1. main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io

Re: Lighting strike vs insurance [Amel Yacht Owners] Maramu - Main Mast Grounding / Bonding

Beaute Olivier
 

Hello Jeroen,

there is not any good system to prevent the damages of a lightning strike. Even if the lightning strikes 100 m away form your vessel, the electronics could all be damaged through the electromagnetic field generated. This is  including alternators, battery chargers, washing machines, etc...
The purpose of the bonding system installed in the AMEL boats is to fight galvanic corrosion and/or detect a power leak able to create electrolytic corrosion. The main reason is that the wires used in this circuit are too small to stand any high power strike.


However there may be a way to "comply" with the insurers wish, and in order to show that you made the best you could to "drive" the lightning power to water. You should be be able to show your insurers (or the claim surveyor they commit) that you had such an equipment on board.
The equipment is a pair of copper cables, or stainless steel cables (standing rigging) 3m long each, with the same diameter as your top shrouds (12mm) or bigger, that you attach to the top shrouds on both sides thanks to a stainless steel cable clip when a thunderstorm comes or when you leave your vessel unattended in a marina (especially in the intertropical belt/convergence zone).
In order not to damage your hull, you will have these cables installed in rubber sleeves ( such as a water hose).

Again, this will definitely not protect the vessel against lightning strikes and consequences, but you'll be able to show something to your insurers.

Olivier

On Monday, October 7, 2019, 02:24:21 PM GMT+2, Matt Salatino via Groups.Io <helmsmatt@...> wrote:


The only way to prevent lightning damage to electronics is to be far away from a strike. You need to find a carrier that covers electronics. It’s a pricey fix! Ask Pantaenius again to rewrite your coverage to include electronics in case if lightning strike.

~~~⛵️~~~Matt

On Oct 7, 2019, at 4:41 AM, Jeroen jeltes <j.jeltes@...> wrote:

is this topic still active ?? Since this topic is several years past, and situations might have changed including insurance companies, i like to bring it up again .

Dear Olivier and Biil and all forum members. 

We are owner of Fidelis  A54 2009 and surveyed by Olivier in April 2018.

We recently changed insurance company because our previous insurers had no ocean going vessel experience.

Now we have Panteanius who seem to be professional and experienced and have some good recommendations,  yet..

On the policy( september 2019)  is a special reservation which excludes damage on electrical systems and navigatinal equipment caused by

lightningstrike , if there is no special system to prevent this damage !

The question is, would the existing bonding system be accepted te prevent damage  by lighting strike ?

Have yacht owners added new systems now insurance companies seem to reduce their risk ?

comment welcome.

Jeroen Jeltes

sv Fidelis A54

Join main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io to automatically receive all group messages.