Re: [Paddlewise] St. Elmo's Fire ---> Lightening -Reply

From: Jim Martin <MartinJA_at_DSMCOPO.COM>
Date: Tue, 05 May 1998 08:28:29 -0500
Don't worry about coductivity. There is no way to insulate from the high
voltage. Remember it has enough voltage to arc across thousands for
feet of air. It takes roughly 18,000 volts to arc a fraction of an inch. The
problem with being on the water in a lighting storm is your the highest
point. i.e. the one electrode in a circuit. 

I saw a really good article about lighting protection for boats in a past
issue of Wooden Boat. Basically there's nothing you can do in a kayak
besides get off the water however this article did have some interesting
information about larger boats esp sail boats. Properly rigged as sail
boat is safe in a lightling storm if you stay off the rigging and don't touch
the cables and mast. 

If any one is interested in the particular Wooden Boat Issue, E-mail me
and I'll tell you which issue it was. I would have included it in this post
however my issues are at home and I'm not there.

Jim

>>> Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_seasurf.com> 05/05/98 05:03am >>>
Bob Denton wrote:
> 
> I wonder if Carbon Fiber is a positive or negative feature (no pun
> intended) in a lightning storm.

Probably not a significantly better conductor than a wet (with water)
glass/epoxy shaft, but I don't know the specific conductance of a
carbon
fiber/epoxy laminate.  Maybe that "Lightning!" paddle guy will know --
he makes 'em, after all!

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
sea kayaker -- and chemist
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Received on Tue May 05 1998 - 07:07:08 PDT

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