General Questions
The result of assiduous research and rigorous engineering, the Strikeshield is an effective portable temporary mast-grounding system that can be quickly deployed when needed and stowed away again when danger has passed.
How does this lightning protection system work?
The Strikeshield is basically a method of creating a ground from the mast of the salboat to the water. Strikeshield creates this ground path using industrial quality and specially designed components that run outside of the cabin area and directly into the water from the base of the mast. When a Strikeshield equipped sailboat is hit by lightning, the energy goes down the mast and into the water through the contact plates, conductors and dissipation electrodes.
Why isn’t it permanent?
The Strikeshield can certainly remain installed permanently if desired, however, a permanent installation per se would require a complete structural retrofit or for it to be built-in during the boat’s original construction phase. The Strikeshield is there to fill the gap by offering a functional adequate grounding system, which is otherwise not available on the majority of sailboats.
Why use a Strikeshield?
Strikeshield is an important piece of equipment because it affords sailboat owners a scientifically tested method of grounding the mast of the sailboat, something which is generally not available on sailboats and which can usually only be implemented through expensive retrofitting. Most people are used to grounding the sailboat mast by wrapping the anchor chain around the mast or by hanging booster cables off of the stays. This does not work and is actually very dangerous.
Can the Strikeshield be permanently mounted to the mast?
Strikeshield can be used whenever you feel the need for it. If you choose to leave it on all the time, you can.
Will it hurt my boat if I leave it on permanently?
No it will not hurt the boat or the mast, however, you will need to inspect it regularly to prevent corrosion under the contact plates, to ensure all the seals around the CSS contact plate and air terminal are intact and to clean the dissipater electrodes and the cables. Although we have made all efforts to ensure the materials are corrosion and bio-fouling resistant, they still require some periodic cleaning.
How long will the Strikeshield last?
Strikeshield will last a lifetime if you maintain it. It is designed and built to withstand multiple lightning strikes without failing. It is guaranteed for two years to be free of defects. It is made of highly conductive copper parts that are tinned for corrosion and bio-fouling resistance.
Will the Strikeshield prevent a lightning strike?
Strikeshield is NOT a lightning prevention system. There is no known device that will prevent lightning
Will the Strikeshield attract lightning?
Strikeshield will NOT attract lightning, as it is physically impossible to attract lightning.
What will the Strikeshield do then?
Strikeshield will effectively create a lightning capable ground between the mast of the sailboat, the most likely place to be hit by lightning, and the open water.
Why should I bother installing a Strikeshield?
Strikeshield is currently the ONLY product on the market that is specifically designed to offer a cost-effective quick method of grounding the mast of a sailboat. So if you are like us and lightning makes you somewhat uneasy, then use it.
Should I scrape the paint off the mast under the contact plate(s)?
There is no need to scrape the paint off the mast. The energy from the strike will find the contact plates in close proximity to the mast.
Previous: Strikeshield Technical FAQ
New Website Hosting
