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GordMay · 30-06-2008, 07:40

Sorry; my NWS probability citation is only applicable to the “general” population, not boats.

Excerpted from: Press release “Seaworthy Magazine looks at 5 shocking years of lightning strike claims data”:
http://www.bymnews.com/new/index2.ph...pdf=1&id=15803

BoatUS reports* that in any one year the odds of your boat being struck by lightning is about 1.2 in 1,000 (or about 0.12%), with 33% of all lightning claims coming from the State of Florida. The second most struck area in the country was the Chesapeake Bay region (29%), while on the opposite side, 13 states had no lightning-related claims, including states such as Idaho and Nebraska.

The rate of lightning strikes for sailboats was about four boats per 1,000, while motorboats averaged 0.5 per 1,000.

A surprise finding was that multi-hulled sailboats were struck more than twice as often as monohulls.

Interestingly, the files also showed that many boats equipped with lightning dissipaters were also hit, questioning their effectiveness. Most electronics aboard a boat were found not damaged by a direct hit but rather from surging electrical current created in the wiring by the strike.

* Source: "Lightning! Flash, BANG! Your Boat's Been Hit-Now What?," ~ by Chuck Fort
July 2005 issue of Seaworthy magazine

What are the Chances of Lightning Striking Your Boat?
Excerpted from: “Understanding Lightning Protection” ~ by Bill Laudeman
BoatUS.com - Seaworthy Magazine

The following statistics are based on all of the BoatUS Marine Insurance claims for lightning damage over a five-year period. The percentages suggest the chances of the various types of boats being struck in any given year.
Auxiliary Sail .6% Six out of 1000
Multi-hull sail .5% Five out of 1000
Trawlers .3% Three out of 1000
Sail Only .2% Two out of 1000
Cruisers .1% One out of 1000
Runabouts .02% Two out of 10,000

See also: “Thunderstorms -A Few Members' Accounts”
BoatUS.com - Seaworthy Magazine

30-06-2008, 07:40	#31
GordMay Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W Boat: C.L.O.D. (Cruiser Living On Dirt) Posts: 12,582	Sorry; my NWS probability citation is only applicable to the “general” population, not boats. Excerpted from: Press release “Seaworthy Magazine looks at 5 shocking years of lightning strike claims data”: http://www.bymnews.com/new/index2.ph...pdf=1&id=15803 BoatUS reports* that in any one year the odds of your boat being struck by lightning is about 1.2 in 1,000 (or about 0.12%), with 33% of all lightning claims coming from the State of Florida. The second most struck area in the country was the Chesapeake Bay region (29%), while on the opposite side, 13 states had no lightning-related claims, including states such as Idaho and Nebraska. The rate of lightning strikes for sailboats was about four boats per 1,000, while motorboats averaged 0.5 per 1,000. A surprise finding was that multi-hulled sailboats were struck more than twice as often as monohulls. Interestingly, the files also showed that many boats equipped with lightning dissipaters were also hit, questioning their effectiveness. Most electronics aboard a boat were found not damaged by a direct hit but rather from surging electrical current created in the wiring by the strike. * Source: "Lightning! Flash, BANG! Your Boat's Been Hit-Now What?," ~ by Chuck Fort July 2005 issue of Seaworthy magazine What are the Chances of Lightning Striking Your Boat? Excerpted from: “Understanding Lightning Protection” ~ by Bill Laudeman BoatUS.com - Seaworthy Magazine The following statistics are based on all of the BoatUS Marine Insurance claims for lightning damage over a five-year period. The percentages suggest the chances of the various types of boats being struck in any given year. Auxiliary Sail .6% Six out of 1000 Multi-hull sail .5% Five out of 1000 Trawlers .3% Three out of 1000 Sail Only .2% Two out of 1000 Cruisers .1% One out of 1000 Runabouts .02% Two out of 10,000 See also: “Thunderstorms -A Few Members' Accounts” BoatUS.com - Seaworthy Magazine __________________ Gord May ~~_/)_~~ (Gord & Maggie - "Southbound") "If you didn't have time/$ to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"