Re: Safe mast raising Solo (was: Pottering Blunders-- )
Bill Combs (ttursine@gnt.net)
Mon, 30 Aug 1999 16:31:41 -0500
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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> Since the chance of being lightning struck is low in absolute terms
> [before you object, Solar Fry, I live in Florida also; our probability
> is relatively higher but still absolutely _very_ low] and is not
> necessarily meaningfully decreased by lowering the mast by 18'or so,
> the chance of accident, the effort involved, and the discomfort
> induced tell me to leave the mast up. I'd advise that approach.
>
> Regards,
>
> Bill Combs
> WWP 19 #439 (Aug 1987)
> "Ursa Minor"
> Fort Walton Beach FL
> ttursine@gnt.net
>
And I neglected to mention that I _do_ have a set of jumper cables &
some chain to "ground" shrouds& mast ... I just don't bother to deploy
them any more. Somehow, having used them a few times many moons ago,
just carrying them now seems enough acknowledgement of _that_
particular theory.
So, I'm either fatalistic or I don't feel threatened by lightning in
any meaningful way. I've been exposed to lot of it in FL and the
Bahamas -- not to discount the Chesapeake in Fall -- but don't see it
as being very high on the threat list. A threat, yes, but one so
unlikely as not to warrant a lot of worry. And one not likely to be
threatening to life in any case. I guess I'd change my mind if the
boat next door got fried, but the odds are so _low_!
To look at it by analogy, it'd be really easy to get insurance against
being run down by a rhinoceros in the streets of Philadelphia, but why
bother ... especially if in going out to sign the policy you expose
yourself to the threat of runaway motor scooters on those same
streets?
Regards,
Bill Combs
WWP 19 #439 (Aug 1987)
"Ursa Minor"
Fort Walton Beach FL
ttursine@gnt.net