I just finished reading Ewan Thomson's article, "Lightning & Sailboats". I would recommend that everyone read this article. Thanks Rick Davies for bringing this to our attention. Don't sit there thinking lightning can't affect you because you don't go out in storms. If you're 10 miles away, at a max speed of 5kts, can you get out of harms way in two hours when that unexpected thunder bumper pops up?? Joe M17 Seafrog ----- Original Message ----- From: bownez@juno.com To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 9:05 AM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Hit by lightning? Let me know! Hello Gordon and M-Boat Gang, I deal with UPS/battery back up systems and have seen many units that have taken a lightning hit. Some survive, some are turned into burned junk. The UPS system usually does it job by sacrificing itself to protect the expensive load equipment. However, what I see in the field, is that lightning will do whatever it pleases. You think it will follow one path and it takes another. It is completely unpredictable. Is a grounding system a good idea on a sailboat? I would say absolutely. I have read of sailors that will clamp heavy jumper cables to standing rigging and drag the ends in the water. Could that save you and your boat? Maybe. I'm thrilled to watch thunderstorms as well, but I'd also like to be around long enough to spend my IRA. Summer has arrived in Mn. Later, Bones ____________________________________________________________ Get Free Email with Video Mail & Video Chat! http://www.juno.com/freeemail?refcd=JUTAGOUT1FREM0210 _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!