Just like a rebellious Teenager... My keelbolts and their green hair!

[wsmac]

I'm getting ready to commit to rewiring the DC on my boat... 1985 Hunter 28.5... but I have a question about these keelbolts and the corroded wires sandwiched between the nuts...

1. Should I continue to ground to these particular bolts or move to a better location?
2. If it's the 'stay in place' method... I was thinking of creating a SS thin plate such that I can sandwich THAT between the nuts and attach wires off the plate.
3. If it's the 'move them somewhere else' method... suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[DayDreamer41]

If it were me I would be adding a eyelet to the end of the wire, even if I had to make my own.

 

[wsmac]

Just for reference... these are the bolts just aft of the mast support.
A mass of crazy hair! lol
Fortunately.... my bilge has proven to be quite dry... even with all the rain the North Coast of Cali has been getting this Winter.. Spring... Summer.. (is it Winter again... already? hahaha)
.
So in the picture of my bilge... towards the top is where the wires enter from the boat and mast support post.
.
The one with my hand in the pic... the wires exiting the corrugated tube.. thick white and others... those are coming from within the mast support.
All other wires are from the starboard side of the boat for the bilge pump and switch

 

[wsmac]

If it were me I would be adding a eyelet to the end of the wire, even if I had to make my own.

haha! I had thought of that too! Been looking in the various marine supplier's online catalogs to see if a 3/4" eye exists!
Never worked on electronics with that big of a connection! lol

My idea of a thin plate is that I can create solid connections to the plate for all wires, and drill the right sized hole for the bolt.
I typed SS.. but perhaps a copper plate would work better? I have a sheet of that already.
The plate, bolts and nuts would all mate up pretty nicely, then add some surface corrosion protection.
Since it's an easy place to access... it'd get regular checks.

 

[wsmac]

Another thing...
.
Currently I have no inboard motor.
I will be installing the Thunderstruck 10kW Electric Propulsion kit later this Summer.
For this boat... I will be running 2 batteries... one for starter (Mercury 9.9 2-stroke o/b), one for house.
Going with all new wiring (batteries also) due to corrosion on existing wiring in the boat at almost every connection.
.
I will be using the existing switch panel for DC and AC.

 

[jibes138]

You have a metal backing plate under the nuts for the keel bolts. Tap a hole in that then connect your wires using a short machine screw into the tapped hole. Use a multimeter to verify continuity to the keel bolt. That way you can use a normal size screw and ring connector. You have a lot of thread exposed above the nut so if you have to make a thicker backing plate so you can get at least three full threads engaged on the machine screw tapped hole.

 

[wsmac]

You have a metal backing plate under the nuts for the keel bolts. Tap a hole in that then connect your wires using a short machine screw into the tapped hole. Use a multimeter to verify continuity to the keel bolt. That way you can use a normal size screw and ring connector. You have a lot of thread exposed above the nut so if you have to make a thicker backing plate so you can get at least three full threads engaged on the machine screw tapped hole.

I thought of that plate also... my gut feeling has been to leave it alone and make my own contact plate to slip between the nuts.
I'll still go checkout the plate with a meter though.. .just in case..

 

[jibes138]

I just offered that because that's how my boat was set up by the OEM. That way you can torque your keel bolts without screwing around with the wires.

 

[wsmac]

I just offered that because that's how my boat was set up by the OEM. That way you can torque your keel bolts without screwing around with the wires.

Good point on access to the keel bolts without messing around with the plate/wires though!

 

[JRT]

So you have an outboard and an electric motor? I just started reading about those Thunderstruck kits, the temptation to electric is strong to maintain that quite power to me.

http://www.thunderstruck-ev.com/electric-sailboat-kits-and-accessories-inboard-motor-ev/