Lightning strikes – lightning protection and surge protection on motor yachts

[Skipper Felice]

I have received information about thunderstorms and lightning strikes in the harbour at our pier in Italy. Another vessel may have suffered significant damage to its electrical and electronic systems. Perhaps it was from electrical shore connection.

see: https://lsp.global/lightning-and-surge- ... or-yachts/
This applies to sailing yachts, but the situation is similar for vessels without masts.

Normally, every shore power connection is equipped with a circuit breaker (RCD). But here we are talking about surge and lightning protection from the mains or from lightning strikes on motor boats.

My question:
Who has installed lightning conductors, surge arresters and lightning protection for the electrical and electronic systems on their motor yacht? Which systems/brands or devices are used on a motorboat?

 

[Seastoke]

Hi Felix you could get your electrician to fit a SPD to your 230 volt system which is designed for lightening protection. Or ask his advice,

 

[petem]

I don't bother with anything like that.

In the very unlikely event that we got struck by lightning then it's an insurance job.

 

[KevinV]

I've always been very sceptical about lightning protection for boats - armed with the tiny bit of knowledge that buildings WITH protection get hit more often because they offer an easier route to ground than the surrounding air.

 

[Calorifier Clive]

Hi, + agree with a very correct Petem.
Not black cating anyone experience wise, but worked in / ran a large boatyard for 20+ years. It is a insurance job.
The few boats I' ve worked on, the pulse has worked its woeful magic right through boat..sytems and wiring , isolated or not.
The strike had jumped truck fuses ,breakers, blown out concealed wiring down decorative bulkheads even jumped across shroud backing plates below decks on yachts.
Have even heard (not seen) about water strikes close by , travelling up through SsB gold hull sinter.bonding plates and copper bonding longwave bonding strips etc .
Sadly having been at sea once exiting Beaulieu river once, witnessed a strike hit a yacht just off of Gurnard.
Mooring your motorboat near a lighting conductor vessel, otherwise know as a yacht with mast head gear, is maybe the best protection I've seen.
Hope my penny worth of input is helpful, but in my former working life, I have not seen a effective strike interrupter that saved any damage what soever, more so like devices just tried encouraging the strikes most direct path to finding its way to ground ....

 

[Seastoke]

If you fitted a conductor , you would need a plate on the hull and connected together. Just have a SPD fitted.

 

[kashurst]

Moor next to a sailing yacht.
Failing that stick anything electronic and portable inside the oven or microwave.

 

[Skipper Felice]

My conclusion from all the information and some research:
There was no severe lightning on our marina - no one was hit. But perhaps some over voltage over the power distribution / shore power.
We are all moored between many large sailing yachts ... with large masts. Any strike to a motorboat has a very low possibility.

I agree with @petem " In the very unlikely event that we got struck by lightning then it's an insurance job."

But I think for some protection from shore power, overvoltage and induction trassmission I will install a SPD to our 230 V system which is designed for lightening protection. (as mentioned by @Seastoke