Quote:
Originally Posted by Rag ******
I am not confident that the lightning protection systems can handle a direct lightening strike. I really don't think they can.
I sailed boats all my life and the discussion of bonding a boat and lightening protection was always often discussed with both views being argued.
On a sailboat the aluminum mast is a great conductor. The therory was to connect all major metal compenents (bonding) with copper straps and then a special plate thru bolted from the hull under water to the mast and all the copper straps tied to that plate. I think the minimum wire gage is 1/8" dia. I just can see a dinky wire like that handeling all the surge from a lightening strike. More often than not even a sailboat is not hit by lightening so everbody can say, see my plan worked. Lightening protection no lightening protection.
I saw some really strange stuff around boats. Lightening is very very unpredictable. One time in our marina a 27 foot boat was struck. The lightening came down the mast and stays to the chainplates and then down the side of the fiberglass hull and perferated the hull at the waterline as the lightening exited the boat. This boat was docked right between two boats that had significantly taller masts. None of the boats had bonding systems in place.
I was anchored one time within a hundred yards of a boat that was stuck. The radio antena at the mast head blew to pieces and came down in a shower of sparks. The boat had minor damage. We also had damage because we were so close. It took out some of our more sensitive electronics. No visible damage just fried internal boards.
Most boats are not protected. But to protect their butts all manufactures publish the Coast Guard instructions on how to bond the boats rigg and then leave it up to the owner. Aluminum and steel boats do not have an issue as they are a giant conductor and really can dissipate a lightening strike.
I guess i am just rying to say I would not rely on a lightening rod as a save all.
I really think gas lines in the attic is just plain stupid but they do it here. Go figure. The flex lines are just as dumb but the gas lines shouldn't be in the attic in the first place.
Lightening is fickled. Planes get struck while most don't. Same with people, houses, trees and boats. Just keep your head down and keep up with the insurance payments.
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If you want to feel more confident about lightning protection, consult recent issues of the POA newsletter, as the advice above suggests. As you say, lightning is fickle, and the stuff of lots of misinformation. The POA has done us all a great service by publishing well researched articles and sponsoring presentations by experts. Just go here and track the topic in several issues:
http://www.ccfj.net/POABull.html