Grounding/Bonding the Motor

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Jun 3, 2004
16
Beneteau 381 Oceanis Harborage/St. Pete
Can anyone tell me from their experience if it is better to have the boats bonding system, not the ground system connected to the motor. I have been getting a lot of galvanic problems on my zinks!!

Thanks, sailortaylor
 
Jan 22, 2008
1,483
Hunter 37 C sloop Punta Gorda FL
On my old boat (Morgan 34) PO with a Coast Guard captains license had bonded bronze thru hulls to zincs. Ate the copper right out of the paint. Just goes to show you, passing a test isn't everything. All of my inboard boats have used the engine as ground. Bonding was to keel or to dynaplates.I have not yet had a "galvanic isolator". Wouldn't know how to hook that up.
 
Jun 3, 2004
16
Beneteau 381 Oceanis Harborage/St. Pete
Galvanic Isolator

I looked on E-Bay and found them for under $150.00 the connection looks like one wire from where the shore power enters the boat. The green (ground) and then continues on as a link in the system. The instructions read to connect it as close as possible to where to connect to shore power.
 
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
Your boats bonding system may be the cause of your galvanic problems. As stray currents travel through the water, the trough hull farthest away from your zinc will have a greater potential difference. You have connected this through hull with whatever your zinc is connected to via a bonding wire, creating a battery.
There are two schools of thought here; to bond and not to bond. On my boat I have nothing bonded together. Every through hull is independent and the prop and shaft is isolated by a coupler. I do not run any electricity or potential electricity through the prop, the through hulls or any other metal in contact with the water.
The exception I would make is lightning protection to the keel, but i haven't done it yet.
The standard by ABYC says to ground your electrical system to the shaft and prop. I just don't see a benefit and haven't heard a good enough argument to convince me yet.
 
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