lightning protection for RIBs?

[Silvertriton]

Hi does anyone use lightning protection on an open RIB? I guess that a solid plastic coated copper cable could be fed from a high point on the A frame to the water to offer grounding to the surrounding water to deflect the damage but not sure if it woul be effective? what do you think?

[jyasaki]

I just stay off the boat in thunderstorm conditions. We probably get a lot fewer than you do though.

I suspect that it would take some pretty thick cable to deflect damage from a lightning strike, but that's just a guess. High point on the boat will likely be the VHF antenna anyway, wouldn't it?

jky

[Silvertriton]

I guess not all areas suffer from rapid and intense lightning sorms but I have heard that most cases of letal strikes at sea take place on small boats...this is what this site says...in the case of an open boat, a good lightning protection system may indeed save a life. The principles are the same as for any boat – air terminals to provide a strike point, external conductors to form a protective cage around the boat, and multiple grounding terminals to disperse the current away from the boat. Overhead conducting fittings such as T-tops and biminis can be life savers when they are integrated into a complete system. Otherwise they are potential sideflash hazards. Science & Technology

[jezza2011]

My A framt bolts through the hull and is the highest point so in theory its grounded to the sea via the thru hull bolts.

dont put copper on your stainless. ;-) check where the bolts go and add a stainless trip if its needs it from a bolt on the afram/transom to further down the transom where it enters the salty.

and yes you may need some hefty wire to disipate a lightening strike.
but a stainless A frame of 2 inch tubing may be able to take a good old hit.

[sailit]

all you have to do id stay close to a big sailboat

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by sailit

all you have to do id stay close to a big sailboat

Says the guy with the username "Sailit"...


jky

[whisper]

I would have thought that it you have an a frame you could just tap onto that and have something removable so you can connect it when things kick off

[mister p]

And hook it up to your battery charger!!!!!!!!
With a fuse, of course.

[whisper]

I think you need one of these....

[mister p]

What is that?

[whisper]

A flux Capacitor.....

1.21 gigawatts?! - Dr. Brown & Marty - Back to the future - YouTube

[Silvertriton]

Originally Posted by whisper

I would have thought that it you have an a frame you could just tap onto that and have something removable so you can connect it when things kick off

I think that this should be possible by attaching a sacrificial tip and the cables and dissipating ends (plates or newer cilindrical designs) to the main metal structure when the risk is imminent but the A frame is not always the highest point on the RIB and a lightning may be deflected to the consolle if this is not protected. The best would be a T top connected to the A frame which could if properly set up form a Faraday? cage...

[john noon]

The ground cable would not carry the current long before it is vaporized. Model rockets use 22ga just to initiate the pulse, maybe a similar concept would work on a rib or sib.

I know we where caught out in the open once and heading home was slow in 2-3 foot waves. Fishing rods were stored real fast after we saw the first lightening bolt. Might look into a system myself.

John

[Squid Boat]

Here is what we use in Cali..

Cheers, Squid

[prairie tuber]

Originally Posted by Squid Boat

Here is what we use in Cali..

Cheers, Squid

That would work. Safety is clearly the top priority here - I noticed there were 2 flotation devices for each of your passengers.