Last weekend I launched my P18 just before a summer thunderstorm was to
arrive. Lake Ontario was emptying of small craft. I intended to quickly
motor over to a transient slip assigned to me, a very short distance within
a protected harbor.
When I got in the cockpit I received a mild static electricity shock from
my outboard. I thought nothing of it, I get similar shocks from cars and
such. Touching it again I received another, and another. I was literally
able to tap the outboard like morse code and receive a shock every time. I
checked to make sure the battery was unattached (it was). I held the motor
to ground it out and quicly attached the gas line and scooted over to the
slip. Grounded the motor again while removing gas line. Removed gas can
from boat and went for lunch to watch the storm blow through.
Clear skies afterwards and no shocks from the motor.
Was this my mast soaking up electricity from the air or what? Hind sight
leads me to believe that attaching the gas line was a mistake. Has anyone
had experience with this? Are there precautions? Your thoughts and
experience would be appreciated.
John Haley
P18 156
Rochester NY
........................
John Haley
Systems Manager
Division of Administration & Finance
SUNY Geneseo
(716)245-5548
haley@geneseo.edu