Lightning protection on the hard

[ForGrinsToo]

I know there is plenty to be read about in-the-water protection, but it occurs to me (and to Chapman) that when stored with the mast up, there really ought to a system to bring the standing rigging to earth. The cradle is (poorly) insulated from the epoxy-coated keel by a sheet of plywood (which might be wet), and the cradle usually sits on blocks (which might be wet). I suspect the best thing to do would be to attach #0 cable to a shroud and run it to a post in the ground. Is anyone aware of a recommendation?

But I wonder: Suppose one boat among several has its mast tied to earth. Would it be more likely than its neighbors to suffer a strike?

Geoff

[so40gtb]

You are considering only part of the circuit. The critical factor, it seems to me, is the ultimate conductivity to earth. There are many factors that enter into this, soil type being the most important.

My boat is on jackstands with plywood pads. The pads may not insulate as well when wet, but the water is always "fresh", so it has lousy conductivity. The steel jackstands contact asphalt, which I would think would conduct well. But under the asphalt is pure sand, an insulator.

I just don't see this as an issue for those of us on the hard in fresh-water environments, except where the soil is highly conductive and the lightning frequent.

But I do take comfort in having taller masts around me! And, worse for them, better for me, some of them are plugged into shore power all winter long (hello, ground path)!

--Karl