Bonding system (task)
The primary bonding conductor is a copper wire that runs from the stern to the bow along the bottom of the boat. This wire is badly corroded in some parts and should be replaced anyway by a much bigger wire. Ideally, it should be able to carry as much current as the starter motor cables.
All stanchions, shrouds, stays, pulpits, and the mast should be directly connected to the primary bonding conductor, preferably by very big wires. There should be a metal ground plate on the exterior of bottom of the boat that is also connected to the primary bonding conductor. All of this provides lightning protection for the boat.
In addition, to prevent galvanic corrosion the following items should be connected to the primary bonding conductor:
- Fuel tanks
- Rudder (because of its connection to the autonav system)
- Bilge pump metal housing
- Metal chassis of other equipment
All bonding conductors should be either bare wire, or colored green.
Please note that the grounding conductor of the 110v shore power system MUST NOT be connected to the bonding system unless a galvanic isolator or isolation transformer is in place.
The following things should all be connected together at one point only, referred to as the engine negative terminal:
- the primary bonding conductor
- all radio ground conductors
- the engine block
- the negative terminals of all batteries
