Lightning Dissipators

[bradf]

Has anyone installed a lightning dissipator on their RT? Do they work or do they just provide a false sense of security?

We live in SW Florida, the so-called "lightning capital of the world". :roll:

 

[pwensinger]

https://www.practical-sailor.com/blog/l ... issipators

 

[bradf]

Unfortunately this Practical Sailor article is mostly academic, and offers little in the way of "practical" information.

I saw a lightning dissipator on a traffic light camera here in Sarasota and thought maybe the FL DOT knows something I don't. But not sure that a lightning dissipator on a boat has much value, as this article seems to indicate.

Best I can discern from this is that lightning is going to do what it's going to do and there isn't a whole lot you can do to stop it other than pray!

 

[knotflying]

Another observation. I only know of two Ranger Tugs struck by lightning in eleven years and they were at the dock and it was actually related to a surge that hit the marina system. I would opt to not get a lightning dissipater.