lightning protection r 31

[capttom]

I recently read about the post regarding a lightning strike and the possible damage while on land and it brought to focus one of my concerns . How is the r 31 or for that matter any of the rangers set up for a possible direct hit while on the water? I am based on the west coast of Florida and many consider this the lightning capital of the world 😱 . I am not a r 31 owner but am looking hard at it for the future. I am assuming rangers are wired in accordance with ABYC standards. I realize nobody can fully predict the impacts of a direct hit while on the water but would like some thoughts on not only equipment protection but more importantly safety. I would love any technical discussion on grounding design. Thanks

 

[bluestreak]

One of the Utah State Park patrol boats, a 20 ft Boston Whaler, suffered a lightening strike a few months ago ion a lake.
The only visable damage was a much shortened radio antenna.
No burn marks on the gelcoat anywhere.
However, ALL the electronics on the helm console and ALL the computers on the Yamaha outboard were destroyed.

 

[captain's cat]

Capt Tom, the factory is gonna have to answer the one about ABYC. As for lightning protection, here's a pretty good article.

http://www.discoverboating.com/resource ... spx?id=422

Charlie

 

[wefings]

Tom , all the boats are bonded and the R 31 and R 29 have a large plate zinc as well as running gear tied to negative side as of 2011 that gives a good path to ground [the water]. The ABYC standards are used , but we have consistently seen computer damage with lightening strikes . Alot of the safety factor is aimed at the passengers as opposed to the vesssel and equipment .
Ill see you in Tampa , end of September . We will have a new R 31 with flybridge there .
Marc

 

[Newtugnut]

Here are some thoughts on Lightning Protection, having being boating for about 30 years (Sunstar 28 sailboat 23 years, Catalina 36 sailboat 7 years, and NOW moving over to a Ranger 31 Tug!). I am also an Electrical Engineer at a Public Utility, B C Hydro (34 years retired, now Contracting back). I have also been a Ham Radio operator since I was in high school. Does this make me an expert on Lightning Protection ABSOLUTELY NOT! But I do have some thoughts which will prompt more discussion. In no particular order/organization.

1./ I don't believe any Boat installation in terms of its electronic equipment (power or sail) or ham radio installation with lightning protection will survive a direct hit. The only solution to this scenario is to disconnect all dc connections/.antenna connections prior to the event. Moving all the battery switches to the off position will NOT cut it - though it will help. The remaining wiring say still connected to the back of your VHF radio will act as an antenna to the high frequency transients passing through the ground leads on the vessel. We unfortunately know its not practical to pull/unscrew all the connections off on the back of each piece of equipment.

So why bother having it in the first place? It can offers a measure <note I say a measure, not absolute protection> of safety protection to the boat occupants.

2./ Our Catalina 36 did not have lightning protection even though it was built to ABYC standards. Frank Butler <the President of Catalina Yachts> spent about 3 1/2 pages in the owners manual explaining why it wasn't provided.

- the false security it gives in providing equipment protection against a direct hit

- the fact that grounding protection has to be mantained regularly, for it to be effective to at least provide a measure of protection for personnal

In the end, Catalina Yachts, perhaps worried about law suits, guarrantees etc. DID NOT PROVIDE lightning protection.

We considered providing lightning protection on our Catalina ourselves. The mast was stepped throught the cabin to the keel. Immediately I noticed that if I strapped a heavy ground cable to the base of the mast I would have to make a right angle turn to the keel bolts. Lightning does not like that. It tends to go where it wants. IE: It will jump to some other part of the boat not through the grounding cable. So .. we did not bother.

It is recognized that Lightning protection at least on a sailboat will provide what is called a "cone of protection from the top of the mast angling down" if the mast is grounded. One option considered by sailboat owners is in the event of an upcoming lightning storm is to hang a set of battery booster cables from the mast over each side of the boat at the base of the mast on the deck.

The advantage here is that you more or less have a straight line path from the highest metallic point of the boat to the water depending upon how high up on the mast you make the connection. Further, each time you make the connection it is a "fresh" electrical protection not subject to the regular corrosion issues that happen on a boat.

This could be done on a Ranger Tug too. Plus the jumper cables may be useful to you or another boater if there is a dead battery.

It would be interesting from the Manufacturer's side to get thoughts from Andrew Custis, since he is the Electrical Expert.

Frank & Dawn-Marie
BLue Horizons (launch eminent!)
R31

 

[Newtugnut]

I just read the Wefings post, he is basically spot on. Again if the battery cable option provides some comfert level. Its perhaps worth considering since its at little cost.