I know this topic has been beaten to a frazzle but it seems to reignite spontaneously. Actually,my main question is on structure of the 323.; then a few secondary lightening questions.
Is the steel ballast immediately under the mast step with only a layer of fiberglass separating the two? If so, can I assume there is a good and straight path for lightning to go from the mast to the mast step to the lag bolts to the iron mass in the keel?
But what happens then? I assume a thick layer of FRP containing the ballast so there is a point of major resistance here. Has anyone bolted on a copper or steel plate to the outside with the bolts going into the ballast?
Has anyone known of a 323 or other encapsulated keel on which lightning has burned a hole in the keel? How much water invasion occurs if the FRP is violated over the ballast?
I sail in fresh water. The pundits say I need a full square foot of ground outside the boat. The more edge the better. How does a strap of copper 2" wide by 6' long sound?
Any thoughts?
Geoff
