Posting Rules | post new threads post replies post attachments edit your posts is are code is are are are | Similar Threads | Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post | | JerseyJoe | Construction, Maintenance & Refit | 38 | 19-11-2014 07:22 | | mike37909 | Construction, Maintenance & Refit | 25 | 06-12-2013 10:13 | | JuanCH | Monohull Sailboats | 6 | 03-07-2012 21:55 | | jglauds | Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar | 3 | 17-06-2010 05:15 | | Amgine | Forum Tech Support & Site Help | 3 | 02-01-2007 17:42 | Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time. Yachting MonthlySailing in lightning: how to keep your yacht safe- In partnership with Katy Stickland
- July 22, 2022
How much of a concern is a lightning strike to a yacht and what can we do about it? Nigel Calder looks at what makes a full ‘belt and braces’ lightning protection system Storm clouds gather at Cowes, but what lightning protection system, if any, does your boat have for anchoring or sailing in lightning? Credit: Patrick Eden/Alamy Stock Photo Most sailors worry about sailing in lightning to some extent, writes Nigel Calder . After all, going around with a tall metal pole on a flat sea when storm clouds threaten doesn’t seem like the best idea to most of us. In reality, thunder storms need plenty of energy, driven by the sun, and are much less frequent in northern Europe than in the tropics. However, high currents passing through resistive conductors generate heat. Small diameter conductors melt; wooden masts explode; and air gaps that are bridged by an arc start fires. Sailing in lightning: Lightning is 10 times more likely over land than sea, as the land heats up more than water, providing the stronger convection currents needed to create a charge. Credit: BAE Inc/Alamy Stock Photo On boats, radio antennas may be vaporised, and metal thru-hulls blown out of the hull, or the surrounding fiberglass melted, with areas of gelcoat blown off. Wherever you sail, lightning needs to be taken seriously. Understanding how lightning works, will help you evaluate the risks and make an informed decision about the level of protection you want on your boat and what precautions to take. Most lightning is what’s called negative lightning, between the lower levels of clouds and the earth. Intermittent pre-discharges occur, ionising the air. Whereas air is normally a poor electrical conductor, ionised air is an excellent conductor. These pre-discharges (stepped leaders) are countered by a so-called attachment spark (streamer), which emanates from pointed objects (towers, masts, or lightning rods) that stand out from their surroundings due to their height. Summer is the season for lightning storms in the UK. Here, one finds early at Instow, Devon. Credit: Terry Matthews/Alamy Stock Photo This process continues until an attachment spark connects with a stepped leader, creating a lightning channel of ionised air molecules from the cloud to ground. The main discharge, typically a series of discharges, now takes place through the lightning channel. Negative lightning bolts are 1 to 2km (0.6 to 1.2 miles) long and have an average current of 20,000A. Positive lightning bolts are much rarer and they can have currents of up to 300,000A. Preventing damage when sailing in lightningA lightning protection system (LPS) is designed to divert lightning energy to ground (in this case the sea), in such a way that no damage occurs to the boat or to people. Ideally, this also includes protecting a boat’s electrical and electronic systems, but marine electronics are sensitive and this level of protection is hard to achieve. Lightning protection systems have two key components: First, a mechanism to provide a path with as little resistance as possible that conducts a lightning strike to the water. This is established with a substantial conductor from an air-terminal to the water. Components of an external and internal lightning protection system. Credit: Maxine Heath This part of the LPS is sometimes called external lightning protection. Second, a mechanism to prevent the development of high voltages on, and voltage differences between, conductive objects on the boat. This is achieved by connecting all major metal objects on and below deck to the water by an equipotential bonding system. Without this bonding system high enough voltage differences can arise on a boat to develop dangerous side flashes. The bonding system can be thought of as internal lightning protection. Rolling ball conceptLightning standards, which apply ashore and afloat, define five lightning protection ‘classes’, ranging from Class V (no protection) to Class I. There are two core parameters: the maximum current the system must be able to withstand, which determines the sizing of various components in the system, and the arrangement and number of the air terminals, aka lightning rods. Let’s look at the arrangement of the air terminals first. It is best explained by the rolling ball concept. A lightning strike is initiated by the stepped leaders and attachment sparks connecting to form the lightning channel. The distance between the stepped leader and the attachment sparks is known as the breakdown distance or striking distance. If we imagine a ball with a radius equal to the striking distance, and we roll this ball around an object to be protected, the upper points of contact define the possible lightning impact points that need to be protected by air terminals. Lightning protection theories and classifications rely on a ‘rolling ball’ concept to define requirements, areas of risk and protected areas. Credit: Maxine Heath The air terminal will theoretically provide a zone of protection from the point at which the terminal connects with the circumference of the rolling ball down to the point at which that circumference touches the water. The shorter the striking distance, the less the radius of the rolling ball and the smaller the area within the protection zone defined by the circumference of the rolling ball. The smaller the protection zone, the more air terminals we need. So, we use the shortest striking distance to determine the minimum number and location of air terminals. Class I protection assumes a rolling ball radius of 20m; Class II assumes a rolling ball radius of 30m. Continues below… Lightning: why we were struckA personal investigation into how and why a catamaran was hit by lightning ‘Lightning destroyed the boat’s electronics’Paul Tinley recounts a truly shocking lightning experience aboard his Beneteau 393 Blue Mistress and the subsequent insurance claim Expert advice: boating emergencyA boating emergency is the sort of thing that everyone taking to the water should be prepared for even if,… How batteries can explode – and how to avoid itMarine electrical expert Nigel Calder explains why boat batteries emit hydrogen and how to minimise the dangers Boat building standards are based on a striking distance/rolling ball radius of 30m (Class II). For masts up to 30m above the waterline, the circumference of the ball from the point at which it contacts the top of the mast down to the water will define the zone of protection. For masts higher than 30m above the waterline, the ball will contact the mast at 30m and this will define the limit of the zone of protection. If Class I protection is wanted, the radius of the ball is reduced to 20m, which significantly reduces the zone of protection and, on many larger recreational boats, may theoretically necessitate more than one air terminal. Protection classesWith most single-masted monohull yachts, an air terminal at the top of the mast is sufficient to protect the entire boat to Class I standards. The circumference of the rolling ball from the tip of the mast down to the surface of the water does not intercept any part of the hull or rig. However, someone standing on the fore or aft deck might have the upper part of their body contact the rolling ball, which tells us this is no place to be in a lightning storm. Some boats have relatively high equipment or platforms over and behind the cockpit. Protection classes to protect your boat while anchored or sailing in lightning These fittings and structures may or may not be outside the circumference of the rolling ball. Once again, this tells us to avoid contact with these structures during a lightning storm. Ketch, yawl, and schooner rigged boats generally require air terminals on all masts, except when the mizzen is significantly shorter than the main mast. The external LPSThe external LPS consists of the air terminal, a down conductor, and an earthing system – a lightning grounding terminal. The down conductor is also known as a primary lightning protection conductor. All components must be sized to carry the highest lightning peak current corresponding to the protection class chosen. In particular, the material and cross-sectional area of the air terminal and down conductor must be such that the lightning current does not cause excessive heating. The air terminal needs to extend a minimum of 150mm above the mast to which it is attached. A graph depicting NASA’s record of yearly global lightning events. The Congo once recorded more than 450 strikes per km2 It can be a minimum 10mm diameter copper rod, or 13mm diameter aluminum solid rod. It should have a rounded, rather than a pointed, top end. VHF antennas are commonly destroyed in a lightning strike. If an antenna is hit and is not protected by a lightning arrestor at its base, the lightning may enter the boat via the antenna’s coax cable. A lightning arrestor is inserted in the line between the coax cable and the base of the antenna. It has a substantial connection to the boat’s grounding system, which, on an aluminum mast, is created by its connection to the mast. In normal circumstances, the lightning arrestor is nonconductive to ground. When hit by very high voltages it shorts to ground, in theory causing a lightning strike to bypass the coax – although the effectiveness of such devices is a matter of some dispute. Down conductorsA down conductor is the electrically conductive connection between an air terminal and the grounding terminal. For many years, this conductor was required to have a resistance no more than that of a 16mm² copper conductor, but following further research, the down conductor is now required to have a resistance not greater than that of a 20mm² copper conductor. For Class I protection, 25mm² is needed. This is to minimise heating effects. Let’s say instead we use a copper conductor with a cross-sectional area of 16mm² and it is hit by a lightning strike with a peak current corresponding to Protection Class IV. Sailing in lightning: This catamaran relies upon cabling to ground from the shrouds but stainless steel wire is not a good enough conductor. Credit: Wietze van der Laan The conductor will experience a temperature increase of 56°C. A 16mm² conductor made of stainless steel (for example, rigging ) will reach well over 1,000°C and melt or evaporate. Shrouds and stays on sailboats should be connected into a LPS only to prevent side flashes. The cross-sectional area of the metal in aluminum masts on even small sailboats is such that it provides a low enough resistance path to be the down conductor. Whether deck- or keel-mounted, the mast will require a low resistance path, equivalent to a 25mm² copper conductor, from the base of the mast to the grounding terminal. Grounding terminalMetal hulled boats can use the hull as the grounding terminal. All other boats need an adequate mass of underwater metal. In salt water this needs a minimum area of 0.1m². In fresh water, European standards call for the grounding terminal to be up to 0.25m². A grounding terminal must be submerged under all operating conditions. An external lead or iron keel on monohull sailing boats can serve as a grounding terminal. This owner of this Florida-based yacht decided to keep the keel out of the equation when is came to a grounding plate. High electrical currents don’t like sharp corners, so a grounding plate directly beneath the mast makes for an easier route to ground. Credit: Malcolm Morgan In the absence of a keel , the cumulative surface area of various underwater components – propellers, metal thru-hulls, rudders – is often more than sufficient to meet the area requirements for a grounding terminal. However, these can only be considered adequate if they are situated below the air terminal and down conductor and individually have the requisite surface area. Metal through-hulls do not meet this requirement. If underwater hardware, such as a keel, is adequate to be used as the grounding terminal, the interconnecting conductor is part of the primary down conductor system and needs to be sized accordingly at 25mm². Propellers and radio ground platesRegardless of its size, a propeller is not suitable as a grounding terminal for two reasons. First, it is very difficult to make the necessary low-resistance electrical connection to the propeller shaft, and second, the primary conductor now runs horizontally through the boat. The risk of side flashes within the boat, and through the hull to the water is increased. Sailing in lightning: GRP hull, fairing filler and iron keel will have carried different voltages during the strike – hence this damage An engine should never be included in the main (primary) conducting path to a grounding terminal. On modern engines, sensitive electronic controls will be destroyed in a lightning strike, and on all engines, oil in bearings and between gears will create resistance and therefore considerable heat which is likely to result in internal damage. However, as it is a large conductive object, the engine should be connected to the internal lightning protection system. Internal lightning protectionOn its way to ground, lightning causes considerable voltage differences in adjacent objects – up to hundreds of thousands of volts. This applies to boats with a functioning external lightning protection system but without internal protection. Although the lightning has been given a path to ground along which it will cause as little damage as possible, dangerous voltages can be generated elsewhere, resulting in arcing and side flashes, threatening the boat and crew, and destroying electronic equipment. We prevent these damaging voltage differences from arising by connecting all substantial metal objects on the boat to a common grounding point. One of the holy grails of marine photography – a direct lightning strike on a yacht’s mast. Credit: Apex The grounding terminal is also wired to the common grounding point. By tying all these circuits and objects together we hold them at a common voltage, preventing the build-up of voltage differences between them. All conductive surfaces that might be touched at the same time, such as a backstay and a steering wheel, need to be held to the same voltage. If the voltages are the same, there will be no arcing and no side flashes. The bonding conductors in this internal LPS need to be stranded copper with a minimum size of 16mm². Note that there can be bonding of the same object for corrosion prevention, lightning protection, and sometimes DC grounding. We do not need three separate conductors. Electronic Device ProtectionWith lightning protection systems, we need to distinguish electric circuit and people protection from device protection. Even with an internal LPS, high induced voltages may occur on ungrounded conductors (such as DC positive) which will destroy any attached electronics. A mechanism is needed to short high transient voltages to ground. This is done with surge protection devices (SPD), also known as transient voltage surge suppressors (TVSS) or lightning arrestors. Marine-specific SPDs are few in number and domestic models are not suitable for boats In normal circumstances these devices are non-conductive, but if a specified voltage – the clamping voltage – is exceeded they divert the spike to ground. There are levels of protection defined in various standards depending on the voltages and currents that can be handled, the speed with which this occurs, and other factors. This is a highly technical subject for which it is advisable to seek professional support. Most SPDs are designed for AC circuits. When it comes to DC circuits there are far fewer choices available to boat owners although there are an increasing number for solar installations that may be appropriate. There is no such thing as a lightning-proof boat, only a lightning-protected boat, and for this there needs to be a properly installed LPS. Nigel Calder is a lifelong sailor and author of Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual. He is involved in setting standards for leisure boats in the USA Even so, in a major strike the forces involved are so colossal that no practical measures can be guaranteed to protect sensitive electronic equipment. For this, protection can be provided with specialised surge protection devices (SPDs). The chances of a direct lightning strike on a yacht are very small, and the further we are north or south of the equator, the smaller this chance becomes. It’s likely your chances of receiving a direct lightning strike are very much higher on a golf course than at sea. ‘Bottle brush’-type lightning dissipators are claimed by sellers to make a boat invisible to lightning by bleeding off static electrical charge as it builds up. The theory rests upon the concept that charged electrons from the surface of the earth can be made to congregate on a metal point, where the physical constraints caused by the geometry of the point will result in electrons being pushed off into the surrounding atmosphere via a ‘lightning dissipator’ that has not just one point, but many points. It is worth noting that the concept has met with a storm of derision from many leading academics who have argued that the magnitude of the charge that can be dissipated by such a device is insignificant compared to that of both a cloud and individual lightning strikes. It seems that the viable choices for lightning protection remain the LPS detailed above, your boatbuilder’s chosen system (if any), or taking one’s chances with nothing and the (reasonable) confidence that it’s possible to sail many times round the world with no protection and suffer no direct strikes. Whichever way you go, it pays to stay off the golf course! 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Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram. NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT Passengers scream as superyacht worth £95m crashes into smaller boatShare this withTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This is the shocking moment a £95 million superyacht crashed into a smaller boat with at least six people on board. Footage shows the 232 ft boat named Ice gliding through the water as it heads towards another boat off the coast of Yalıkavak, Turkey on Saturday. Passengers on the smaller boat can be heard screaming as the superyacht sails towards them. The vessel’s bow then crashed into the stern of a 101ft motor yacht carrying at least half a dozen people. It is unclear why the collision occurred, but has been reported that at least half a dozen people were on the smaller boat at the time. The boat suffered major damage at the stern but no onboard was injured. The superyacht is part of the Lürssen shipbuilding company and can hold 14 guests and 27 crew members. Features include a large helipad, beauty salon and bathtubs carved out of solid limestone. There is also a state-of-the-art gym, jacuzzi and countless lounge and relaxation areas, both in- and outdoors. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident. In June two boats were involved in a devastating crash and a sailor was thrown overboard during a yacht race. A man was flung from a boat as competitors battled rough seas during the Round the Island Race in the Isle of Wight today. He then desperately clung onto his life jacket before being rescued. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) rushed to his aid to pull him from the water despite the extreme conditions. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] . For more stories like this, check our news page . MORE : US soldiers attacked in Turkey by youth group placing hood on man’s head MORE : British mum ‘woke up’ during botched cosmetic surgery that caused sepsis in Turkey MORE : British mum dies after ‘Brazilian butt lift’ surgery in Turkey Sign Up for News UpdatesGet your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more. Privacy Policy Get us in your feed Omsk OblastThe flag of Omsk Oblast is a rectangular cloth of three vertical bands of equal size: the right and left red and white medium. In the centre of the white band, there is a blue vertical wavy azure pole which is 1/3 of its width. The ratio of the flag's width to its length is 2:3. The interpretation of symbols [ ]The main background of the flag of Omsk Oblast is red. It symbolizes bravery, courage, fearlessness. It is the colour of life, charity, and love. The white symbolizes nobility, purity, justice, generosity, and indicates the climatic features of Siberia. The wavy azure (blue) post symbolizes the Irtysh River, the main waterway of the oblast. Allegorically, the blue reflects beauty, majesty, and gentleness. Flag Redesigns [ ]- 2 Gallery of flags of dependent territories
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Introducing the 2002 Silverton 352, recently affected by water intrusion up to the cabin flooring due to an open thru hull fitting during season launch. ... Yacht Salvage. Rhode Island: (401) 732-6300 Massachusetts: (508) 478-0200 South Carolina: (843) 563-9199. Visit the Contact page for complete details. Sister Sites.
When a boat is damaged and the insurance company gets involved, they hire a surveyor who documents the damage as presented by the owner, and then they secure estimates from local yards. The repair yard likely operates with full waterfront overhead and needs to charge $85 to $100 per hour for their work. If the boat is to be moved elsewhere ...
Water damage in a home can be a nightmare and water damage on a yacht is even worse. Today I help a long time friend on how to fix water stains from damaged ...
5. Take A Sea Trial. The most effective way to determine if a boat has water damage is to take it out on the water and test its functions. If a boat takes longer than usual to get up and plane, or it struggles to maintain speed, it could indicate water damage. Also, pay close attention to any strange noises or vibrations, which may suggest that ...
- Boat air conditioning leak is a common cause of water damage on yacht or a boat. There is more than one way your boat's air-conditioning system can develop a leak. When the warm air in the boat comes into contact with the cool coils, condensation produces water droplets that get collected in drip pans just below.
If it's only a few blisters over a small area you can usually just dig these out after lifting the boat ashore, wash the cavities well with fresh water and then leave to dry for a few months. If outside you should put a curtain around the repair area. You may also need to apply heat to help draw out the moisture.
Document the damage. Take photos of your damaged vessel with a smartphone or camera. If your boat has struck another vessel, also document the damage to the other vessel, and remember to obtain the other party's contact and insurance information, and hull identification number (HIN#), if possible. Contact a professional repair company or marina.
A few signs of potential yacht water damage include: minor blistering or bubbling of surfaces in the structure of the yacht. excessive mildew odor inside or on deck. salty buildup on surfaces inside. Your yacht is important to you- always be on the lookout for water damage. If you suspect your yacht has been water damaged, don't turn anything ...
With today's storms, like Hurricane Sandy, seeming more destructive than ever, information seems to be needed on the ins and outs of buying storm-damaged yachts. Yes, there's a financial incentive to buying a boat that's in need of repair after a storm, but there are also a lot of risks. To get more information on the topic, we contacted ...
Boat water damage can occur through various mechanisms, including the devastating force of hurricanes and more common scenarios. During hurricanes, intense winds and torrential rains can breach seals, hatches, or covers, allowing water to infiltrate the interior. Other factors to consider are powerful waves and storm surges can submerge vessels ...
A diligent boat owner has plenty of opportunity to prevent this. How? By hiring a surveyor every few years to check for wet areas and delamination in the hull and deck—with luck, this will reveal problem areas before any significant damage has occurred, and before the core and skins have parted company.
Apr 30, 2013. Owners and insurance companies sell a wave of damaged boats soon after a major storm hits the coast. These boats can a bargain for those with the skills and resources to repair them, but they also can be the proverbial "hole in the water" waiting to be filled with money, sweat and lost hopes.
A damaged bellows can cause damage to output shafts and gimbal bearings (due to water-induced corrosion) and can even lead to sinking in some cases. Outdrive bellows can deteriorate and fail over time due to age, exposure to ultraviolet light, or physical damage caused by hard marine growth.
If poorly done, water will travel relatively freely and the core will rot; if damage is extensive, repair costs may exceed the value of the boat. Balsa has good compressive strength and makes a good stiffening medium as demonstrated by Catalina with the 460 model in the mid 2000s.
Misinformation abounds, with many self-proclaimed experts ascribing unexpected metal and bottom-paint damage to vague descriptions of "electrolysis," "hot marinas," or "electricity in the water." The root causes of virtually all cases of "sudden and unexpected damage" are, in fact, inattention, improper materials, and poor system design.
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Hi all, We are looking at a 1996 Oyster 55 to buy. She seems structurally sound but shabby and neglected. There are many areas where the woodwork is water damaged around the portholes and in the galley.The décor is cherry, and where it is water damaged it is blackened with white edges. Obviously the first job would be to find the source of the leak (looks to be leaky portholes) and fix it/them.
And there's another key characteristic to take note of during tap testing. "When you bring the hammer down and hit a solid laminate, your hand will bounce back to you," says Perette. "But if you hit a wet area, the hammer does not bounce back as strongly.". Group agrees. "It's all about gauging the reflective energy," says Group.
In salt water this needs a minimum area of 0.1m². In fresh water, European standards call for the grounding terminal to be up to 0.25m². A grounding terminal must be submerged under all operating conditions. An external lead or iron keel on monohull sailing boats can serve as a grounding terminal.
This is the shocking moment a £95 million superyacht crashed into a smaller boat with at least six people on board. Footage shows the 232 ft boat named Ice gliding through the water as it heads ...
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Omsk Oblast (Russian: О́мская о́бласть, romanized: Omskaya oblast') is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast), located in southwestern Siberia.The oblast has an area of 139,700 square kilometers (53,900 sq mi). Its population is 1,977,665 (2010 Census) [9] with the majority, 1.12 million, living in Omsk, the administrative center.One of the Omsk streets
The Flag of Omsk Oblast Is Official Since June 17, 2003. The flag of Omsk Oblast is a rectangular cloth of three vertical bands of equal size: the right and left red and white medium. In the centre of the white band, there is a blue vertical wavy azure pole which is 1/3 of its width. The ratio of the flag's width to its length is 2:3. The main background of the flag of Omsk Oblast is red. It ...
From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Federal subjects of the Russian Federation: Republics: Adygea · Altai · Bashkortostan · Buryatia · Chechnya · Chuvashia · · Dagestan · Ingushetia · Kabardino-Balkaria · Kalmykia · Karachay-Cherkessia · Karelia · Khakassia · Komi · Mari El · Mordovia · North Ossetia — Alania · Sakha ...