Simple Lightning Protection Idea?

[Exile]

Going back to an earlier post, does anyone have experience or info about sailboats getting hit out at sea? I have read that such events are rare, even though that seems a bit counterintuitive when your mast is the only piece of metal sticking out of the water for miles around.

Even far offshore, most capable & prudent sailors could likely deal with a loss of electronics. What I find truly frightening is the prospect of a compromised thru-hull or other breach of the hull from a strike while well offshore. Probably quite rare, although there are many unexplained sinkings.

Paranoia??

[SoonerSailor]

This is why strikes are not common: if you have a 50 foot mast, it will only be the preferred target if the strike was going to hit within 50 feet of the mast anyway. So you are a favored target, just not for a very large area. This concept provided by the NWS in storm spotting classes.

Chip

[Emmalina]

Got hit by lightning in April last year... Just about to finish replacing bits. It did a lot of damage . I had 2 anodes connected directly to my masts and a bowsprit fixing bar in the water at the time. Didn't help. Apparently there were 4 boats in the same week near us that got hit. It was so powerful that everything shook even on land. Funny thing is the only thing that survived was my led anchor light and tri colour... Also blew a hole in my rudder. Not something I want to repeat.. Only good side was the insurance did help out 75% of the cost

[Emmalina]

Forgot to mention I was moored at the time about 500m from land....