Hi Gordon. I was not 'hit' by lightning, but have been effected. I was out in my M17 with my older son and a buddy and got caught in a big one. It was actually exciting (more because of the wind) watching the lightning against the dark sky. I have read plenty about 'protection' but have nothing in place. We were actively heading towards a marina to wait it out (one with a pub). At one point my son got up to get a better look at something and got a substantial shock from the rigging. His reaction was enough that if he was walking forward on the side deck and used the stay as support, he might have reacted right over the side. The current was so strong that he was able to grab the boom and touch me and still pass the shock to me. We all figured it was some form of static electricity. Kind of freaky really. Tim Diebert M17 PUFF #369 Kelowna BC Okanagan Lake ================================ Fellow M-boat sailors: I'm not ashamed to admit it: I hate being caught in a thunderstorm while cruising Sapphire, my M-17. Whether I'm underway or at anchor overnight, nearby lightning bolts and thunder booms make me feel like a sitting duck about to be zapped. It's a vulnerability I don't feel, right or wrong, on larger sailboats with grounding systems and lots of room to move away from the mast. Many small boat sailors share my unease with T-storms, but I think few of us know how common it really is to be struck by lightning and what, if anything, there is we can do to lower our risk. Getting off the water is good advice for day sailors plying local waters, of course, but it may not be feasible for those of us out for days at a time -- especially in wilderness areas and for storms that blow up in a hurry. To help "illuminate" this topic, I've proposed an article on lightning and small sailboats to the editors at Small Craft Advisor, and they like the idea. To gather information for the piece, I'd like to find out: Has lightning ever struck your M-boat or another small sailboat you've owned, whether you were aboard at the time or not. If so, what were the circumstances? Did the strike damage the boat (fried electronics, holes in the hull, etc.) or hurt anyone? Do you personally know another small boat sailor who has experienced a lightning strike? Have you equipped or modified your boat in an attempt to reduce the risk of a strike (grounding, etc)? if so, why do you think it works? What do you do when you're caught by a T-storm underway or sitting/sleeping in your boat at anchor? If you have an enlightening story to tell, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks! Gordon '83 M-17 Sapphire Milwaukee, WI _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet! No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.819 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2892 - Release Date: 05/23/10 11:26:00