Outrigger lightning protection

[Reel-Time]

Has anyone given thought to bonding their outriggers as a means of mitigating lightning strikes? As I understand it, many sailing vessels bond their aluminum mast to actually create a cone of protection under the mast resulting from the negative charge of the bonded mast. I would not install a bonding plate, but rely on the through-hull fittings and related bonding system. There has always been an argument about power boat bonding systems as to whether you ground and bond, or keep the two systems separate. My Chris Craft came grounded and bonded, so that’s how I left it. I was, however, thinking about bonding my outriggers to benefit from the negative charge. I would need to branch the insulating sleeve that comes at the end of the Lee outrigger poles through. Any thoughts?

[yottyboy]

There is no scientific evidence that proves that bonding or any other methodology reduces or increases the chance of a lightning strike or whether the strike will be less harmful due to bonding. Lightning is unpredictable. It doesn't really care about bonding and cones of protection. Do whatever you think is best.

[pmagrady]

My slip is just a few spaces from a nice lightning rod, sorry, a nice sail boat. He was hit a few weeks ago. Choose you slips carefully.

[Reel-Time]

Please ask the sailboater if his mast was bonded with a bonding plate. I'd like to better understand the practicality of these bonding systems and if the really offer any protection.

[OReely]

From what I understand the bonding/grounding wire is really just a way to bleed off static electricity. I don't remember the exact terminology but there's something called a step leader or ladder (or something else?) that emanates from statically charged items which provides a path for lightning to travel.

I would imagine it can't hurt to run a wire to ground. Obviously, if the boat gets hit anyway, the ground wire probably isn't going to protect anything, but it might help avoid getting hit in the first place.