[Alberg30] Scientific Lightning Pervention

[chrishardy]

Some one told me once that if I kept cold beer on board the same thing 
would happen.... well I havent been struck yet

Roger L. Kingsland wrote:

>Albergers;
>
>I had a neighbor once with a big back yard and a mitt dog that would run around the yard barking every time an airplane flew over.  This occurred one day while I was talking with him over the fence so I said "Jack (his name was Jack), isn't it funny how Ginger (the dog's name was ginger) runs around the yard barking every time a plane flies over?"  His reply, "Yes it is Roger (that's my name), but you know it's really working, ever since we got that dog, not one airplane has landed in our yard."
>
>Several years ago I bought bought this funny thing for the boat because it clained to reduce the chance of lightning strikes and, lacking that, protect the boat if lightning does strike.  Interesting proposition, if it doesn't work the way we would like it to, at least it will help.  
>
>It looks a little like a porcupine head on a stick at the top of the mast but is a great conversation starter.  The exchange usually goes like this; 
>  Guy on dock, "Why do you have a porcupine head on the top of a little stick on the top of that big stick (sailboats are fairly rare on Pittsburgh's three rivers)."  
>
>  Boat guy (that's me),  "The big stick holds these white things (pointing to the sails on deck and boom).  When they get wet, I pull them to the top of the big stick to dry them.  The porcupine head is actually hundredes metal wires with very small ends.  The manufacturer of the device, from whom I also bought a very nice bridge over the East River, claims that, prior to a lightning strike, the ionization levels in the air build up and lightning tends to strike where ionization is highest.  Well, all of those small, pointy ended wires actually reduce the ionization levels around the top of the stick, inviting Mr. Lightning to find greener (ionization) pastures elsewhere.  Of course if he still prefers my stick, the device acts as a plane old lightning rod which hopes to direct the lightning to ground, or in this case, water.
>
>  Dock Gun (asking perfectly reasonable question), "Well, does it work?"
>
>  Boat Guy, "Of course it does, ever since I got it, not one bolt of lightning has hit my boat."
>
>
>
>
> +---------------------------------------------------------------+
> |                This Old Boat by Don Casey                     |
> | http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071579931/alberg30-20 |
> +---------------------------------------------------------------+
>
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 +---------------------------------------------------------------+
 |                This Old Boat by Don Casey                     |
 | http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071579931/alberg30-20 |
 +---------------------------------------------------------------+

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