On Tue, 2 Jun 2009 21:12:38 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

OK, hypothetical, but my quesiton is how do you handle being caught in
a lightening storm in a boat.

I have two fiberglass boats an 18' and a 23'.

18 has an enclosed bow, and the 23 a small cuddie. basicly a bigger
enclosed bow.

Where I boat is Lake Carlyle, and it's about 10 mi. long and about 3
mi. wide. Now 'pop-up' showers arn't uncommon this time of year, but
sometimes that little sprinkle can turn into a lightening storm while
the boater is unawares. So while being caught in the rain. the bilge
[s] are on, and you're headed in. the baot is wet.. you're wet. what
is the concern about lightening?

I'm thinking at least sit still and everybody head under the
enclosures. until at least the lightning quits.

What say ye?

I put on the life vests, put my antenna down with the radio off, say a
few prayers, wish I didn't have to pee so bad, and head for home - at
a slow pace 'cause I can't see over the waves.
--
John H

"The problem with Socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money." --Margaret Thatcher

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:58:19 -0400, HK wrote:

Frogwatch wrote:

How's the fishin Harry? Do you live anywhere near Point Lookout?


For this area, the fishing is average. In comparison to everywhere in
Florida I have fished, that would translate to slower than slow.

We're north of Point Lookout, about an hour or so by car, depending on
traffic. I've driven there by car once, just to enjoy the vistas, and
have turned the corner, so to speak, on boats about a half-dozen times.
If I am driving down that way, it's most likely to attend something or
other at the Seafarers facility at Piney Point. A number of unions hold
social functions there.

http://www.seafarers.org/phc/PhotoGallery/facilities/

I heard about a training program SIU has for new merchant sailors,
leading to the CG license and....work.
There was a discussion about it on the cruising group.
Sounded like a neat program for youngsters.
No cost and free room and board, I think.
Quasi-military in that respect.
Used to be you had to get "sponsored" by a ship company, or have
military experience to get the license.
But U.S. Merchant Marine is just a wisp of what it once was.
Globalism.

--Vic

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:58:47 -0400, Gene
wrote:

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:03:43 -0500, Richard Casady
wrote:

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:14:45 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:

I'm thinking at least sit still and everybody head under the
enclosures. until at least the lightning quits.

What say ye?

Not much you can do about it other than try to stay at the lowest
point in the boat, duck and cover.

I have an aluminum cuddy. Better than a glass bow rider, at least.

Casady

Bull****. Apparently, you have never seen (or had to repair) an
aluminum aircraft hit by lightning....

I was in one that got hit by lightning - a stretched DC-8.

The static discharge sticks on the wings were glowing with green
plasma for about two minutes after the strike. :)

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:47:40 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:58:19 -0400, HK wrote:

Frogwatch wrote:

How's the fishin Harry? Do you live anywhere near Point Lookout?


For this area, the fishing is average. In comparison to everywhere in
Florida I have fished, that would translate to slower than slow.

We're north of Point Lookout, about an hour or so by car, depending on
traffic. I've driven there by car once, just to enjoy the vistas, and
have turned the corner, so to speak, on boats about a half-dozen times.
If I am driving down that way, it's most likely to attend something or
other at the Seafarers facility at Piney Point. A number of unions hold
social functions there.

http://www.seafarers.org/phc/PhotoGallery/facilities/

I heard about a training program SIU has for new merchant sailors,
leading to the CG license and....work.
There was a discussion about it on the cruising group.
Sounded like a neat program for youngsters.
No cost and free room and board, I think.
Quasi-military in that respect.
Used to be you had to get "sponsored" by a ship company, or have
military experience to get the license.
But U.S. Merchant Marine is just a wisp of what it once was.
Globalism.

Actually one of the few Unions that actually does something for it's
membership other than try to scam more money out of ownership for "job
banks" and such.

Their training program is first rate - equal to the various merchant
marine academies.

On Jun 3, 7:07*pm, Wizard of Woodstock wrote:
On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:47:40 -0500, Vic Smith



wrote:
On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:58:19 -0400, HK wrote:

Frogwatch wrote:

How's the fishin Harry? *Do you live anywhere near Point Lookout?

For this area, the fishing is average. In comparison to everywhere in
Florida I have fished, that would translate to slower than slow.

We're north of Point Lookout, about an hour or so by car, depending on
traffic. I've driven there by car once, just to enjoy the vistas, and
have turned the corner, so to speak, on boats about a half-dozen times.
If I am driving down that way, it's most likely to attend something or
other at the Seafarers facility at Piney Point. A number of unions hold
social functions there.

http://www.seafarers.org/phc/PhotoGallery/facilities/

I heard about a training program SIU has for new merchant sailors,
leading to the CG license and....work.
There was a discussion about it on the cruising group.
Sounded like a neat program for youngsters.
No cost and free room and board, I think.
Quasi-military in that respect.
Used to be you had to get "sponsored" by a ship company, or have
military experience to get the license.
But U.S. Merchant Marine is just a wisp of what it once was.
Globalism.

Actually one of the few Unions that actually does something for it's
membership other than try to scam more money out of ownership for "job
banks" and such.

Their training program is first rate - equal to the various merchant
marine academies.

Last year, I stopped using computer during a storm even though we have
a surge protector. FLASH-Bang and a huge spark jumps from the
computer housing to the grounded outlet, HUH? made no sense to me but
it cured me of wanting to use computer during storms.
Two yrs ago, came into work in morn to find whole place filled with
vacuum pump smoke and a whole leg of the 3 phase burned out. A
computer was fried and we had to run a new ground by drilling thru the
concrete and pounding it down 20'
Two weeks ago, one electron microscope died one night. Apparently a
strike fried a whole board of old 7400 and 7420 chips (electronic guys
will be able to tell the rough era of said scope from that)
Everybody in my neighborhood is on wells cuz we have no city water.
The wells with downhole pumps are always getting struck. My neighbor
has a well that is underground with nothing showing above (tank is
inside his garage) and it has been struck 4X. mine only once in 20
yrs, across the street twice.
A guy at work had his house hit last year when it came in on a natural
gas line. Fried most of his electrical system.
I could go on and on and on..........I have also been up close and
personal with lightning 4 times although I really try to avoid it.

On Wed, 3 Jun 2009 16:22:57 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch
wrote:



Last year, I stopped using computer during a storm even though we have
a surge protector. FLASH-Bang and a huge spark jumps from the
computer housing to the grounded outlet, HUH? made no sense to me but
it cured me of wanting to use computer during storms.
Two yrs ago, came into work in morn to find whole place filled with
vacuum pump smoke and a whole leg of the 3 phase burned out. A
computer was fried and we had to run a new ground by drilling thru the
concrete and pounding it down 20'
Two weeks ago, one electron microscope died one night. Apparently a
strike fried a whole board of old 7400 and 7420 chips (electronic guys
will be able to tell the rough era of said scope from that)
Everybody in my neighborhood is on wells cuz we have no city water.
The wells with downhole pumps are always getting struck. My neighbor
has a well that is underground with nothing showing above (tank is
inside his garage) and it has been struck 4X. mine only once in 20
yrs, across the street twice.
A guy at work had his house hit last year when it came in on a natural
gas line. Fried most of his electrical system.
I could go on and on and on..........I have also been up close and
personal with lightning 4 times although I really try to avoid it.

You know, if you're really concerned about a piece of gear, the best
option is to unplug it when there's lightning activity.
A hit on your building wiring can fry everything in the building.
Doesn't even have to be on as the current jumps any switch.
And I've heard that surge protectors are useless for lightning.
They just can't handle the truth.
I still pull the plug on my pet computer when an intense storm comes
by.

--Vic

Wizard of Woodstock wrote:
On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:47:40 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:58:19 -0400, HK wrote:

Frogwatch wrote:

How's the fishin Harry? Do you live anywhere near Point Lookout?

For this area, the fishing is average. In comparison to everywhere in
Florida I have fished, that would translate to slower than slow.

We're north of Point Lookout, about an hour or so by car, depending on
traffic. I've driven there by car once, just to enjoy the vistas, and
have turned the corner, so to speak, on boats about a half-dozen times.
If I am driving down that way, it's most likely to attend something or
other at the Seafarers facility at Piney Point. A number of unions hold
social functions there.

http://www.seafarers.org/phc/PhotoGallery/facilities/
I heard about a training program SIU has for new merchant sailors,
leading to the CG license and....work.
There was a discussion about it on the cruising group.
Sounded like a neat program for youngsters.
No cost and free room and board, I think.
Quasi-military in that respect.
Used to be you had to get "sponsored" by a ship company, or have
military experience to get the license.
But U.S. Merchant Marine is just a wisp of what it once was.
Globalism.

Actually one of the few Unions that actually does something for it's
membership

You are clueless...

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:07:55 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:



Actually one of the few Unions that actually does something for it's
membership other than try to scam more money out of ownership for "job
banks" and such.

Only union that didn't get me back 20 times any dues was the
Steelworkers.
They were sweethearts with U.S. Steel.
UAW, SIU and Teamsters dues - smallest paycheck deduction by far.
Didn't have any choice but to be in the union anyway - unless I wanted
to work at a non-union shop for half the wages.
Economically, that would have been very stupid.
But there's always plenty of applicants for stupid, so don't worry.

Their training program is first rate - equal to the various merchant
marine academies.

They had no such program when I got my license.
Probably a way to stay alive. I really don't get, since there's
probably 1/100 of the need for U.S. crew now than when I worked.
Might be getting fed by the feds to keep a skeleton merchant
capability for nat security reasons.

--Vic

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:58:33 -0400, HK wrote:

Frogwatch wrote:
On Jun 3, 3:58 pm, HK wrote:
Frogwatch wrote:
How's the fishin Harry? Do you live anywhere near Point Lookout?
For this area, the fishing is average. In comparison to everywhere in
Florida I have fished, that would translate to slower than slow.

We're north of Point Lookout, about an hour or so by car, depending on
traffic. I've driven there by car once, just to enjoy the vistas, and
have turned the corner, so to speak, on boats about a half-dozen times.
If I am driving down that way, it's most likely to attend something or
other at the Seafarers facility at Piney Point. A number of unions hold
social functions there.

http://www.seafarers.org/phc/PhotoGallery/facilities/

My older sister and her hubby have about 5 acres adjacent to Point
Lookout, I have never been there but some day I'll take the Tolman up
there cuz they do have a dock


Perfect area for your boat...you can cruise the Potomac to Washington,
D.C., and beyond, and explore the Chesapeake Bay area, too. There's some
nice homes near the point itself, but, quite literally, there's very
little else out there.

You won't cruise much 'beyond' Washington D.C., unless your boat is
impervious to rocks.

But, the Potomac is a beautiful river for cruising.
--
John H

"The problem with Socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money." --Margaret Thatcher

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:37:13 -0400, Gene
wrote:

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:05:48 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:58:47 -0400, Gene
wrote:

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:03:43 -0500, Richard Casady
wrote:

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:14:45 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:

I'm thinking at least sit still and everybody head under the
enclosures. until at least the lightning quits.

What say ye?

Not much you can do about it other than try to stay at the lowest
point in the boat, duck and cover.

I have an aluminum cuddy. Better than a glass bow rider, at least.

Casady

Bull****. Apparently, you have never seen (or had to repair) an
aluminum aircraft hit by lightning....

I was in one that got hit by lightning - a stretched DC-8.

The static discharge sticks on the wings were glowing with green
plasma for about two minutes after the strike. :)

I have pictures that I show students..... huge fricking holes in the
side of the A/C..... minor compared to the ecological disaster
perpetrated on the FO's seat.................

ROTFL!!!

I'll tell you, it's interesting when it happens. The guy sitting next
to me on the way back was a chopper pilot and when it happened, he
thought it wasn't a direct hit - he thought we got passed by and were
in the plasma cone rather than the direct path on a cloud-to-cloud
strike.

The reason he thought so was there weren't any holes anywhere on the
wings or cabin. :)

When I had my towers, I went through a whole bunch of gas discharge
connectors one summer and finally had New England Tower come over
and completely redo the ground system - buried a lot of #10 copper
wire in a grid, staked with 8 foot ground rods and each leg of each
tower was hard bonded to the grid. That helped a lot - the number of
strikes the following year went down significantly.

Don't ask me why.