Shocking experience weighing anchor.
 

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?
K

Shocking experience weighing anchor.
 

Over40pirate wrote:
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? K

We can wait until you decide to 'fess up.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.tripod.com

Shocking experience weighing anchor.
 

I was going to give this one a pass, and then I remembered...

"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

Shocking experience weighing anchor.
 

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

Shocking experience weighing anchor.
 

There was a large submarine high power cable buried or on the bottom
somewhere nearby. What you felt was the induced current caused by the
large electric field emanating from the cable.

Over40pirate wrote:
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?
K

Shocking experience weighing anchor.
 

1) A fluorescent light on board has some tricky wiring.
2) The old phone magneto you've been using to catch fish wasn't turned
off while you weighed.
3) The fresh breeze off your synthetic sails has been building charge
on your glass hull with no sea grounds
4) Unfriendly SEALs?
5) Leaky submarine power line
6) Other....

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

On 16 Jul 2003 23:36:40 GMT, ospam (Over40pirate)
wrote:

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

Shocking experience weighing anchor.
 

From: Brian Whatcott
Date: 7/16/2003 5:14 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Message-id:

1) A fluorescent light on board has some tricky wiring.
2) The old phone magneto you've been using to catch fish wasn't turned
off while you weighed.
3) The fresh breeze off your synthetic sails has been building charge
on your glass hull with no sea grounds
4) Unfriendly SEALs?
5) Leaky submarine power line
6) Other....

Brian Whatcott Altus OK


Nope

Shocking experience weighing anchor.
 

From: RichH
Date: 7/16/2003 4:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Message-id:

There was a large submarine high power cable buried or on the bottom
somewhere nearby. What you felt was the induced current caused by the
large electric field emanating from the cable.

Nope

Hint. It happens when the engine is off also.

Shocking experience weighing anchor.
 

Over40pirate wrote:
From: RichH
Date: 7/16/2003 4:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Message-id:

There was a large submarine high power cable buried or on the bottom
somewhere nearby. What you felt was the induced current caused by the
large electric field emanating from the cable.


Nope

Hint. It happens when the engine is off also.

Ah - you were probably shocked by being in the same areas as an over 40
pirate who teased you with a riddle when you were hauling. I hope it is
not transferrable? Now I have to wait until I get back from work for the
answer. Damn you pirates!

Brian

Shocking experience weighing anchor.
 

Nope? Nope?

If it's not 1) to 5) it has to be 6) Other.
That includes
6a) Figments of the imagination
6b) Shooting pains from the Rheumatiz.

Brian W

On 17 Jul 2003 01:34:26 GMT, ospam (Over40pirate)
wrote:

From: Brian Whatcott
Date: 7/16/2003 5:14 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Message-id:

1) A fluorescent light on board has some tricky wiring.
2) The old phone magneto you've been using to catch fish wasn't turned
off while you weighed.
3) The fresh breeze off your synthetic sails has been building charge
on your glass hull with no sea grounds
4) Unfriendly SEALs?
5) Leaky submarine power line
6) Other....

Brian Whatcott Altus OK


Nope