightning rod leading into the cabin area. Kinda where you don't want the lightning going. Irishguy probably needs lots of sunscreen? | |
|
| |
Floody Lifetime Member
Posts : 154 Sailboat : Clipper Marine 26 Join date : 2012-05-24 Job/hobbies : Electronics Engineer
| Subject: Re: lightning rod grounding post? Thu Jun 21, 2012 11:57 am | |
| You wont be able to protect against lighting strikes too well.
Water will not conduct electricity! Its simple to verify this by checking its outer valance electrons.
Keeping in mind that water is a great insulator you may ask, why do I get electrocuted? Well its the impurities in the water that allows electrons to travel. So depending on the lakes your sailing in and the water quality, protection against lighting will vary even with a ground wire. | |
|
| |
irishguy Posting Member
Posts : 23 Sailboat : 26' Clipper Join date : 2012-06-13
| Subject: Re: lightning rod grounding post? Thu Jun 21, 2012 4:45 pm | |
| i'll try to get some pics up, the boat i bought was pretty much stripped, nothing in it except a few wires. i watched the how to video on pics, i will see if i can get it to work. the through hull part is round 4" or so and sticks down about 3" and is sealed. pics to come thanks. | |
|
| |
Kelly CM26 Posting Member
Posts : 24 Join date : 2012-03-17
| Subject: Re: lightning rod grounding post? Mon Jun 25, 2012 3:50 pm | |
| Mr. Irishguy, a couple of posts ago you asked about ground wires. My boat has a ground ran to the fuse box to run a light in the main switch, and one ran to a post behind the Aft bench seat. All other circuits are tied into it there. I reckon it cuts down on the clutter at the battery and saves 4 ft of wire per circuit. You and Floody maybe interested in these sites. "Clipper 26 Restoration Project. The sailboat plunge" and "Clipper Marine Project February 2012" Sorry I don't have the links but I'm computer dumb. | |
|
| |
Gary Admin
Posts : 1310 Sailboat : Pair CM 32's Aft Cabin Ketch & Aft Cockpit Birthday : 1956-10-17 Join date : 2011-12-28 Age : 67 Job/hobbies : Artist
| Subject: Re: lightning rod grounding post? Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:05 pm | |
| http://26clipper.blogspot.com/
http://clipper-marine.blogspot.com/ | |
|
| |
Floody Lifetime Member
Posts : 154 Sailboat : Clipper Marine 26 Join date : 2012-05-24 Job/hobbies : Electronics Engineer
| Subject: Re: lightning rod grounding post? Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:13 am | |
| Ah yes thanks for the links guys. I have looked them over a dozen times already and would love to do the same to my boat. My problem is that I want to sail. lol.
| |
|
| |
Sponsored content
| Subject: Re: lightning rod grounding post? | |
| |
|
| |
| lightning rod grounding post? | |
|