2025-11-02, 19:54
Hello Sailor Kev!
A sailboat is pretty much just a well-grounded lightning rod in the flattest possible place, rigged up so it'll float, right? What kind of lightning protection do you use onboard?
If you are talking about detecting lightning strokes from a sailboat, you have some relatively unique needs that are not likely well served by Blitzortung. Blitzortung is a detection network, connected by low-latency internet. I think you would be better served by a single station receiver and detector on your boat, and even there your unique needs, such as the mobile nature of your antenna, will require special support compared to a stationary installation.
Is it even better over the lifetime of the hull to have a good air terminal, grounding conductor and connections, and grounding plate? Like, in California, it's rather more economical to bolt your house to your foundations than it is to buy the state earthquake insurance they offer, and I can give you four reasons why...
That said ..
Coverage in the tropics, pretty much anywhere south of the Tropic of Cancer and into the southern hemisphere is very poor. Blitzortung is primarily a northern hemisphere, temperate region sort of thing, because of the location of the entirely volunteer detectors and the non-commercial nature of the entire endeavor, as mendip_defender mentioned.
Anecdotally, Blitzortung accuracy is pretty good. I was able to use Blitzortung dynamic maps around my small town in Colorado as a proxy for seeing the flash of lightning. After that, I was able to count seconds to estimate rough distance, and verify both distance and rough bearing when I heard thunder. It was fun.
Compared to other lightning detection and location services, blitzortung has some characteristics that you would have to be aware of. Unlike Blitzortung, other services may detect strokes other than Ground to Cloud or Cloud to Ground. When you compare Blitzortung detections to other services, you are likely to see about twice as many strokes in the other services as you see in Blitzortung, because of that. Again anecdotally, I've done this is California for strokes in the Diablo Range and east toward the Sierras, and of the strokes that were reported by both Blizortung and the "other" service accuracy was still good.
D
A sailboat is pretty much just a well-grounded lightning rod in the flattest possible place, rigged up so it'll float, right? What kind of lightning protection do you use onboard?
If you are talking about detecting lightning strokes from a sailboat, you have some relatively unique needs that are not likely well served by Blitzortung. Blitzortung is a detection network, connected by low-latency internet. I think you would be better served by a single station receiver and detector on your boat, and even there your unique needs, such as the mobile nature of your antenna, will require special support compared to a stationary installation.
Is it even better over the lifetime of the hull to have a good air terminal, grounding conductor and connections, and grounding plate? Like, in California, it's rather more economical to bolt your house to your foundations than it is to buy the state earthquake insurance they offer, and I can give you four reasons why...
That said ..
Coverage in the tropics, pretty much anywhere south of the Tropic of Cancer and into the southern hemisphere is very poor. Blitzortung is primarily a northern hemisphere, temperate region sort of thing, because of the location of the entirely volunteer detectors and the non-commercial nature of the entire endeavor, as mendip_defender mentioned.
Anecdotally, Blitzortung accuracy is pretty good. I was able to use Blitzortung dynamic maps around my small town in Colorado as a proxy for seeing the flash of lightning. After that, I was able to count seconds to estimate rough distance, and verify both distance and rough bearing when I heard thunder. It was fun.
Compared to other lightning detection and location services, blitzortung has some characteristics that you would have to be aware of. Unlike Blitzortung, other services may detect strokes other than Ground to Cloud or Cloud to Ground. When you compare Blitzortung detections to other services, you are likely to see about twice as many strokes in the other services as you see in Blitzortung, because of that. Again anecdotally, I've done this is California for strokes in the Diablo Range and east toward the Sierras, and of the strokes that were reported by both Blizortung and the "other" service accuracy was still good.
D
D
Station 3174. Blue (basic), loop antennae
Station 3174. Blue (basic), loop antennae