electrical connection? And, I think you will eat your zinc really fast. Not sure of either.

We don't, and won't, bond. I think it just makes a bunch of little differing potentials to trade ions.

We are using the single thru-hull ground to the tuner with 3 inch foil. It worked Europe and the NE US from the South Atlantic on 100 watts into a long wire insulated back-stay on a TS-50S. We didn't lose Cape Town so long as they scanned our direction, until 700 miles west of St. Helena. So, I think that thru-hull is probably adequate.

And you are right, we should start thinking of lightning protection. Thanks.