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This uncertainty is
echoed by a representative of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC).
The organization has modified its specifications for an LPS in recent
years and says there will likely be more changes in the future. The existing
standard calls for an “air terminal,” or lightning rod, as
high above the boat as possible, connected via heavy conductor to a ground
plate or strip on the hull bottom. All major metal objects and electronics
should be bonded to this ground. A boat advertised as built to ABYC standards
does not necessarily have such an LPS, which is not mandatory. While the
ABYC and Thomson agree that an LPS will help lead a strike’s massive
power safely out of the boat, hopefully with a minimum of the “side
flashes” that can also hurt people and electronics, both are emphatic
that there are no guarantees. The primary goal of the ABYC specs is protection
of humans, not electronics. NMEA and ABYC intend to work together toward
a more comprehensive electronics protection standard, and Thomson has
a private company (www.marinelightning.com) that is developing a device
to channel side flashes away from sensitive areas. It’s also worth
noting that Thomson is currently conducting a survey of powerboaters who
have experienced lightning strikes, and should you be so qualified, you
can help advance the science at his university site, www.thomson.ece.ufl.edu/lightning.
Another approach to
lightning protection is to run away from it, and there are some gadgets
that can help. One is StrikeAlert, a pager-like device that hears lightning’s
RF disturbances and lights a series of LEDs indicating range up to about
40 miles. Apparently it will indicate whether strikes are approaching
or going away, but will not give you any information as to the lightning’s
bearing. It costs about $80 (719-536-9990, www.strikealert.com).
A much more sophisticated system is the Boltek Storm Tracker, a directional
antenna and decoder that works with PC software that can map lightning
strikes over a 300-mile radius. Models start at $500 (905-734-8045, www.boltek.com).
This product is not specifically designed for marine use; actually many
users have it set up as part of amateur weather stations connected to
the Web, and you may find a useful nearby station at www.weathermatrix.com.
Of course, approaching
thunderstorms are often quite visible to the naked eye, with the lightning
potential in their famously tall, dark, anvil-shape clouds frequently
proportional to their drama. Some skippers adjust their long-range radar
to maximize rain clutter and can thus track even embedded and/or distant
activity. But as to our correspondent’s habit of staying in port
when thunderstorms are predicted…well, I suspect he’s erring
on the side of caution, as weather forecasters often do.
Of course, it’s
wise to stay sharp and have a plan. Getting to a mooring, disconnecting
electronics, getting folks inside and away from metal objects—all
these moves can help. But ultimately it’s about risk management,
a topic perhaps too much on the collective mind these days. There’s
so much to worry about—including, at this writing, idiot rock bands
and security guards—that even a powerful, unpredictable force of
nature seems to pale in comparison. My advice: learn about lightning and
take care, but—for Thor’s sake—go boating.
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