Sailing Magic Carpetvideo
I Bolted 11ft of Metal To Our Boat. Here's Why.
6 June 2025 · 25 min · 68K views
What this video covers
To mitigate lightning strike risks, the crew of Magic Carpet installed a custom external grounding system on their fiberglass hull. Because the vessel features an encapsulated keel, the mast lacks a direct, conductive path to the water, creating a potential hazard if struck.5:17 The installation involves a 10.5-foot-long, 1.5-inch-wide copper bar through-bolted to the exterior of the hull, providing a dedicated path for electrical discharge.14:41 Internally, the mast, shrouds, and DC negative bus connect to this bar via a common ground point, which also serves as a bonding system for the vessel's dissimilar metals.12:30 To protect the mast, the crew added a 6-foot aluminum rod at the top, extending 6 inches above all other masthead equipment.7:08 The project relies on research from Nigel Calder and Steve D'Antonio, prioritizing a direct path to ground over static-dissipating masthead brushes.22:16 The crew plans to add a fairing or wooden wedge to the leading edge of the external bar to improve hydrodynamics and prevent snagging lines.21:21
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