RE: [Paddlewise] Carbon Fiber Paddles and Lightning?

Dave wrote: -
>Lightning voltage is so great it ionizes and
>forms a glowing gaseous plasma of whatever it
>contacts, forming good conductors of __anything
................
>If Peter extends his carbon fiber paddle up in a
>horde of paddlers also extending their paddles
>upward, the rest of whom are equipped with much less
>"conductive" paddles (in the low voltage sense), then
>the electric potential at Peter will be somewhat
>greater, and Peter is very likely to be the one
>struck ... if lightning strikes in the vicinity.

G'Day Dave and Paddlewise ,

Thanks for the clear description of the effect of plasma on objects in the
vicinity of lightning. I'll forgo the experimental test:~).

My question is now a bit obscure as I'm really interested in whether a
paddle shaft is conductive at all at low voltages. Is the carbon fibre in a
paddle a continuous weave and do the fibres make electrical contact with
each other despite the presence of all that insulating resin?

I suppose I could cut up my $400 carbon paddle to find out!

All the best, PeterO
(Who will continue to get off the water if at all possible at the first sign
of a thunderstorm.)


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