SD,
Why is this in the sailnet forum? I cannot say.
I agree, you have to protect the
handhelds or they will get fried too. I have heard the pressure cooker thing. I always kept mine in a glass jar with clamp lid. I have not done a full scientific research to determine the valididty of whether this will truly work in a lightning strike... but I did live aboard in S Florida (lightning capitol of the country) and they always worked. As far as they pressure cooker, Fooogeettaabbouuut iittt! Love my wife. She is the best and loves boating more than me. However, you really think she would remember to always put those things back in the pressure cooker after dinner?? I don't think so. I would sometimes question whether she would remember to even take them out first!!
As far as the
anchor/shrouds - I cannot attest to whether it works. Lightning/electricity will take the easiest path to ground. If the resistance is less going down the shrouds, chain, then water... well, it would seem logical that it would take that path. Fiberglass is not a good conductor (thus the damage via lightning). Now, if your boat WAS grounded, it would seem that tossing over the
anchor chain would not make a lot of difference.
You are right though, a gap in the chain could very well change its path. I did not say I did it... but he did and a lot of the locals.