Over40pirate" wrote in message
...

A few years ago while cruising, I was weighing anchor, and when I got to
the
chain (no windlass then) I was shocked, not by what was on the hook, but
as in
electrical shock. I dropped it and pulled it in again with the same
shocking
results. It wasn't a killing shock, and as the hook was clear of the
bottom, I
motored off enough with the hook in the water to be sure I didn't pick up
a
live cable, then hauled it aboard, getting shocked as I did it.
Before I tell the cause, any guesses?

You've got an aluminum boat. The chain made a great conductor to ground.
Your boat had an electricity leak of some sort which was unnoticeable
before, as you were in the faraday cage of its hull, but you were barefoot
or otherwise adequately conductive when you were hauling up barehanded and
the chain completed the circuit.

Howzat?

L8R

Skip and Lydia, still looking for our boat

It's a fiberglass boat, and you get shocked even with the motor not running.
K