Christine wrote: 1. To my knowledge nobody has ever been killed, or seriously injured by lightning while in a fiberglass (read insulating) vessel. I'm not sure about that. For one thing, an insulator is only an insulatyor up to its breakdown voltage- which, for a fiberglass hull is a fraction of the potential of a lightining strike. Even before the strike the glass does you no good- you're sitting on one plate of a huge capacitor while a charge builds up around you. Metal boats, like metal aircraft, are actually much safer than glass boats. The charge is conducted around the occupants in a metal cage. See http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nasd/docs/as04800.html for an authoritative answer. 2. It is most unlikely that lightning would strike a kayak since it is low and has nothing like a mast or antenna to attract a strike. Masts don't "attract" strikes. What causes a strike in one location over another is a difference in charge. A mast can *protect* a boat. 3. If you turn over I doubt if the stray electric currents in the water would harm you. In fact if the water was reasonably warm and if I was sure I could re-enter my boat I would get in the water. I know a person who blew over in a day sailor during an intense L.I. Sound thunderstorm. He reported several water strikes in his vicinity but only "tingling" sensation from the salt water carried electric surge. Of course it depends on how close the strikes are. And you're safer 10 or 20 feet below the surface ;-) -- mike ------------------------- Michael Edelman mje_at_spamcop.net http://www.foldingkayaks.org http://www.findascope.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Mar 26 2001 - 15:59:43 PST
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