Are Boats Grounded

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racfish
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Are Boats Grounded

Post by racfish » Wed Jun 19, 2013 11:52 am

Are Alum boats grounded for thunder/lightning storms. I dont know my electrical much. Was out on Lk wa last night running the boat and charging batteries when we saw ominus clouds. I saw one flash only. Am I grounded in my alum boat?

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Bodofish
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Re: Are Boats Grounded

Post by Bodofish » Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:27 pm

Maybe a little too much so. In the case of lightening being grounded for you in your aluminum boat is not such a good thing. It sort of makes you a lightening rod. Lightening is trying to get to ground by the easiest path it can travel. If you or your boat are in that easy path........ Well sorry bud...... BBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZAP!
Build a man a fire and he's warm for the night. Light a man on fire and he's warm the rest of his life!

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Steelheadin360
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Re: Are Boats Grounded

Post by Steelheadin360 » Wed Jun 19, 2013 2:30 pm

i hear or see thunder my @$$ is on dry land in two shakes of a lambs tail. Fishing poles/antennas/ tops all act like little lighting rods. One well placed bolt from mother nature and your batterys will be a little over charged, and walking or normal bowel functions may take a while to resume to normal

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Marc Martyn
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Re: Are Boats Grounded

Post by Marc Martyn » Wed Jun 19, 2013 11:11 pm

One of the worst places to be is in a boat on open water.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/light ... _faq.htm#3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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hewesfisher
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Re: Are Boats Grounded

Post by hewesfisher » Thu Jun 20, 2013 5:12 am

racfish wrote:Am I grounded in my alum boat?
Yup, right to the stuff it's floating on and both are great conductors. Best thing to do in those situations is get off the water ASAP. [wink]
Phil

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