J24 (Sail No. 4239) Dartmouth |
29er GBR 074 Tynemouth |
Laurent Giles 'Jolly Boat' Exeter |
List classes of boat for sale |
lightning |
Post Reply | Page 12> |
Author | |
hobbiteater
Posting king Joined: 07 Dec 12 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 107 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Topic: lightning Posted: 20 Oct 13 at 8:50pm |
What happens when a dinghy gets hit by lightning?
|
|
alstorer
Really should get out more Joined: 02 Aug 07 Location: Cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 2899 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 20 Oct 13 at 9:09pm |
Whilst I'm not entirely sure, I'm hovering my hand over the QI-style klaxon for anyone that makes claims as to the electrical conductivity of carbon fibre.
|
|
-_
Al |
|
Quagers
Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 279 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 20 Oct 13 at 9:31pm |
As was said in Cowes today as a storm rolled through, anything will conduct if you put enough power through it.
|
|
JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 20 Oct 13 at 9:46pm |
If you're in the dinghy I believe you may well get away with it. I understand the really bad scenario is to be in the water when there's a strike nearby, because you conduct electricity better than the water. So whatever else you do, don't jump in the water for fear of the boat being struck.
|
|
iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 21 Oct 13 at 12:01am |
The same as what happens when a windsurfer gets hit by lightning, sparks fly all over you like Luke Skywalker being zapped by the evil emperor, your glasses fly off into the water in a shower of sparks and you get blown into the water.
But wearing a wetsuit with rubber boots you are protected by the Faradays cage effect, it goes round you rather than through you. You still get stunned though. And let nobody tell you lightning doesn't strike twice.. I've been zapped twice, once up at Grafham in 1980 ish and again a couple of years back sailing at Hythe. Edited by iGRF - 21 Oct 13 at 12:02am |
|
alstorer
Really should get out more Joined: 02 Aug 07 Location: Cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 2899 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 21 Oct 13 at 6:53am |
Just because it will "conduct" doesn't mean that it won't rapidly heat, burn and blow apart. Problem is that whilst carbon fibres may be conductive, the resin fully coating them and binding them together isn't. I've seen what happens to panels made of basic carbon/epoxy that are hit by simulated lightning. It isn't pretty.
|
|
-_
Al |
|
sargesail
Really should get out more Joined: 14 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1459 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 21 Oct 13 at 7:28am |
And I thought lightning took the shortest path to earth....
|
|
hobbiteater
Posting king Joined: 07 Dec 12 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 107 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 21 Oct 13 at 8:30am |
iGRF
Rubber = insulator so cant act as a Faraday cage = A Faraday cage is an enclosure formed by conducting material or by a mesh of such material
|
|
iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 21 Oct 13 at 8:34am |
It travels through the surface water on your suit, just pray you're wet at the time and or it's raining. |
|
Medway Maniac
Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 21 Oct 13 at 9:54am |
This may explain certain mystery theories... Sorry. just couldn't resist that comment.
|
|
Post Reply | Page 12> |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |