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Grounding lightning

Forum - Weather - Grounding lightning
Module Content - Sea Talks1
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Student
Julian Mallett
South Yarmouth, MA, USA
Skipper (small keelboat) Level IV
Status: Sailor
Qualified days: 170
Grounding lightning
Posted 2021, Oct 01 13:35
While the text states that lightning will not make the right angle turn from the mast to an anchor chain, why wouldn't this work if a smooth path is created, for example attaching the chain or similar to the shrouds?
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Grant Headifen
Reply 2021, Oct 01 15:48
Good question. In reality, no one is going to have time or the inclination to do anything like that. Storms roll in so quick and running around touching metal and attaching things like a metal chain in water with your hands and electrically connecting to a metal wire that is attached to a big stick in the sky that says hey strike me is a good way to get your self electrocuted and again reality says you're not going to do it. Many boats are connected via the mast straight down through the coach roof through the pole and to the keel. Those boats still get fried when struck by lightning. Knowledge on how to abate the damage from a lightning strike is not strong.
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