I run 4 gauge wire from the bottom of my mast to the nearest keel bolt. This is vastly better than nothing. If you really want to get into it, you would need to tie in all the rigging and provide exit terminals at the water line. This website will give you some ideas: http://marinelightning.com/Siedarc.htm . If you want to be cheap, do what we did dating back to the 1960s at least - buy jumper cables and pull them apart to make 2 separate cables. Clamp one on each upper shroud and hang the other end in the water.
Joe Coquina C&C 35 MK I Worst lightning hit so far blew the VHF antenna off and ruined the battery switch with no other damage -----Original Message----- From: CnC-List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ryan Doyle via CnC-List Sent: Monday, July 25, 2016 10:00 To: [email protected] Cc: Ryan Doyle Subject: Stus-List Grounding a mast - 30mki Hey guys, Wondering if anyone can describe to me how they've ground their mast. I have a 1976 30mki and we got caught out in a very fast-moving t-storm this weekend and I realized I should have done this when I bought the boat last fall. My mast step is not original. It is a big, fat piece of mahogany - which I envision blasting apart if the mast took a direct strike. The only idea I've had is using a steel ring clamp to attach a terminal on a very large gauge wire (maybe 2 gauge?) to the bottom of the mast, then run this wire a foot or two aft and down into the bilge to a keel bolt where I would have a second ring clamp hold the wire's terminal to a keel bolt. I worry about how this would look and I also worry whether it would even be effective. Anyone have a better solution? Thanks in advance. Hope you're all having a wonderful sailing summer. Ryan Sent from my iPhone Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated! _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated!
