Luffy would definitely work on a crew until his own arrives, he's good but he remembers the last time he tried to do the ship thing on his own.

I am not very far in the anime, but I have yet to see any lightning so I think it's fine to say a full blown judgement bolt would leave one hell of a mark. Static shocks not so much. Cid, Luffy can stretch himself, nothing will ever be out of reach again.