Good To Know What To Do If A Lightning Storm Strikes Up While Your Kayaking?

Pray and paddle your butt off?

 

'Praying', OK...I've done it [quite serious, @ Pellicer Cr 3 yrs ago...THAT was a bad one]...and it must work...I'm still here.
'Paddling'...maybe not exactly the thing to do, depending on the type of paddle. I had included the below link in another lightning discussion. Gives some good, logical notions how to deal with it:
http://www.sdkc.org/safety/lightning-strikes-and-paddling/

Also, see that original thread, my discussion on it.
http://www.shrimpnfishflorida.com/forums/threads/struck-by-lightning.10335/

I'd like some thoughtful, scholarly ideas if they're out there, since it's happened to me more than I should probably admit. As you and many others know...options are very limited when an expansive storm materializes right on top of you. So WHAT ARE THE BEST OPTIONS (knowing in advance that you'd only be playing the best odds of a bad situation with all bad options). So what are the best moves, based on science?

There's only been one time in my recollection that I was able to play it right (imho)...Ocala Forest prairie pond...I could see it coming at me from WAY off (ie, I had good visibility, was not shielded by trees, could hear the thunder, etc.). Kept studying the direction...looks like that freight train's light in the tunnel...coming right at me. But I still had time. Put my graphite rods in one area. Drug my yak with other stuff hundred yards away. High-tailed for the car (10 min. at the double-quick-time), to wait it out. No, lightning didn't strike my equipment (but from the car's vantage point, looked like it might have, or sure came close), but this was the correct protocol, I believe. BUT THAT'S ON LAND. Waddaya do in The Lagoon?

btw, In summer, when there's threat of such storms coming down around me...I always use my fiberglass-shafted paddle. I hope it makes at least an incremental difference. Also, in most areas I fish, I bring along a wooden canoe paddle, that serves as my push-pole. It does yeoman's duty when around lightning!

 

Alps, very informative article you posted above. Every kayaker should give that a read through...

So if you're stuck in the middle of a storm, with no place to go here's what I would do.

1) Stop paddling. As recommended in the article, put your paddle down and do not make any contact with it. Besides the fact that your paddle is a "high point", may conduct electricity and make more paths for the electricity to pass through, if you are paddling you are not effectively minimizing your height; therefore becoming a more likely target.

2) Lay down all of your fishing rods

3) "... It also can do more damage to your body if you are even out of the water, but have salt water on you, so rinse with fresh water, and dry off immediately." I think a water bottle, towel and rain jacket/rain poncho will help with this. Rinse the salt off with the water bottle, dry yourself and cover yourself up. An idea that I have comes from a previous post about a guy who got struck and was wearing neoprene booties. http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20170107/port-orange-man-struck-by-lightning-in-ponce-inlet as well as "Try not to touch your boat other than your buttocks and heels. Insulate yourself from the boat as best you can." So it seems insulation can help mitigate damage from a strike. Do neoprene jackets exist? At the very least wearing neoprene booties, a neoprene seat? and covering up from rain seems to be a good idea. An additional note; It may be that boat with scupper holes may be working against you on this one, depending on your kayak. I know with my older OK the scupper holes by my seat are keeping my arse consistently moist. Something to consider.

4) Reach out to someone responsible. This can be a friend, family member, coast guard?... (this step can be 1 or 4 depending on your situation)

5) Assume the position. "Try not to touch your boat other than your buttocks and heels. Insulate yourself from the boat as best you can."
Something like this, but with your butt on the ground and heels on the boat.

The most important thing is preparation. Know where you are going, know, as best you can, the weather for that day and create a float plan to leave with someone responsible.

Another important consideration will be, "when should I stop paddling? "When you see lightning, count off the seconds until you hear the thunder, and divide that number by 5 to get the distance in miles the lightning is from you. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, you are in immediate danger."

Let me know what you guys think.