any thoughts on methods of electrically grounding a 15m fibre glass catamaran with an

[bluesavannah]

Hi, does anyone have any thoughts on methods of electrically grounding a 15m fibre glass catamaran with an above water aluminium deck and salon area?

Note there is NO mast. Ironically the owner though an experienced sailor and yacht builder has in this case opted to rebuild the cat minus sails and powered by two outboards and possibly a kite in the future.

I’m thinking to mount solid aluminium bars into the water to provide a permanent path to earth. These will be mounted beside the two outboard engine pods.

Installing grounding plates in the fibre glass hull seems like a good way to have a hole blown in it through a lightning strike. Searching the internet though I found conflicting and unhelpful information.

The battery bank negative, Victron Multiplus and AC ground are all bonded to the same earth on the aluminium structure.

Even though I’m an electrician and have been considering the complexities of electrical grounding on boats for years it is still a contested field of differing ideas.

Theory often sounds good but in practice it can be another story.

Balancing electrical safety, lightning, galvanic corrosion, equipment guidelines and operation, connecting of shore based power or generators, electrical compliance and insurance requirements is a tug of war. Different hull construction materials just add more complexity and ensures that one method does not fit all. And in this case the whole deck and living space is above earth and suspended on two fibreglass hulls.