The shoreline is not safe according to NOAA because it is either an open space and you are the tallest structure or you are too close to tall trees, another no no. My strategery, if in a canoe or kayak, would be to:

1. At the first sound of thunder or lightning of an approaching thunderstorm, get to the shoreline asap
2. Take your life jacket or foam sleeping pad and appropriate clothing to remain warm and dry, leaving anything metallic behind
3. Go beyond the trees about 200 ft if possible and wait it out with the 30-30 rule (or whatever you feel comfortable doing)
4. If you cannot get 200 ft into the trees, look for the lowest spot but stay about 40 ft from the treeline and assume the lightning safety position (squat down on pad, feet together, head down, hands over ears)
5. If you are with several people, spread out at least 15 feet apart, but within hearing distance of each other
6. At any time, if your hair stands on end or you hear other evidence of impending lightning strike nearby, assume the lightning safety position
7. Pray for your life and repent of your sins : )

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/outdoors.htm

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/resources/LightningFactsSheet.pdf

P.S. Lightning safety awareness week is next week.

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/week.htm

Lightning is the number 2 weather-related killer in the country (afer floods), number 1 if you live in Florida.

It reminds me of an anecdote when I was camping once. There was an interesting spot for fishing, a small lake that was supposed to have rare native red trouts in it but the only way to reach it was to cross a larger lake and do some hiking the other side. But everytime we tried to cross the lake on a rented slow clumsy rowboat a nasty storm appeared. We tried three different times. It was as if Thunder God wanted to prevent us from capturing native trouts. We finally gave up. When the lightning was striking we went to the shore and then back to camp.

It was already mentioned briefly, but I wouldn't have been standing. I've heard that squatting on the balls of your feet is the best position to be in when caught out in the open like that.

And yes, large, metal boats are grounded through the water. To the best of my knowledge, we've never had anyone KIA in a storm from lightning.

I was bass fishing with a top water bait on Lake Barkely. The sun was shining and the clouds did not appear threatening. I made a cast and my line would not fall into the water. It stayed suspended 1-2 feet in the air and suddenly my hair was standing on end. I threw the rod down and without even pulling up the trolling motor, started the engine and ran the boat aground. As soon as the fiberglass bass boat touched the shore, I leaped out and ran 20 yards and dived under a cut bank. Within seconds there was a blinding flash and thunder so loud I couldn't hear a thing for an hour or more.

Thank God the lightening hit a tree some 100 yards away.

I know of one other incident where a fiberglass bass boat was idling along on lake Millwood in AR when it was struck. The boat literally exploded into a thousand pieces. The two occupants some how survived with only minor injuries.

Just my 2 cents.

dang..you experienced it first hand...