On Nov 13, 5:25*am, "Roger Long" wrote:
... but the gist from a quick skim was that some scientists now
believe that ground strikes are following *an ionization channel
opened up one of the high energy cosmic rays that are
constantly bombarding the earth. *The strike may divert to a
high object near the ground but the ray path could also lead
it to the water or a lower object.

Which says nothing useful. Cosmic ray does not construct a staight
conductive path through the air. Obviously lightning snakes in
various directions to earth; does not follow the straight path of a
cosmic ray. A microscopic path of ionied air might cause lightning
to snake slightly left rather than right. It is still constructing a
plasma path from cloud to earth because it must connect charges in
clouds (+ or 1) to charges on earth (- or+). If a conductive path
uses a boat, then a massive current later will follow that path
through the boat. Nothing will 'avoid' that strike.

Another myth promotes pointy items. Demonstrated in experiment is
that better protection uses blunt rather than pointy rods. Still when
lightning strikes, then either it does significant damage OR is
conducted harmlessly to beneath the boat. As the U of FL article
demonstrates, lightning can be conducted harmlessly if basic
guidelines are followed.