This last weekend we beached overnight for the first time and were very
surprised at some static electricity problems that ran rampant and really
surprised us. With the boat beached and the wind blowing (sails down), a
persistent and plentiful static charging ensued. It would click click
click on the port side mast staylines where they meet the gunwale.
Touching the keel or any metal lines, the pulpit etc produced a very
unpleasant shock and quickly recharged in less than a second to do it
again, painful. I thought it might be the battery so i disconnected it
but no change. Finally I hooked jumper cables to the forestaycable and to
a metal stake into the mud of the beach, that drained it and allowed it to
drain but the whole thing was a pheonomenon to me. Has anyone else
experienced static like this on their potters?
thomasw@vanion.com