Re: [Paddlewise] Lightning Solutions?

Handling a pole in both hands to take a jolt of
lightning is not a good idea! Both hands will
serve to complete a circuit for the discharge
to travel through the hands and arms and
across the chest area. Better to use one hand only.
However, you would be required to know exactly
when the lightning was going to discharge up into
the atmosphere. Secondly, it would be better to
keep the paddle low in the water and forget
waving a rod around hoping to avoid getting hit
or attracting the lightning.
Your chance of being struck just went up ten fold
by waving a rod in the air. 

The physical damage to a person
by lightning depends on the potential difference
between you and ground. I have witnessed (participated
in) high voltage safety experiments and if you
were to have high voltage lines fall on your vehicle
you are best to stay in side. If you fear a gas tank
fire, then you must exit. However, that exit better
give you the opportunity for a long distance jump
and you better land with both feet together and
take only the smallest foot steps possible due to
current being near the surface. The longer the step
the greater the potential difference and the greater
the risk of electrocution. The kayak is relatively
insulated already. Just rememeber to keep the hands
away from any metal on the outside of the hull.
If your boat is constructed with insulator properties
then the risks should be minimal I would think.
Moreover, you may as well stay seated in the kayak
because unless you can walk on water you arn't going
to jump very far. Since salt water is such a good
conductor you will have another good reason to stay
put. There have been a lot of farmers who lost
their cattle just from walking near the area of 
a lightning strike.  

Cheers,

Philip
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