lightening protection

Does anyone know how to put a lightening protection system on a Getaway?
Other than turtling or running for shore?
We got caught by a fast moving storm in Costa Rica and it was too close for my comfort.

Pull up next to a boat with a taller mast! If you're the highest point around, you're the most likely target.

There's a company that makes protection systems for radio/TV towers, that puts a mesh of oversized barbed wire between the guy lines and on top of the antenna. The theory being that all the individual points will diffuse the ions, so the lightning doesn't have a single target to strike. Barbed wire between your rigging would be dangerous to the sails though.

But the lightning doesn't even need to strike you directly for you to get zapped. A metal mast will make a good "antenna" for the electrical pulse, even if the strike is a long way away. I learned that the hard way in a storm.

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What - Me Worry?


2006 Hobie Wave 7358
"Ish Kabibble"

Technically speaking you should be able to take along a short piece of heavy wire or chain, just loop it around the mast so the wire has a good connection then just drop the other end in the water. If you got hit the current should run down the wire into the water.

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

I thought that part of the benefit of the composite top portion of the mast was just so that it would not conduct electricity. Any Hobie engineers with a rational response?

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Experienced monohull sailer, new to Hobies. I chose a Getaway to get started. Sailing in Northern Calif.

Hey Getaway Bill:

I'm not a Hobie engineer (not by a LONG shot!) - But I don't think a mast needs to be metal to attract lightning ...look at how many people are struck by lightning while standing near/under a tall tree. I think metal just increases the chances.

Anyway, it's just an observation on my part. I'll hold out, to see what our Hobie Engineers have to say.

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joanie / Hobie enthusiast: 4 H-14Ts, 2 Waves, FloatCat 75, 4 Adventure Islands, and my DUNE Tandem Island!
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What can I say? I never met a Hobie I didn't like . . .