The experts seem to agree that boats with ground plate and bonded path to that plate are less likely to have hull damage. As for damage to electronics, I question whether there is much that can be done to protect from EMP and side-flashes.

My boat was struck a few years ago and it has a lightning bond with underwater plate below the mast. No damage to hull or rigging, as determined by hauling and detailed survey (with rig-down). Damage to electronics and engine's electronic control harness was extensive and random. Some lights and masthead stuff (windex) were also blown out (or blown up). All damaged items were replaced. Mast wiring worked but I replaced the VHF cable -- a move clearly justified by the visual antenna damage.

The image below shows the masthead steel whip, which melted like a wet noodle. You're looking at roughly half of it, the remainder was apparently vaporized. Stainless melts at around 4000-degrees F. Note the cable blew off and the PL-259 connector went missing. How did it unscrew? I never could figure that part out. The windex disappeared (I found a few small parts of it on deck) and the Raymarine wind indicator still worked, but was replaced due to accuracy issues.