> Not always.  In most cases lightning is preceeded by intercloud
 > electrical discharges which are rarely seen.  The AM radio indicates the
 > presence of this.
    Here in Texas we usually only have one AM/FM radio onboard. And it's 
usually tuned to FM. This idea of having an AM radio just for lightning 
always did seem a little silly to me.
 > BTW, in the case of lightning, you are much safer in an aluminium boat
 > than in a fibreglass boat.  Several years ago a couple of boats were
 > struck by lightning on Sydney Harbour. The aluminium boat lost a bit of
 > paint but the occupants were fine, the fibreglass boat had a hole blown
 > through the hull and the occupants suffered burns.
    I would attribute that to the aluminum boat having a clear path to ground 
(electrical ground) and the fiberglas boat being insulated from ground. There 
was no place for the lightning to dissapate so it vented it's destructive 
force on the object it struck.
    Thanks for your insights. I love talking about boats and boat things.
                                                      Jamie
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