Bonding to Engine Mount??

[walmsleyc]

My Legend 35 (1987) has a bonding/grounding wire running to the forward port engine mount bolt. The bolt that attaches to the hull NOT the bolt thatattaches to the engine. I don't know if this is the original installation, but it seems odd in that the hull side of the engine mount is electrically isolated from the engine by the rubber, and thus it seem that this wire has no purpose.I have not fully traced the wire as it enters the large wiring harness that runs through the hull structural grid and to the electrical panel.Is there something I'm missing? Is there some other metal bonding under the engine bed?

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Chris, I had a similar question that I ...

asked of Hunter Marine Customer Service. Don Martin told me that they attached the battery side cable (negative/black) to the transmission housing on our boat. It sounds as though yours is secured to the motor mount. It does seem an odd place for a negative lead unless the mount has metal continuity to the engine.Terry

 

[walmsleyc]

Got that too!

There are two negative cables bolted to the engine just under the starter (could be the transmission housing). I believe at least one of them runs to the batteries.I know the obvious answer is to trace the wire, and do some continuity tests. My gut feeling is that some PO needed a place to attache a ground and wasn't quite thinking straight.

 

[John Nantz]

Ditto: Suspect Previous Owner Modification

Chris - I'm with you with regard to suspecting it's a previous owner modification. We've got a H-35 '88 and the ground wire never went to the motor mount.