Ground question

[Bill O'Donovan]

For reasons that I won't bore you with, I'm curious if I can dismantle the grounding wire that runs down the mast of the 19.5 Hunter into the bilge and attaches to one of the bilge plates. I've heard it isn't very effective at grounding a lightning strike, and I intend to spring for $600 to buy a real lightning clamp/wiring system to attach to the mast. Eh?

 

[Paul]

Don't see why not

You're already ahead of most boats in that you have a grounding system in place. Most of us just hope that if a lightning strike ever comes down the mast that a sideways spark won't hole the boat or fry someone aboard.Be careful that you don't interfere with any other parts of a complete electrical bonding/grounding system that might be in place on your boat. Such systems are designed to reduce galvanic corrosion caused by unequal ground potentials. I would imagine that the electrical system on a 19.5 is pretty simple, so I'd be surprised if the boat is bonded.

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Actually...

...Paul I'm 29.5 not 19.5 so maybe there would be problem.

 

[Paul]

Maybe a little research would be good.

Yeah, a 29.5 has the whole deal... inboard diesel w/alternator, shore charger, etc.Maybe you should stop by the bookstore and pick up a copy of Don Casey's "sailboat electrics simplified" or Nigel Calder's book on the subject.When you read the chapter about bonding systems you'll know what to look for. If you're not the first owner, the previous guy could have been a wire-head type and has bonded the boat, which is just a term for making sure all of the grounds are electrically the same (very similar is more accurate).No matter what you install I can't see the harm of leaving that grounding wire in place. If it's a short, straight path from the mast to mother earth, it can't do anything but help.