Pearson Yachts Forum

Pearson Boats - Common Systems => Electrical Systems & Electronics => Topic started by: rhpurcell on June 27, 2012, 02:00:01 PM

Title: Lightning and Grounding
Post by: rhpurcell on June 27, 2012, 02:00:01 PM

Has anyone been hit with lightning on P323?  About a year ago AnaMeg asked but no one replied.  Does lightning have a straight path down the mast to the iron mass in the keel?  What happens if we get hit by lightning?

Title: Re: Lightning and Grounding
Post by: Dolce_Vita on June 28, 2012, 01:54:04 PM

If you have all your rigging and through hulls bonded together with correctly sized wire, AND you're lucky  ;) , the discharge will go out one of the through hulls or the propshaft without blowing out enough chunks of fiberglass from the hull to sink the boat. 

Disclaimer:  I've never had this happen, however, it happened to a dockmate's Tartan 27.  The boat survived but there were chunks missing around a through hull.

Title: Re: Lightning and Grounding
Post by: Salvation on June 30, 2012, 07:26:51 AM

I have an external grounding plate connected to the mast with 2/0 wire. I doubt it would save electronics but will likely spare the hull. Not yet tried by lightning!