On 2008-11-13 03:40:42 -0500, "Edgar" said:

This is the first time anyone has mentioned the 'bottle brush' but I have
always believed that a spiky device at the very top of the lightning rod is
essntial if it is to act effectively to reduce the possibility of a
dangerous strike.

That is one theory, the use of a "bottle brush" conductor is another;
there are others. Knowing a bit about electrical engineering,
electricity and electronics, I can follow the observations and math and
find good points in many of the theories advanced.

The problem is that no matter how long scientists (and snake-oil
salesmen) have been studying the problem, lightning strikes are
relatively random (determined by cosmic rays?) with the probability of
a strike in a particular location only slightly affected by man-made
agents.

There *are* well-documented things to do (or not) before you get hit:
Do not ground to your through hulls, ground to something big,
preferably without vulnerable hull between, try to "persuade" the
lightning to stay outside of the boat's interior, put sensitive
electronics in a Faraday cage, add bonding to fixed equipment separate
from grounding....

Personally, the best way to avoid lightning is to be elsewhere. Given
unlimited money, we'd have a metal hull. Given reality, my efforts go
first to damage-control, then relaxing about those things I can't
control.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-à-Deux -- Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/