[Rhodes22-list] question about electricity

[Michael D. Weisner]

Jb,

The first pic is just fabulous!  For an northeast boater, the 
foothills/mountains show that it is not like any water that we sail in here 
on the LI Sound.  Beautiful - and the water still feels wet and you can sail 
on the stuff?  Here, boats are hauled and wrapped, the leaves have nearly 
all fallen (we did have one of the prettiest autumns in years) ...  Now if 
only we could sail on snow!

As far as static electricity accumulating on the hull goes, it is probably 
due to the lack of humidity.  Just as it occurs on airplanes, the winds 
redistribute electrons, causing a charge to build up on the insulated 
(fiberglass) hull.  The simplest way to remedy this is to provide a leakage 
path to the water.  All conductive metal objects (motor housing, rails, 
mast, rigging, etc.) should be connected together via a small wire (no real 
current is involved) and terminated at a fixture that is exposed to the 
water.  Care should be taken to make connection to the water away from 
gasoline vapors (not at the motor or mount) and using a "sacrificial anode", 
something that you would not miss, as it may be consumed by galvanic 
corrosion in the process of transferring the charge.  See 
http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/23.htm

The creation of static electricity in this manner has been a real problem in 
biking (bicycles) due to the use of nylon suits and composite helmets.  Some 
people have had good results using antistatic preparations such as fabric 
softeners to solve the problem.  While treating the hull with wax increases 
the static generation ability, applying fabric softener solutions may reduce 
the generated potential, although the combination may cause an unsafe, very 
slippery surface.

You need to find a way to harness the potential energy that you have created 
rather than just discharge it.  How about a static electricity motor - I 
think that John Galt knew something about this ...

Mike
s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
Nissequogue River, NY

From: "Just bent" <j.bulfer at jbtek.com> Sent: Monday, November 10, 2008 10:56 
AM
>
> Went sailing yesterday in somewhat stormy weather. Had a great day. When 
> we
> got back to the dock, when you touch the boat, you would get shocked. I
> unhooked the battery & still got shocked. Was it static electricity from 
> the
> storm?
> Jb
>
> Jb http://www.nabble.com/file/p20422568/DSC01925.jpeg
> http://www.nabble.com/file/p20422568/DSC01927.jpeg
> http://www.nabble.com/file/p20422568/DSC01930.jpeg
> http://www.nabble.com/file/p20422568/DSC01931.jpeg
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