Many years ago, I installed a lightning ground on my old Balboa 20. It consisting of braided flat auto battery ground straps running from the mast base bolts down the front of compression post to the keel pivot bolt and from the chain plates to the same point. I did have the occasion to test the system on the Northern Chesepeake in a lightning storm. The only damage I found was a hole burned in the masthead where my wind indicator had been and a checkerboard pattern of scorch marks on the back of the wooden compression posts. I never did get the pucker marks out of the cockpit cushions but, it did work. Griselda has the same setup which my brother installed after I got struck. It should work as well since Griselda is the early fixed keel version with a cast iron fin keel. Thankfully, my Brother (previous owner) nor I have had the occasion to test it's capability. I suppose the later models with the fiberglass keel and centerboard would require a grounding plate of some kind. A fellow I met at the Havre de Grace marina used a method that might work for the all fiberglass hull boats. He had two dog leash chains that he clipped to the shrouds and hung in the water that he would clip on if he saw a storm coming. It seems that everyone at that marina had lightning ground systems since lightning storms are so common there in the Summer. I hope to never again be the target of a lightning strike but being in Texas where lightning storms come up very fast, I am prepared. Ron M17 #14 Griselda

From: ocean37@hotmail.com> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:09:36 +0000> Subject: Re: M_Boats: lightening strike> > > Kendall> > There is no good protection for lightning strikes. Nothing is built into the layup for grounding. On my 27s we did have an option for a Dynaplate that was a gold plated bar that was a thru bolt mount (2 Studs) and we ran #4 battery cable from> the 6 chainplates, the stainless mast compression post etc to one of the Studs inside the boat. The plan was a lightning bolt would follow the mast/rigging down the wires to the DynaPlate into the water. But the main purpose of the Dynaplate was a SSB Grounding source (Radios) so any lightning strike would also be certain to fry your radios ($).> > One source for a dynaplate is :> > http://www.boatersworld.com/product/196830145msk.htm> > A grounding for radios, RF etc and a better source for lightning protection.> > One cruiser I met carried some Jumper Cables and lightweight aluminum plates.> > When a thunderstorm was approaching, he clamped the plates and threw them > > overboard, and attached the other end of the Jumper Cables to his Mast.> > I don't know if that would work and I don't ever want to find out..! > > Fair winds> > Bob> > (949) 489-8227> > > > > From: kdocter@bellsouth.net> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:45:48 +0000> Subject: M_Boats: lightening strike> > > > Jerry, > Can you weigh in on this please?> I have a 1981 M-15 that I am thinking about making an open water trip of 100 or so in the Gulf of Mexico. Is there any protection built in the layup for grounding a lightning strike? I don't wish to go hunting for a storm, but it could happen while I'm out there. Doubtful that I can outrun a thunderstorm in my M-15! So what is the best advice? Anyone ever taken a strike?> > Kendall> _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats> _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats

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