[Rhodes22-list] The great lightning debate.

[Richard Smith]

< The best it can do is shunt the current to the water rather than
> though your electronics, rigging, and you.>

Impossible...!  The amperage from a lightning strike would be measured in hundreds if not thousands of amps.  The notion of conducting this kind of power to the water is totally flawed.  

In the past his subject has been addressed by me (I am a graduate metrologist) and others.  The long and short of it is that setting up a grounding system MAY be better then nothing and that's about it.

Probably the Catalina described was struck because (of the grounding installation) it offered the path of least resistance to the water.

It can not be stated to often;  THERE IS NOT ONE INSTANCE OF ANY ONE ON A SAILBOAT BEING KILLED BY A LIGHTNING STRIKE!!!  Yes their have been injuries arising from several eventualities associated with a strike but no deaths.

Richard Smith