Don't ground the highest point. To complete the job you must ground all metal to make a fariday cage. You can figure 30 deg angle from the lightning rod is protected.
Many that install lightning protection for a living choose to float their boat rather than ground it and forget just one connection.
Kevin
android tablet, ubuntu 12.04 laptop
always linux, always virus free
1. Make sure the highest point of your boat is grounded to the sea. For example, if you have a wooden mast or masthead, I take a length of chain (like the lead from the lunch anchor) and wrap it around the shrouds and dangle an end in the water, or you can attach the chain to the base of the mast. You don't want to see lightening coursing down the length of the mast and blowing a nice big hole through the hull at the mast step. By the way, many masts on older wooden boats have a lightening strap attached to a through keel bolt.
2. Bring your feet/boots out of the bilge or any other low water area - - so you sit hunched up in cockpit. Bring the crew from down below and let them enjoy the storm on deck. If they say, No! at least you warned them.
3. And don't worry about it too much. Motor to safety if that makes everyone feel better - - no hurries, the storm will pass before you get there.
I've gone through a few.
Steve
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, Kirk McLoren <kirkmcloren@...> wrote:
>
> Lightning tends to hit the highest object.
> I would motor to shore so I am not the highest object
> Â
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: R&M Mair <fullkeel2000@...>
> To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, August 2, 2013 4:31 AM
> Subject: [Electric Boats] Thunderstorms
>
>
>
> Â
> We got caught in a thunderstorm on a trip. There was no wind but I did not want to run the motor even though we had battery power. What do people think about running electric motors in these conditions. Would you be more of a target
> Richard
>
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