lightning and dogs -- for a potter

Thos. Westerman (thomasw@vanion.com)
Fri, 30 Jul 1999 15:55:57 -0600


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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>I am in the process of ordering a new Potter from Glenn and I had a
>couple of questions if you please.

>3) Being in Florida, Tampa Bay to be specific, lightning is a
>frequent occurence. Of course I will getting out of the water of I
>see menacings clouds or hear some rumbling, but I was curous as to
>the effects of lightning hitting a little potter ... besides sparks
>and a faint smell of fried potter sailor, has anyone heard of
>interesting stories ?

Congrats, you are in the #1 lightning zone in the USof A. (colorado is #2
where I live). This was a big concern to me too so I did some reseach and
we also discussed a few things about it on the group. I looked up
lightning and sailboat on an internet search and found a site devoted to
lighning education. they sell a video about how to lightning reduce your
chance on a sailboat. It was about $19.95.

I found this from someone who has "been there"
"Lightning Rod
I have had 2 lightening strikes on my previous sloop with alum. mast and
full lead keel. Everything was grounded and connected, including copper
bands for radio grounding to engine and outside grounding plate. Lightening
occurred at dock at Lighthouse Point Florida, known for frequent electrical
storms.
Damage was (nobody on board): Compass demagnified. VHF radio and receiver
radio defect, (although antennas, but not the power cable was disconnected)
several wires and all fuses fried up, Loran damaged. Antenna on Main mast
charcoaled. After all was repaired we had many little problems to fix,
particularly instruments and gauges. The next time the same type of damages
occurred, only a little different locations, more or less visible damage.
It is possible that the grounding avoided more serious damage. I then
studied all literature and test reports. The coast guard has a report, but
the people who make the lightening dissipators have good literature. I put
one dissipator on each mast, about a foot higher than the 2 VHF antennas,
all well grounded. I also attached 4 battery cables and big zinks to the
shrouds and through them in the water, when docked, so the lightening will
stay outside the boat (Faraday's cage principle). We have been in several
storms in 3 years, but you can have no hit in 24 years, then 2 in a row, so
it does not prove anything. "

>4) What might be the best Dog life vest one has found. Moon is a 33
>lbs dog who will insist on comming with me. Do anyone had a good
>brand of dog life vest to recommend ?

My two dogs, sasha (45 lb border collie/g sheperd) and Rex (30 lb B
Collie/BLK Lab) both have vests--and each a different one. Sasha has a
smaller better one from Sansport? I recommend this one the most. they
make kayaking PFD's and have a little black rectangle label for their
products with the name on it. I got it for $16.95 at Eastern Mountain
Sports. It is patterened after a harness (like the saddlebags type design)
and seems less obrusive for her towear than Rex's. His is more of a back
design--a big flat pad that covers all of his back and then has two little
"arms" that reach around under his neck and velcro together. Like a bib
only its on backwards onto his back instead of belly. I dont like that one
as much. Both have a pull up strap handle on the dogs back that you can
pull them up onto the boat if you need to which is a great feature. both
dogs do pretty well on the boat, can navigate around the side decks and
up/down through the front hatch also. They do seem at a loss as to where
to pee- Rex is not too old and let loose as a pet accident on my cooler at
the foot of the companion way. I wasnt too pleased (wish if he had to do
it and could nt wait that he would go in the cockpit--then the bucket and
drain take care of any problems. Ended up having to steam clean the
carpet--but it was dirty from the cboard trunk mud and wash anyways on that
trip. Enjoy having your dog on the boat, its a great aspect of pottering
if you have a dog you cherish.

Incidentally, on a fun note, once when docked in a slip, sasha would sit on
the V berth with her head stuck up through the front hatch and watch the
people go by on the dock. It was one of those fun kodak type moments, wish
I had a picture, and it was entertaining to hear so many people say "oh
isnt that cute the dog with its head up out of the boat"...